Heat measuring apparatus and method for use in a continuous fluid stream

• US 4,362,404 A
• Filed: 03/17/1980
• Issued: 12/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Armstrong, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/131,028
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 73/193 R, 73/193 A, 73/190 R, 374/39
• US Class Current: 374/39
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/08 based upon measurement of temperature difference or of a temperature

Abstract

A technique for use in measuring the amount of heat entering (or being withdrawn from) a continuous fluid stream at a specific location along its path is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes a constant ratio fluid flow divider, e.g., a fluidic bridge, for diverting a portion of the fluid stream along a bypass route. Heat is applied to the diverted stream along its bypass route and, at the same time, the difference in temperature between the diverted stream and the mainstream is detected at predetermined points. From this difference, the amount of heat applied to the diverted stream is controlled so as to substantially eliminate any temperature differential between these points. The amount of heat to accomplish this is proportional by a fixed amount to the heat entering (or leaving) the main stream at the heating (cooling) process to be measured.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in measuring the amount of heat entering a continuous fluid stream at a predetermined location along the path of said stream from a heat generating system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for diverting a fixed portion of said fluid stream from said path at a specific diversion point and returning said stream portion back to said path along a bypass route upstream of said heat entering location, said diverting means being such that the fluid entering the bypass route and the fluid remaining in the continuous stream at said diversion point have substantially the same pressure and temperature, said diversion means including a plurality of laminar flow elements together forming a flow dividing arrangement which is located at said diversion point and which has a bypass section through which the diverted portion of said stream passes and a main section through which the rest of said stream passes;

(b) means for applying heat to said diverted stream portion at a fixed point along said bypass route;

(c) a heat control arrangement including

(i) means for detecting the difference in temperature between the continuous stream at a fixed point on said path downstream of said heat entering location and the diverted stream portion at a fixed point along said bypass route downstream of said heat applying point, and

(ii) means responsive to the temperature difference detected for controlling the amount of said heat applied to said diverted stream portion so as to substantially eliminate said difference; and

(d) means for measuring the amount of heat applied to said diverted stream portion, said applied heat being proportional by a fixed amount to the heat entering said continuous stream from said generating system whereby the latter can be determined.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bypass route extends vertically upward from said continuous stream at said diversion point.

3. An apparatus for use in measuring the amount of heat entering a continuous fluid stream at a predetermined location along the path of said stream from a heat generating system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for diverting a fixed portion of said fluid stream from said path at a specific diversion joint and returning said stream portion back to said path along a bypass route upstream of said heat entering location, said diverting means being such that the fluid entering the bypass route and the fluid remaining in the continuous stream at said diversion point have substantially the same pressure and temperature, said diverting means including a flow dividing arrangement which is located at said diversion point and which has a bypass section through which the diverted portion of said stream passes and a main section through which the rest of said stream passes, said main section including therein means for creating a venturi so as to provide said diverted stream portion;

(b) means for applying heat to said diverted stream portion at a fixed point along said bypass route;

(c) a heat control arrangement including

(i) means for detecting the difference in temperature between the continuous stream at a fixed point on said path downstream of said heat entering location and the diverted stream portion at a fixed point along said bypass route downstream of said heat applying point, and

(ii) means responsive to the temperature difference detected for controlling the amount of said heat applied to said diverted stream portion so as to substantially eliminate said difference; and

(d) means for measuring the amount of heat applied to said diverted stream portion, said applied heat being proportional by a fixed amount to the heat entering said continuous stream from said generating system whereby the latter can be determined.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bypass route extends vertically upward from said continuous stream at said diversion point.