Method, sensor and system for measuring a lower heating value and a Wobbe Index of a gaseous fuel

US8486710B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• William Joseph Antel, Jr. · Freising, DE
• Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan · Niskayuna, US
• Stephen Adam Solovitz · Ossining, US
• Nishant Vats · Bachra, IN
• Subhrajit Dey · Savanuru, IN
• Robert Michael Orenstein · Atlanta, US
• Matthew W. Moorman · Albuquerque, US
• Ronald P. Manginell · Albuquerque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 2005
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/218
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for measuring a lower heating value of a gaseous fuel. The method includes mixing a gaseous fuel with air to provide a combustible air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture is directed to flow across a flow surface of a first micro-hotplate maintained at a constant temperature. A change in power required to maintain a constant temperature of the first micro-hotplate flow surface due to a convective and conductive heat transfer from the first micro-hotplate flow surface to the air-fuel mixture is measured. The air-fuel mixture is directed to flow across a flow surface of a second micro-hotplate maintained at a constant temperature. The air-fuel mixture is combusted as the air-fuel mixture flows across the second micro-hotplate flow surface. A change in power required to maintain a constant temperature of the second micro-hotplate flow surface due to the combustion of the air-fuel mixture is measured.