Electronic heat balance flow meter
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system and device to measure air flow in the vents of hydroelectric generators to ensure proper ventilation and prevent potential damage from malfunctioning cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
An electronic thermal mass flowmeter is designed to measure air flow through a vent by using printed circuit boards to form a duct, a heating element to inject heat, and thermal sensors to measure inlet and outlet temperatures, calculating the air flow based on the temperature difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flowmeter is installed to measure air flow through vents, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated flowmeter device: the heating element, thermal sensors, printed circuit boards with conductive traces, and support structures are merged into one compact unit. This integration allows air flow measurement through vents while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure despite the multiple functional components required for accurate measurement.
2Ease of manufacture
If thermal sensors and heating elements are integrated into printed circuit boards, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical assembly methods with printed circuit board technology. Instead of manually positioning and connecting thermal sensors and heating elements, these components are integrated directly onto the PCB with conductive traces that provide both electrical connections and structural support. This substitution improves ease of manufacture while the PCB manufacturing process inherently provides the necessary precision for trace alignment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flowmeter effectively measures air flow through vents, ensuring proper ventilation in hydroelectric generators and preventing potential damage by identifying insufficient air flow.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element located across the duct, adapted to heat air passing through the duct
Implementation Method 2
a first thermal sensor located upstream from the heating element relative to the air flow and adapted to measure an inlet temperature of the air and a second thermal sensor located downstream from the heating element
Implementation Method 3
The ventilation system forces air through the rotor rim vents toward the rotor poles, thereby favoring convective cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal mass flowmeter is provided to determine the air flow in a vent. The flowmeter includes a duct defined by printed circuit boards and adapted to insert in the vent. The flowmeter also includes a heating element located across the duct, for heating the air passing through the duct. At least one thermal sensor is located in the duct upstream from the heating element, relative to air flow, to measure inlet temperature of the air. At least one other thermal sensor is located in the duct downstream from the heating element, to measure outlet temperature heated by the heating element. The flowmeter further includes a support member to maintain the structural integrity of the duct within the vent, and at least one connector to exchange electrical signals with the flowmeter.