Ultrasonic energy transfer sensing system

• US 4,810,100 A
• Filed: 05/30/1984
• Issued: 03/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smulkstys, Louis S., Shavit, Gideon
• Primary Examiner(s): YASICH, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US06/615,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.27, 73/861.28, 73/112, 374/39, 374/41, 374/40
• US Class Current: 374/40
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/24 of the velocity of propagation of sound
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/16 using electrical or magnetic means for both measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/24 by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave

Abstract

A system is disclosed for determining the energy transfer across a heat exchanger having an upstream side and a downstream side and mounted within a conduit through which fluid flows, the system including an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves through the conduit on the upstream and downstream sides of the heat exchanger, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving the ultrasonic waves on the upstream and downstream sides of the heat exchanger, the receiver providing signals indicative of the temperature difference between the fluid upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger and the velocity of fluid flow through the conduit and a processor connected to the receiver for determining energy transfer between the heat exchanger and the fluid based upon the signals indicative of the temperature difference and the velocity.

Claims

1. A system for determining the energy transfer across a heat exchanger mounted in a duct of an air conditioning system, said heat exchanger having an upstream side and a downstream side such that said heat exchanger transfers energy to air moving through said air conditioning duct, said system measuring the energy transferred to said air by said heat exchanger, said system comprising:

ultrasonic transmitter means for transmitting ultrasonic waves through said duct on said upstream and downstream sides of said heat exchanger;

ultrasonic receiver means for receiving said ultrasonic waves on said upstream and downstream sides of said heat exchanger, said receiver means providing signals indicative of the temperature difference between the air upstream and downstream of said heat exchanger and the velocity of air flow through said duct;

processing means connected to said ultrasonic receiver means for determining energy transfer between said heat exchanger and said air based upon said signals indicative of said temperature difference and said velocity;

wherein said ultrasonic transmitter means comprises a first transmitter transducer located upstream of said heat exchanger and a second transmitter transducer located downstream of said heat exchanger; and

wherein said ultrasonic receiver means comprises a first receiver transducer located upstream of said heat exchanger and oriented with said first transmitter transducer such that a line between said first transmitter transducer and said first receiver transducer is substantially perpendicular to air flowing through said duct, a second receiver transducer located downstream of said heat exchanger such that a line through said second transmitter transducer and said second receiver transducer is substantially perpendicular to the air flowing through said duct, and a third receiver transducer located such that a line between said third receiver transducer and one of said first and second transmitter transducers is at an angle to said air flowing through said duct.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic transmitter means comprises a pulse source for generating a transmit pulse to said transmitter transducers for generating pulses of ultrasonic frequency.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic receiver means comprises delay sensing means for sensing any delay in receiving said ultrasonic waves upstream and downstream of said heat exchanger for determining energy transfer.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said delay sensing means comprises a high frequency clock, a first counter means connected to said pulse source, to said first receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and terminating with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said first receiver transducer, a second counting means connected to said pulse source, to said second receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and stopping with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said second receiver transducer, and a third counting means connected to said pulse source, to said third receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and stopping with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said third receiver transducer.

5. A system for determining the energy transfer across a heat exchanger mounted in a duct of an air conditioning system, said heat exchanger having an upstream side and a downstream side such that said heat exchanger transfers energy to air moving through said air conditioning duct, said system measuring the energy transferred to said air by said heat exchanger, said system comprising:

ultrasonic transmitter means for transmitting ultrasonic waves across said duct on said upstream and downstream sides of said heat exchanger;

ultrasonic receiver means for receiving said ultrasonic waves on said upstream and downstream sides of said heat exchanger, said receiver means connected to said ultrasonic transmitter means and providing signals indicative of the temperatures of said air upstream and downstream of said heat exchanger and the velocity of air flow through said duct;

processing means connected to said ultrasonic transmitter means and to said ultrasonic receiver means for determining energy transfer between said heat exchanger and said air based upon said signals indicative of said temperature difference and said velocity;

wherein said ultrasonic transmitter means comprises a first transmitter transducer located upstream of said heat exchanger and a second transmitter transducer located downstream of said heat exchanger; and

wherein said ultrasonic receiver means comprises a first receiver transducer located upstream of said heat exchanger and oriented with said first transmitter transducer such that a line between said first transmitter transducer and said first receiver transducer is substantially perpendicular to air flowing through said duct, a second receiver transducer located downstream of said heat exchanger such that a line through said second transmitter transducer and said second receiver transducer is substantially perpendicular to the air flowing through said duct, and a third receiver transducer located such that a line between said third receiver transducer and one of said first and second transmitter transducers is at an angle to said air flowing through said duct.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said ultrasonic transmitter means comprises a pulse source for generating a transmit pulse to said transmitter transducers for generating pulses of ultrasonic frequency.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said ultrasonic receiver means comprises delay sensing means for sensing any delay in receiving said ultrasonic waves upstream and downstream of said heat exchanger for determining energy transfer.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said delay sensing means comprises a high frequency clock, a first counter means connected to said pulse source, to said first receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and terminating with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said first receiver transducer, a second counting means connected to said pulse source, to said second receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and stopping with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said second receiver transducer, and a third counting means connected to said pulse source, to said third receiver transducer and to said high frequency clock for counting clock pulses from said high frequency clock starting with said transmit pulse and stopping with receipt of said ultrasonic wave by said third receiver transducer.