Powering sensors in a heat trace system
AssigneeChromalox, Inc.
InventorsAdam Heiligenstein, Scott Treser, Thomas Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Powering a sensor module of a heat trace system used for heating vessels. The sensor module may comprise a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of a vessel. A microprocessor-based controller of the heat trace system uses the sensed temperature from the sensor module to control the voltage applied to the heat trace, and thereby control the heat provided by the heat trace to the vessel. The sensor module may comprise an energy storage device that stored energy from the voltage difference across a pair of buss wires in the heat trace cable, and the stored energy is used to power the components of the sensor modules.
Claims22
A heat trace system for heating vessels of a piping system, the heat trace system comprising:
- a temperature control system comprising:
- a programmable controller comprising at least one microprocessor;
- and
- a power source connected to the controller;
- a plurality of heat trace elements that are adjacent to vessels of the piping system, and wherein the plurality of heat trace elements are connected to the power source of the temperature control system;
- and
- a plurality of temperature sensor modules distributed throughout the piping system, wherein:
- the plurality of temperature sensor modules are connected to and powered by an associated heat trace element of the plurality of heat trace elements;
- each of the temperature sensor module comprises:
- a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a localized point of a vessel of the piping system;
- and
- an energy storage device connected to the associated heat trace element for storing energy from the associated heat trace element, wherein the energy stored by energy storage device from the associated heat trace element is for powering the temperature sensor of the temperature sensor module;
- and
- the plurality of temperature sensor modules are configured to transmit sensed temperature data, sensed by the temperature sensors, to the temperature control system.
A reporting method for a heat trace system that heats vessels of a piping system, wherein the heat trace system comprises:
- a temperature control system comprising:
- a programmable controller comprising at least one microprocessor;
- and
- a power source connected to the controller;
- a plurality of heat trace elements that are adjacent to vessels of the piping system, and wherein the plurality of heat trace elements are connected to the power source of the temperature control system;
- and
- a plurality of temperature sensor modules distributed throughout the piping system, wherein each of the temperature sensor module comprises a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a localized point of a vessel of the piping system,
- the method comprising:
- storing energy, by each sensor module, in an energy storage device, for a voltage different across an associated heat trace element of the plurality of heat trace elements;
- powering each sensor module with the stored energy from the energy storage devices;
- and
- transmitting, by the plurality of temperature sensor modules, sensed temperature data, sensed by the temperature sensors, to the temperature control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.