Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry

Details Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry

2007-07-24

2007-07-24

Patel, Harshad (Department: 2855)

Measuring and testing

Volume or rate of flow

Proportional

Reexamination Certificate

active

11337950

ABSTRACT:
Advanced electronic metering of natural gas consumption is a new opportunity in the recent free market economy of the utility sector in the US and Europe. Real-time continuous measurements facilitate our awareness in the consumption of a non-renewable energy resource, which is a first step towards taking energy saving measures in domestic and commercial buildings. We here disclose a real-time desktop information system for natural gas consumption based on a new wireless electronic flow-meter. The meter is drift-free by subjecting thermal anemometry to a novel modulation technique. It uses a dynamical flow-interface to control the exposure of a thermal flow-sensor to a streaming medium. A discrete modulation of the flow perturbs the total heat-flux from the sensor to the medium. The relative perturbation, normalized to total heat-flux, creates a Nusselt number which is a function only of the Reynolds number of the flow. The medium temperature can be estimated on the basis of a similar factorization of the total heat-flux. Our method hereby measures both volume- and mass-displacement. In the preferred embodiments the interface consists of a by-pass configuration with micro-flow switches, controlling micro-jets applied to a silicon integrated flow-sensor. The device hereby forms a cost-effective and robust alternative to current approaches for electronic flow-metering. Its output is readily provided to a desk-top computer using existing wireless interfacing, serving energy-analysis and energy-saving strategies.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4461173 (1984-07-01), Olin
patent: 4648270 (1987-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5279154 (1994-01-01), Vavra et al.
patent: 6044701 (2000-04-01), Doyle et al.
patent: 6308553 (2001-10-01), Bonne et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drift-free thermodynamic anemometry will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3723755