Compact fluid flow sensor
AssigneeAdvanced Energy Industries, Inc.
InventorsWeston Christensen, Jon Danielson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for monitoring fluid flow through a conduit. A method comprises conveying a fluid in a conduit so that the fluid impinges upon an impingement within the conduit and sensing a temperature with a heated temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to the conduit to provide a heated temperature measurement. The method also includes heating the heated temperature sensor with a heater and sensing a temperature of the fluid at a location of the conduit that is thermally isolated from the heater to obtain a reference temperature measurement. An indication of a flowrate of the fluid is provided based on a temperature difference between the reference temperature measurement and the heated temperature measurement.
Claims20
A system for monitoring a fluid flow, the system comprising:
- a conduit for conveying a fluid in a fluid flow direction, wherein the conduit comprises an impingement to the fluid flow;
- a first sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fluid and provide a reference first temperature measurement;
- a second sensor thermally coupled to the conduit in close proximity to the impingement to provide a second temperature measurement;
- a heater affixed to the conduit in thermal proximity to the second sensor to enable the heater to heat the second sensor;
- and
- a flow monitor configured to provide an indication of a flowrate of the fluid based on a temperature difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement.
A method for monitoring a fluid flow, the method comprising:
- conveying a fluid in a conduit so that the fluid impinges upon an impingement within the conduit;
- sensing a temperature with a sensor that is thermally coupled to the conduit in close proximity to the impingement to provide a heated temperature measurement;
- heating the sensor with a heater;
- sensing a temperature of the fluid at a location of the conduit that is thermally isolated from the heater to obtain a reference temperature measurement;
- and
- providing an indication of a flowrate of the fluid based on a temperature difference between the reference temperature measurement and the heated temperature measurement.
A conduit for fluid flow comprising:
- an impingement to the fluid flow;
- a first sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fluid and provide a first temperature measurement;
- a second sensor in close thermal proximity to the impingement to provide a second temperature measurement;
- and
- a heater affixed in thermal proximity to the second temperature sensor to enable the heater to heat the second sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.