Method and apparatus for estimating fouling factor and/or inverse soluble scale thickness in heat transfer equipment
US9568375B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N25/18
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Scale deposition on a heat transfer surface in a liquid system such as a heat exchanger is estimated by directing of small portion of the liquid flow through a test cell, consisting of a sensor positioned on and projecting through a conduit wall. The sensor consists of a conductive block containing a heater and having a heated wetted test surface that is flush with the inside of the conduit wall and in contact with the flow through the conduit. Within the conductive block are two temperature sensors which are at different distances from the heated wetted test surface and the heater. The periphery of the apparatus is designed to reduce heat flow through the periphery and allow greater heat flow through the heated wetted test surface. By comparing the temperature differential between the two temperature sensors to the differential when no scale is present, the presence of and amount of scale can be determined, based on reduced heat transfer through the heated wetted surface caused by the accumulated scale. The change in the temperature differential is directly proportional to the scale thickness for a given type of scale. When the thickness of the scale is determined by another means…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.