Flowmeters and methods for diagnosis of sensor units
US8590360B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/698
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for diagnosis of a flowmeter are disclosed. The method includes thermally coupling a first sensor unit of the flowmeter to a fluid and thermally coupling a second sensor unit of the flowmeter to the fluid. The method also includes actively heating or cooling the first sensor unit by applying power to the first sensor unit such that its temperature is different from the temperature of the fluid, and simultaneously actively heating or cooling the second sensor unit by applying power to the second sensor unit such that its temperature is different from the temperature of the fluid, and typically from the temperature of the first sensor. The method can include determining a temperature TM0 of the fluid, and determining at least two independent quantities related to the heat transfer of the sensor units, each of the at least two independent heat transfer related quantities being determined from at least one element selected from the group including TM0, TM1, TM2, PM1, and PM2, and determining a diagnosis result by setting into relation the at least two independent heat transfer related quantities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.