Measurement device for heat exchanger and process for measuring performance of a heat exchanger
US8863820B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K13/026
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A temperature measurement device in combination with a furnace heat exchanger is disclosed and claimed. An instrumented heat tracer sensor is launched into the heat exchanger which records the temperature of the fluid and performance at data points along the length of the heat exchanger. If a spike in the temperature as measured and recorded, since the speed of the heat tracer sensor is known, the location of the temperature increase is known which infers a burn through in the furnace. A three way valve includes a retrieve port, a chamber port, and a launch port. A small sensor control pump and a large heat exchanger flow pump propel the heat tracer sensor through the system. A plastic chamber retains the heat tracer sensor for interrogation and downloading information when the sensor is not in use in the heat exchanger. A control station communicates with the heat tracer sensor and extracts the stored temperature data therefrom.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.