Radial junction thermal flowmeter
US5313831A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 24, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/6888
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermal flowmeter to measure the rate of flow of a fluid in a conduit is provided. An important characteristic of the flowmeter is that it includes two radial junction thermocouples, one of them a downstream radial junction thermocouple and the other an upstream radial junction thermocouple. A heat source to supply heat to the conduit and fluid is provided. The heat source supplies heat preferentially to one of the radial junction thermocouples, preferably to the downstream one. The differential output of the two radial junction thermocouples is measured and is an index of the rate of flow of the fluid. Compensating temperature sensing means is provided to measure the base or process temperature of the fluid before it is affected by the heat source, to provide a base for the differential output. The flowmeter can be constructed in many different embodiments. A method of measuring flow, mass flow and viscosity using radial junction thermocouples is provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.