Thermal Related Property Patents (Class 702/136)
  • Patent number: 8285511
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating temperature are provided for estimating a temperature of a test point in a space with an air conditioner. In the method, a first and a second sensor device are deployed in the space, wherein the second sensor device is deployed at the test point. Then, state parameters and temperature transformation functions are defined according to temperatures detected by the first and the second sensor devices and a state of the air conditioner during a predetermined time period. After the second sensor device is removed, a current state of the air conditioner is determined by reference temperatures detected by the first sensor device and the state parameters. One of the temperature transformation functions is selected according to the current state, and a current temperature of the test point is estimated by using the selected temperature transformation function and the reference temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Institute for Information Industry
    Inventors: Kun-Cheng Tsai, Chang-An Hsieh, Pei-Lin Hou, Chia-Shin Yen
  • Patent number: 8280675
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a rail vehicle includes receiving signals representative of temperatures of a wheel of the rail vehicle and generating a sensed wheel temperature profile of the wheel based on the signals. At least a portion of the sensed wheel temperature profile is representative of the temperatures of the wheel. The method also includes identifying waveform attributes in the sensed wheel temperature profile and designating the sensed wheel temperature profile as at least one of a typical wheel profile and an atypical wheel profile based on the waveform attributes in the sensed wheel temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Church, Donald Arndt
  • Patent number: 8275570
    Abstract: A method for modeling of an overhead electrical conductor, includes: collecting 3-dimensional location data of the conductor; substantially simultaneous with said collecting, acquiring a thermal measurement of the conductor with a local thermal sensor; and generating a CAD model of the conductor using the collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor and the thermal measurement of the conductor. The CAD model facilitates thermal line analysis of the conductor, thermal rating of a power line that includes the conductor, clearance analysis relative to the conductor, and vegetation management relative to the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Utility Risk Management Corporation, LLC
    Inventor: Adam Robert Rousselle
  • Patent number: 8265885
    Abstract: A method for monitoring stress on a wind turbine blade during loading is disclosed. The method includes capturing multiple images at respective locations of the blade. The method also includes measuring temperature at the respective locations based upon captured images. The method further includes calculating stress applied on the blade at the respective locations based upon the measured temperature. The method also includes calculating stress applied on the blade at the respective locations based upon the measured temperature. The method further includes comparing the calculated stress with respective theoretical stress in a finite element model to predict lifetime of the blade. The method also includes alerting an operator in event that the calculated stress at one or more of the respective locations is above a pre-determined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sheri George
  • Publication number: 20120221288
    Abstract: There is provided a method of determining thermal behavior of a double H-bridge. An exemplary method includes applying current to a set of dual IGBTs of the double H-bridge, the dual IGBTs thermally coupled to a heatsink. The method also includes measuring case temperatures of each of the dual IGBTs. The method also includes, based on the measured case temperatures, determining a set of thermal resistance parameters that describe a thermal effect that the current through each dual IGBT has on the case temperatures of each dual IGBT. The method also includes using the thermal resistance parameters to generate a computer model for analyzing heat flow in the double H-bridge. The method also includes using the thermal model to estimate junction temperatures of the double H-bridge during operation of the double H-bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company, a New York Corporation
    Inventor: Dimitrios Ioannidis
  • Publication number: 20120209539
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for turbine fault analysis are described herein. One computing device implemented method for turbine failure analysis includes collecting a first set of data associated with wind turbine performance, via a computing device, analyzing the first set of data to determine whether the first set of data can indicate a fault condition, and reviewing a second set of data associated with wind turbine performance to determine if a fault condition exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Kyusung Kim
  • Publication number: 20120203495
    Abstract: A process condition measuring device (PCMD) may include first and second substrate components. One or more temperature sensors are embedded within each substrate component. The first and second substrate components are sandwiched together such that each temperature sensor in the second substrate component is aligned in tandem with a corresponding temperature sensor located in the first substrate component. Alternatively first and second temperature sensors may be positioned in parallel in the same substrate. Temperature differences may be measured between pairs of corresponding temperature sensors when the PCMD is subjected to process conditions in a workpiece processing tool. Process conditions in the tool may be calculated from the temperature differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Mei Sun, Farhat Quli, Earl Jensen, Paul Arleo, Vaibhaw Vishal
