GAS FLOW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

• US 20140260597A1
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Ruskin Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Vogel, Timothy A., Wiley, Josiah
• Granted Patent: US 9,568,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/198
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/68 by using thermal effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/684 Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/69 of resistive type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/698 Feedback or rebalancing circuits, e.g. self heated constant temperature flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/061 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A gas flow monitoring system is disclosed that includes a plurality of first gas flow sensors. A primary probe transmitter is connected to the plurality of first gas flow sensors is configured to process data received from the plurality of first gas flow sensors to generate first gas flow data. A plurality of second gas flow sensors are connected to an ancillary probe transmitter and to the primary probe transmitter, where the ancillary probe transmitter are configured to process data received from the plurality of second gas flow sensors to generate second gas flow data. The primary probe transmitter further comprises a building automation system interface, and is configured to receive the second gas flow data from the ancillary probe transmitter and to transmit the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data to a building automation system.

Claims

1. A gas flow monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of first gas flow sensors;

a primary probe transmitter coupled to the plurality of first gas flow sensors and configured to process data received from the plurality of first gas flow sensors to generate first gas flow data;

a plurality of second gas flow sensors;

an ancillary probe transmitter coupled to the plurality of second gas flow sensors and to the primary probe transmitter, the ancillary probe transmitter configured to process data received from the plurality of second gas flow sensors to generate second gas flow data; and

the primary probe transmitter further comprising a building automation system interface and configured to receive the second gas flow data from the ancillary probe transmitter and to transmit the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data to a building automation system.

2. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the primary probe transmitter is coupled to the ancillary probe transmitter over a wireless network and the primary probe transmitter is coupled to the building automation system over a wire line network.

3. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first gas flow sensors comprise a first plurality of thermistors for self-heating and a first plurality of thermistors for ambient temperature measurement.

4. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the primary probe transmitter further comprises an error indication system configured to receive a signal from each of the plurality of thermistors for self-heating and to determine if one or more of the plurality of thermistors for self-heating should be omitted from the first gas flow data.

5. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the first gas flow data comprises gas flow data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors.

6. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the first gas flow data comprises one or more of velocity data and volume data.

7. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a touch screen controller coupled to the primary probe transmitter and configured to generate one or more user prompts and to receive user-entered selections in response to the user prompts.

8. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first housing containing the primary probe transmitter, the first housing configured to be attached to an air flow component at a first location; and

a first sensor support coupled to the first housing and the air flow component at the first location, wherein the plurality of first gas flow sensors are disposed on the first sensor support.

9. The gas flow monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second housing containing the ancillary probe transmitter, the second housing configured to be attached to the air flow component at a second location; and

a second sensor support coupled to the second housing and the air flow component at the second location, wherein the plurality of second gas flow sensors are disposed on the second sensor support.

10. A method for monitoring gas flow comprising:

receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of first gas flow sensors at a primary probe transmitter;

processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate first gas flow data;

receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of second gas flow sensors at an ancillary probe transmitter;

processing the plurality of second gas flow sensors data signals to generate second gas flow data;

transmitting the second gas flow data to the primary probe transmitter over a first communications media;

assembling the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data for transmission over a network at the primary probe transmitter; and

transmitting the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data from the primary probe transmitter to a building automation system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving the data signal from each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors at the primary probe transmitter comprises receiving a data signal from one or more thermistors for self-heating and a data signal from one or more thermistors for ambient temperature measurement.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating first gas flow data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating one or more of velocity data and volume data.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating one or more of velocity data and volume data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether one or more of the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals should be omitted from the first gas flow data at the primary probe transmitter.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising testing each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors for operability with the primary probe transmitter.

17. A method for monitoring gas flow comprising:

receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of first gas flow sensors at a primary probe transmitter;

processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate first gas flow data;

receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of second gas flow sensors at a first ancillary probe transmitter;

processing the plurality of second gas flow sensors data signals to generate second gas flow data;

receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of third gas flow sensors at a second ancillary probe transmitter;

processing the plurality of third gas flow sensors data signals to generate third gas flow data;

transmitting the second gas flow data and the third gas flow data to the primary probe transmitter over a first communications media;

assembling the first gas flow data, the second gas flow data and the third gas flow data for transmission over a network at the primary probe transmitter; and

transmitting the first gas flow data, the second gas flow data and the third gas flow data from the primary probe transmitter to a building automation system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein receiving the data signal from each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors at the primary probe transmitter comprises receiving a data signal from one or more thermistors for self-heating and a data signal from one or more thermistors for ambient temperature measurement.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating first gas flow data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating one or more of velocity data and volume data.