Steam quality meter and measurement method
First Claim
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1. A steam quality meter comprising:
- a pipe having an inlet and an outlet;
a rod located within the pipe between the inlet and the outlet and defining an annular flow passage between an outer wall of the rod and an inner wall of the pipe;
a mixing device within the pipe between the inlet and an upstream end of the rod; and
a plurality of spaced sensors within the annular flow passage, wherein the plurality of spaced sensors includes at least one upper sensor configured to sense capacitance and/or impedance of steam flowing through an upper half of the annular flow passage, and wherein the plurality of spaced sensors includes at least one lower sensor configured to sense capacitance and/or impedance of steam flowing through a lower half of the annular flow passage.
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Abstract
A steam quality meter includes a pipe with an inlet and an outlet. A rod is located within the pipe between the inlet and the outlet. The rod defines an annular flow passage between an outer wall of the rod and an inner wall of the pipe. A mixing device is located within the pipe between the inlet and an upstream end of the rod. Spaced sensors are located within the annular flow passage. Each sensor is configured to sense capacitance and/or impedance of steam flowing through the annular flow passage.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steam quality meter comprising:
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a pipe having an inlet and an outlet; a rod located within the pipe between the inlet and the outlet and defining an annular flow passage between an outer wall of the rod and an inner wall of the pipe; a mixing device within the pipe between the inlet and an upstream end of the rod; and a plurality of spaced sensors within the annular flow passage, wherein the plurality of spaced sensors includes at least one upper sensor configured to sense capacitance and/or impedance of steam flowing through an upper half of the annular flow passage, and wherein the plurality of spaced sensors includes at least one lower sensor configured to sense capacitance and/or impedance of steam flowing through a lower half of the annular flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of measuring steam quality, the method comprising:
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directing steam into a pipe through an inlet of the pipe; homogenizing the steam; flowing the steam through an annular flow passage within the pipe to an outlet of the pipe; sensing capacitance and/or impedance of the steam flowing through an upper half of the annular flow passage at one or more upper locations within the annular flow passage; sensing capacitance and/or impendence of the steam flowing through a lower half of the annular flow passage at one or more lower locations within the annular flow passage; and producing a steam quality value of the steam flowing through the upper half and the lower half of the annular flow passage based upon the capacitance and/or impedance sensed at each of the upper and lower locations within the annular flow passage at which capacitance and/or impedance is sensed; wherein sensing capacitance and/or impedance of the steam includes sensing capacitance and/or impedance of the steam between an electrode at an inner wall of the pipe and a plurality of upper and lower rod electrodes at the outer wall of a rod located within the pipe between the inlet of the pipe and the outlet of the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of measuring steam quality, the method comprising:
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directing steam into a pipe through an inlet of the pipe; homogenizing the steam; flowing the steam through an annular flow passage within the pipe to an outlet of the pipe; sensing capacitance and/or impedance of the steam flowing through an upper half of the annular flow passage at one or more upper locations within the annular flow passage; sensing capacitance and/or impendence of the steam flowing through a lower half of the annular flow passage at one or more lower locations within the annular flow passage; producing a steam quality value of the steam flowing through the upper half and the lower half of the annular flow passage based upon the capacitance and/or impedance sensed at each of the upper and lower locations within the annular flow passage at which capacitance and/or impedance is sensed; and comparing the capacitance and/or impedance sensed at each of the upper and lower locations within the annular flow passage to produce an indication of reliability of the steam quality value.
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20. A method of measuring steam quality, the method comprising:
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directing steam into a pipe through an inlet of the pipe; homogenizing the steam; flowing the steam through an annular flow passage within the pipe to an outlet of the pipe; sensing capacitance and/or impedance of the steam flowing through an upper half of the annular flow passage at one or more upper locations within the annular flow passage; sensing capacitance and/or impendence of the steam flowing through a lower half of the annular flow passage at one or more lower locations within the annular flow passage; and producing a steam quality value of the steam flowing through the upper half and the lower half of the annular flow passage based upon the capacitance and/or impedance sensed at each of the upper and lower locations within the annular flow passage at which capacitance and/or impedance is sensed; wherein producing a steam quality value comprises averaging the capacitance and/or impedance at each of the upper and lower locations within the annular flow passage.
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Specification