High temperature particle velocity meter and associated method

A device for measuring the particle velocity of a pneumatically transported high temperature material comprising:

• pipeline means having an electrically non-conducting inner surface for holding said high temperature material and for creating first and second triboelectric charges;
• a first electrically conducting portion disposed on the inner surface of said pipeline means, said first electrically conducting portion having an upstream end and a downstream end, whereby a first triboelectric charge is created when said high temperature material contacts said pipeline means upstream of said first electrically conducting portion, said first triboelectric charge being discharged when said material subsequently contacts said first electrically conducting portion;
• a second electrically conducting portion disposed on the inner surface of said pipeline and spaced from said first electrically conducting portion, said second electrically conducting portion having an upstream end and a downstream end, whereby a second triboelectric charge is created when said high temperature material contacts said pipeline means upstream of said second electrically conducting portion, said second triboelectric charge being discharged when said material subsequently contacts said second electrically conducting portion;
• a first signal generating means to receive said first triboelectric charge;
• first conductor means to carry said first triboelectric charge from said first electrically conducting portion to said first signal generating means;
• second signal generating means to receive said second triboelectric charge;
• second conductor means to carry said second triboelectric charge from said second electrically conducting portion to a second signal generating means;
• said first signal generating means converting said first triboelectric charge from said first electrically conducting portion into a first electronic signal;
• said second signal generating means converting said second electric signal from said second electrically conducting portion into a second electronic signal;
• and
• means for calculating the particle velocity of said high temperature material based on said first electronic signal and said second electronic signal.

A method of determining the particle velocity of a high temperature material being pneumatically transported in a metal pipeline and the like comprising:

• providing said pipeline with a first electrically conducting portion and a second electrically conducting portion, said portions having disposed on each of their upstream sides respective first and second electrically non-conducting portions, and (ii) a first and second conductor for carrying electric discharges from said first and second conducting portions, respectively, to a first and second signal generating means;
• pneumatically conveying through said pipeline said high temperature material to create (i) a first triboelectric charge on said material when said material contacts said first electrically non-conducting portion, said first triboelectric charge being discharged when said triboelectrically charged material contacts said first electrically conducting portion and (ii) a second triboelectric charge on said material when said material contacts said second electrically non-conducting portion, said second triboelectric charge being discharged when said triboelectrically charged material contacts said second electrically conducting portion;
• converting said first and second triboelectric charge to respective first and second electronic signals by means of said first and second signal generating means, respectively;
• and
• calculating said high temperature particle velocity based on said first and second electronic signals.

A method of determining the particle velocity of a high temperature material being pneumatically transported in a ceramic pipeline having an electrically non-conducting inner surface comprising:

• providing said pipeline with a first electrically conducting portion and a second electrically conducting portion, and (ii) a first and second conductor for carrying electric discharges form said first and second conducting portions, respectively, to a first and second signal generating means;
• pneumatically conveying through said pipeline said high temperature material to create (i) a first triboelectric charge on said material when said material contacts said pipeline, said first triboelectric charge being discharged when said triboelectrically charged material contacts said first electrically conducting portion and (ii) a second triboelectric charge on said material when said material contacts said pipeline, said second triboelectric charge being discharged when said triboelectrically charged material contacts said second electrically conducting portion;
• converting said first and second triboelectric charge to respective first and second electronic signals by means of said first and second signal generating means, respectively;
• and
• calculating said high temperature particle velocity based on said first and second electronic signals.