Wireless temperature sensor for obtaining temperature profiles in a mixing vessel

• US 7,846,397 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gregg, Jack T., Amidi, Soroush
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEIFU, LESSANEWORK T
• Application Number:
  US11/973,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090092522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 422/105, 422/108, 422/109, 422/119, 340/588, 340/584, 374/141, 374/E1.001
• US Class Current: 422/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication

Abstract

A wireless temperature sensor for use in monitoring the temperature of a fluid or gas in a mixing vessel. The wireless temperature sensor comprises a temperature probe for contacting the fluid or gas and generating a signal based on the gas/fluid temperature; a temperature reader for receiving the signal generated by the temperature probe and determining therefrom a temperature reading of the fluid or gas; and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for transmitting the temperature reading determined by the temperature reader to a control apparatus external to the mixing vessel.

Claims

1. For use in monitoring a temperature of a fluid or gas in a mixing vessel, a wireless temperature sensor comprising:

a temperature probe configured to contact the fluid or gas and generate a signal according to the temperature of the fluid or gas;

a temperature reader configured to receive the signal generated by the temperature probe and determine therefrom a temperature reading of the fluid or gas;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit the temperature reading determined by the temperature reader to a control apparatus external to the mixing vessel; and

a casing comprising a double-walled structure having an insulating interior wall and an insulating exterior wall, wherein the temperature reader and the RF transceiver reside in an interior space within the interior wall, and wherein the temperature probe is mounted on or embedded in the exterior wall.

2. The wireless temperature sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to transmit temperature readings to the control apparatus at predetermined times.

3. The wireless temperature sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to transmit the temperature reading to the control apparatus in response to a request message received from the control apparatus.

4. The wireless temperature sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to communicate with the control apparatus according to an ISA100 standard protocol.

5. The wireless temperature sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to communicate with the control apparatus according to an IEEE-802.11 standard protocol.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a space between the interior wall and the exterior wall comprises a vacuum.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the interior space further comprises a vacuum.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the interior space further comprises a cooling liquid.

9. A process control system comprising:

a mixing vessel configured to hold a fluid or gas undergoing one of an exothermic reaction and an endothermic reaction;

a controller configured to regulate a temperature of the fluid or gas in the mixing vessel, the controller comprising a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and

a wireless temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature of the fluid or gas in the mixing vessel, the temperature sensor comprising;

a temperature probe configured to contact the fluid or gas and generate a signal according to the temperature of the fluid or gas;

a temperature reader configured to receive the signal generated by the temperature probe and determine therefrom a temperature reading of the fluid or gas;

a second RF transceiver configured to transmit the temperature reading determined by the temperature reader to the first RF receiver; and

a casing comprising a double-walled structure having an insulating interior wall and an insulating exterior wall, wherein the temperature reader and the second RF transceiver reside in an interior space within the interior wall, and wherein the temperature probe is mounted on or embedded in the exterior wall.

10. The process control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second RF transceiver is configured to transmit temperature readings to the controller at predetermined times.

11. The process control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second RF transceiver is configured to transmit the temperature reading to the controller in response to a request message received from the controller.

12. The process control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second RF transceivers are configured to communicate according to an ISA 100 standard protocol.

13. The process control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second RF transceivers are configured to communicate according to an IEEE-802.11 standard protocol.

14. The process control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein a space between the interior wall and the exterior wall comprises a vacuum.

15. The process control system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the interior space further comprises a vacuum.

16. The process control system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the interior space further comprises a cooling liquid.

17. A method comprising:

placing a wireless temperature sensor in a mixing vessel, the wireless temperature sensor comprising a temperature probe, a temperature reader, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a casing comprising a double-walled structure having an insulating interior wall and an insulating exterior wall, wherein the temperature reader and the RF transceiver reside in an interior space within the interior wall, and wherein the temperature probe is mounted on or embedded in the exterior wall;

contacting the temperature probe to a fluid or gas in the mixing vessel and generating a signal according to a temperature of the fluid or gas using the temperature probe;

receiving the signal generated by the temperature probe and determining therefrom a temperature reading of the fluid or gas at the temperature reader; and

transmitting the temperature reading determined by the temperature reader to a destination outside of the mixing vessel using the RF transceiver.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting temperature readings to the destination at predetermined times.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein transmitting the temperature reading comprises transmitting the temperature reading in response to a request message received from the destination.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

insulating the temperature reader and the RF transceiver from heat in the mixing vessel using a vacuum within a space between the interior wall and the exterior wall and one of;

a vacuum within the interior space and a cooling liquid within the interior space.