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US 2014/0000359 A1Published application
Operating a thermal anemometer flow meter
AssigneeLos Robles Advertising, Inc.
InventorsDaniel R. Kurz, Bruce B. Burton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operating mode for a thermal anemometer flow sensor is provided so the flow sensor is operable in the presence of a high level of liquid mist without a significant error in flow reading from the liquid mist.
Claims18
1:
- A method to operate a thermal anemometer flow sensor to measure a property of a stream, comprising:
- heating a heated probe of the sensor to a temperature of 100 to 1,000° C. greater than a temperature of the stream;
- and
- determining the property of the stream by measuring a heat loss from the heated probe.
1 more element
2:
- The method of claim 1, wherein the heated probe is heated to a temperature of 200 to 600° C. greater than the temperature of the stream.
3:
- The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the temperature of the stream with a non-heated probe of the sensor.
4:
- The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operated in a constant DeltaT mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant temperature above the temperature of the stream.
5:
- The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operated in a constant power mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant power.
6:
- The method of claim 1, further wherein the sensor is operated in a constant current mode where a current to the heated probe is kept constant.
7:
- The method of claim 1, further wherein the sensor is operated in a constant temperature mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant temperature.
8:
- The method of claim 1, wherein the property comprises a flow rate or a flow velocity.
9:
- A flow meter to measure a property of a stream, comprising:
- a thermal anemometer sensor including a heated probe;
- a controller configured to:
- heat the heated probe to a temperature of 100 to 1,000° C. greater than a temperature of the stream;
- and
- determining the property of the stream by measuring a heat loss from the heated probe.
3 more elements
10:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the heated probe is heated to a temperature of 200 to 600° C. greater than the temperature of the stream.
11:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein:
- the sensor further comprises a non-heated probe;
- and
- the controller being further configured to detect the temperature of the stream with the non-heated probe.
1 more element
12:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the controller operates the sensor in a constant DeltaT mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant temperature above the temperature of the stream.
13:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the controller operates the sensor in a constant power mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant power.
14:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the controller operates the sensor in a constant current mode where a current to the heated probe is kept constant.
15:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the controller operates the sensor in a constant temperature mode where the heated probe is kept at a constant temperature.
16:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the property comprises a flow rate or a flow velocity.
17:
- The meter of claim 9, wherein the sensor is inserted into a duct between 3:00 and 9:00 o'clock positions.
18:
- The meter of claim 17, wherein the sensor is inserted into a duct at a 7:30 or 4:30 o'clock position.