Thermal gas flowmeter comprising a gas quality indicator
US7399118B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/225
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a gas consumption by means of a gas meter. A gas meter with thermal mass flow sensor for determining mass flow signals (SM) and with a calibration as energy meter for outputting energy value signals (SE) is known. According to the invention, a gas type is determined by the gas meter insofar as combustible and non-combustible gas mixtures are differentiated. The gas meter is operated, in the case of a non-combustible gas mixture, with calibration in mass or standard volume units (I/min) and, in the case of a combustible gas mixture, with calibration in energy units (kWh). Embodiments concern inter alia: measurement of a gas parameter (λ, α, c, η) of the gas or determining the gas type; gas quality sensor with an identical construction to thermal flow sensor; measuring intervals lengthened in the case of non-combustible gas and shortened in the case of combustible gas. Advantages are inter alia: reliable energy measurement because of automatic differentiation between non-meterable gas and high-quality useful gas; detection of manipulation attempts; and automatic heat value tracking even without heat value measurement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.