Electronic heat amount meter

In an electronic heat amount meter, for a heating installation having a heat carrier medium supply line and a cooled medium return line, the heat amount meter including a computer operating on the analog principle, a volumeter, and electronic circuit means for connection to signal processing devices:

• the improvement comprising, in combination, a volumeter including thermal energy supply means and comprising at least one substantially unrestricted tubular body connected in series in said supply line and conveying therethrough the heat carrier medium to be measured;
• at least one first temperature sensor and at least one pressure head probe mounted on said tubular body and operatively associated with the heat carrier medium being supplied through said tubular body;
• first electronic elements connected to said pressure head probe and operable to convert the pressure head into a first electrical quantity proportional to the volumetric rate of flow of the heat carrier medium flowing through said tubular body;
• at least one second temperature sensor mounted on said return line and operatively associated with the cooled medium returning therethrough;
• second electronic elements connected to said first and second temperature sensors and operable to convert the temperature difference between the supplied and returned medium into a second electronic quantity proportional to such temperature difference;
• said computer being connected to said first and second electronic elements and combining said first and second electronic quantities into a measure of the heat supplied to said heating installation;
• and an electric generator connected to and operable by said thermal energy supply means of said volumeter and supplying the electrical energy for operation of said heat amount meter;
• in which said thermal energy supply means of said volumeter comprises a second tubular body coaxially surrounding said first-mentioned tubular body and in radially spaced relation to the latter, said two tubular bodies defining therebetween a completely closed annular space receiving a secondary medium heated by the heat carrier medium;
• a thermogenerator constituting said electric generator;
• pipe means connecting said thermogenerator to said completely closed annular space for generation of electric energy by the heat of said secondary medium;
• and transformer means connected to said thermogenerator and operable to convert the generated electrical energy into operating potentials applied to said heat amount meter.