SENSOR, CONTROLLER AND SYSTEM

• US 20150323391A1
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxford University Innovation Limited (University of Oxford)
• Original Assignee: Oxford University Innovation Limited (University of Oxford)
• Inventors: McCulloch, Malcolm Duncan, Armstrong, Peter Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,739,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/10 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices only the heater being controlled F24H9/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/042 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2240/26 Vertically distributed at fixed positions, e.g. multiple sensors distributed over the height of a tank, or a vertical inlet distribution pipe having a plurality of orifices
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/172 Scheduling based on user demand, e.g. determining starting point of heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/215 before heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/219 after heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/223 in the water storage tank
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/414 using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/143 for measuring surface temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/026 of moving liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2213/00 Temperature mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/00 Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0004 Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 : to control the temperature of one space

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor for measuring temperature of a fluid within a vessel, the vessel having a first region and a second region and the fluid having a temperature profile extending between the first region and the second region, the sensor comprising an array of elements, each element having a temperature-dependent parameter, the array being capable of deployment within or adjacent the vessel such that the array extends along the vessel for measuring the temperature profile, the elements of the array being coupled together between an input and an output, the input being coupled or capable of being coupled to a driving source for driving the sensors, and the output being coupled or capable of being coupled to a detector for measuring an aggregate of the temperature-dependent parameter from the array of elements. The invention further relates to a fluid temperature controller comprising a first input for receiving a first signal indicating a measurement of an aggregate of a temperature-dependent parameter from a sensor according to any preceding claim deployed within or adjacent a vessel containing a fluid having a temperature profile, a second input for receiving a second signal indicating a (preferably absolute) temperature of the fluid in the vessel and a processor configured to calculate a total thermal energy of the fluid in the vessel based on the first and second signals. The invention also relates to a combination comprising a sensing arrangement and a controller; a device; and a system.

Claims

1. A sensor for measuring temperature of a fluid within a vessel, the vessel having a first region and a second region and the fluid having a temperature profile extending between the first region and the second region, the sensor comprising an array of elements, each element having a temperature-dependent parameter, the array being capable of deployment within or adjacent the vessel such that the array extends along the vessel for measuring the temperature profile, the elements of the array being coupled together between an input and an output, the input being coupled or capable of being coupled to a driving source for driving the sensors, and the output being coupled or capable of being coupled to a detector for measuring an aggregate of the temperature-dependent parameter from the array of elements.

2. A sensor according to claim 1,

wherein an aggregate value of the temperature-dependent parameter has a predetermined relationship to the thermal energy content of the fluid in the vessel and the detector is arranged to derive a determination of thermal energy content of the fluid within the vessel from the aggregate value of the temperature-dependent parameter, and/or

wherein at least one of the elements of the array is configured such that the temperature-dependence of the temperature-dependent parameter is at or near a maximum or minimum at or near a temperature that is a threshold temperature between a useful temperature of the fluid and a non-useful temperature of the fluid.

4. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is resistance, impedance, inductance and/or capacitance,

preferably wherein the elements of the array are coupled together in series or in parallel.

6. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a thermistor.

7. A sensor according to claim 4 or 6,

wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient resistor or at least one Negative Temperature Coefficient resistor, and/or

wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a fixed value resistor, and/or

wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a fixed value resistor connected in parallel with a Positive Temperature Coefficient resistor or Negative Temperature Coefficient resistor, and/or

wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient resistor connected in parallel with a Negative Temperature Coefficient resistor and in series thereto a fixed value resistor, preferably wherein the Positive Temperature Coefficient resistor and/or Negative Temperature Coefficient resistor is a non-linear resistor.

12. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises at least one electronic filter circuit including, but not exclusive to, RC, RL and RLC circuits,

preferably wherein each element of the array has a predetermined and unique cut-off frequency at a predetermined temperature,

preferably wherein selective interrogation of elements of the array is achieved by using the unique cut-off frequency of the elements of the array to determine an interrogated cut-off frequency of element of the array.

preferably wherein the sensor is arranged to be selectively interrogated by the driving source by applying a frequency sweep around the unique cut-off frequency,

preferably wherein the selective interrogation of elements of the array comprises finding an interrogated cut-off frequency wherein the temperature-dependent parameter is the interrogated cut-off frequency and wherein the relationship between the predetermined cut-off frequency and interrogated cut-off frequency is used to determine a measure of temperature.

17. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises at least one RLC circuit,

preferably wherein each element of the array has a predetermined and unique resonant frequency at a predetermined temperature and is arranged to find the resonant frequency;

preferably wherein the sensor is arranged to be selectively interrogated in order to find an interrogated resonant frequency of elements of the array, and wherein the relationship between predetermined and interrogated resonant frequency is indicative of a temperature,

preferably wherein the detector is arranged to derive the thermal energy content of the fluid in the vessel from the relationship between the predetermined and interrogated resonant frequencies.

21. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements of the array comprises a semiconducting device, preferably wherein the semiconducting device of the array is biasable to enable manipulation of the threshold temperature.

23. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the array comprises a substrate that can be cut to length to determine the number of elements within the array, preferably wherein the substrate comprises a pipe and/or adhesive tape.

26. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the elements of the array are non-uniformly distributed along the length of the array.

27. A sensing arrangement comprising a sensor according to claim 1, and at least one thermometer, the sensor and said at least one thermometer having a shared output.

28. A sensing arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the sensor and said at least one thermometer are coupled together such that there are only two output connectors for the shared output, and/or

wherein the sensor and said at least one thermometer are arranged in parallel, and/or further comprising means for measuring an output from the thermometer separately to the output from the sensor, and/or

wherein the thermometer is arranged to monitor the temperature adjacent the vessel outlet or inlet to detect when fluid is at an unsanitary temperature,

preferably wherein the sensing arrangement is arranged to determine the useful volume of fluid within the vessel and/or calibrate the output of the sensor using the output of the at least one thermometer.

33. A fluid temperature controller comprising a first input for receiving a first signal indicating a measurement of an aggregate of a temperature-dependent parameter from a sensor according to any preceding claim deployed within or adjacent a vessel containing a fluid having a temperature profile, a second input for receiving a second signal indicating a (preferably absolute) temperature of the fluid in the vessel and a processor configured to calculate a total thermal energy of the fluid in the vessel based on the first and second signals.

34. A fluid temperature controller according to claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a volume of useful fluid in the vessel based on the first and second signals and a predetermined threshold temperature between a useful temperature of the fluid and a non-useful temperature of the fluid, and/or

wherein the processor is further configured to provide an output control signal for controlling a thermal source that changes the temperature of the fluid in the vessel,

preferably wherein the processor is further configured to provide the output control signal to the thermal source based on historical variations of at least the first signal, and/or

wherein the processor is configured to operate in dependence upon the number of array elements and/or array element spacing along the length of the sensor, and/or

further comprising a network stress monitor, the network stress monitor being arranged to receive data from a network operator and modify the output control signal to the thermal source in dependence of the data received from the network operator,

preferably wherein the network stress monitor modifies the output control signal to the thermal source in dependence on the supply network voltage and/or grid current frequency.

40. A sensing arrangement according to claim 27 in combination with a controller arranged to process the shared output from the sensing arrangement, wherein the sensing arrangement and/or controller is arranged to determine signals from the sensor and at least one thermometer separately and to compute the useful quantity of thermal energy within a vessel containing a fluid.

41. A sensing arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the combination is arranged to determine signals from the sensor and thermometer separately by impedance isolation of the thermometer, preferably wherein the combination is arranged to determine signals from the sensor and thermometer separately by using alternating current and direct current.

43. A sensor according to claim 1 arranged to provide output relating to a thermal property of the fluid within a vessel, means (such as an input) for receiving an output from the sensor and a processor arranged to identify removal of the fluid from the vessel in dependence on a rate of change of the output from the sensor and a predetermined threshold value of the output, whereby to identify removal of fluid from a vessel.

48. A sensor according to claim 1, for determining a thermal property of a fluid within a vessel, wherein the sensor is arranged to be fitted onto an exterior wall of the vessel;

and a processor for receiving the output from the sensor and adjusting the output according to thermal properties of the wall of the vessel, whereby to measure temperature of a fluid within a vessel.

51. A sensor according to claim 1, for determining a useful volume of a fluid within a vessel, wherein the sensor is arranged to be fitted onto an exterior wall of the vessel;

and a processor for receiving an output from the sensor and adjusting the output from the sensor in dependence upon changes induced in the fluid by a thermal source, whereby to measure temperature of a fluid within a vessel.

52. A fluid temperature controller according to claim 33 and a sensor according to claim 1 or a sensing arrangement according to claim 27, in combination with a vessel having a first region and a second region, and fluid having a temperature profile extending between the first region and the second region.

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