  • Publication number: 20120203380
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility's envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user's access of the consumable product. To aid in the controlling of energy use, thermal resistance factors of the building are determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NETESCO LLC
    Inventors: Michael Craig Scelzi, James Scelzi, Allan H. Vaitses, William Shawn Bonwell, Mark Christopher Hartman
  • Publication number: 20120197562
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility's envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user's access of the consumable product. To aid in the controlling of energy use, thermal resistance factors of the building are determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: NETESCO LLC
    Inventors: Michael Craig Scelzi, James Scelzi, Allan H. Vaitses, William Shawn Bonwell, Mark Christopher Hartman
  • Patent number: 8229696
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for preventing the failure of a system, which includes one or more pipes, or one or more cooling jackets, or one or more fluid cooled system components carrying a fluid, involves detecting one or more pressure levels of the fluid in the one or more pipes at one or more points, then comparing the detected pressure levels to a corresponding one or more predetermined limitation values. If the detected pressure levels exceed the corresponding limitation values, a shut-down signal is generated. The shut-down signal triggers the adjusting of one or more systems responsible for causing thermal variations of the fluid, preventing the system from failing while allowing the system to continue operation shortly thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Titanium Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8229695
    Abstract: Meter electronics for geometric thermal compensation in a flow meter is provided according to the invention. The meter electronics includes an interface configured to receive sensor signals and a temperature signal (T) of the flow meter. The meter electronics further includes a processing system coupled with the interface and configured to receive the sensor signals and the temperature signal (T) and compute a geometric thermal compensation factor (TFe) for one or more flow conduits of the flow meter using the temperature signal (T). The geometric thermal compensation factor (TFe) is used to process the first and second sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aart R Pruysen, Jacob Andreas Sinte Maartensdijk, Robert Barclay Garnett
  • Patent number: 8224617
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for calculating a temperature dependent Green's function using an appropriate weight function. The apparatus includes a material temperature change information input unit inputting change information of a material temperature; and a temperature dependent Green's function calculation unit receiving the change information of the material temperature through the material temperature change information input unit, calculating a temperature dependent Green's function using a weight function, and outputting the calculated result. According to aspects of embodiments, accuracy in the calculation of a thermal stress value can be improved by designing the weight function such that changes in physical properties of a material that change according to temperature changes are considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan Jae Kim, Jong Jooh Kwon, Gyeong Hoi Koo, Tae Ryong Kim
  • Patent number: 8219353
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus calibrated to measure an absolute diameter of a part in a shop floor environment. The measurement apparatus includes a calibration that includes compensation factors for thermal expansion, shifting of measurement parts (arm, support tower, and related laser), and variances of these parts. The resulting measurements report an absolute diameter of a part to a higher degree of accuracy than previously possible. Also, the calculated compensation factor eliminate the need for an isolated, climate-controlled measurement room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lee, Robert E. Parsons
  • Patent number: 8209133
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the service life of a metallic structure subjected to cyclic loading. Such structures experience fatigue, which can lead to failure after a number of loading cycles. The disclosed invention allows for an accurate prediction of the number of cycles to failure for a metallic structure by observing the slope of the rise in surface temperature of the structure after the cyclic loading has begun. The method of this invention provides early and accurate predictions of service life and does not require destructive testing. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be installed on working equipment, thus providing service life predictions for materials in real world use. The invention uses an empirically derived relationship that was confirmed using analytical relationships and material properties. The derived formula uses two constants that may be determined empirically using a disclosed process. The constants also may be estimated mathematically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Mehdi Amiri Darehbidi, Michael M. Khonsari
  • Publication number: 20120144813
    Abstract: A detection apparatus is used to detect a failure of a particulate filter. The detection apparatus includes a PM (particulate matter) sensor, a timing estimating unit, and a failure determining unit. The PM sensor is disposed at a downstream side of the particulate filter in an exhaust passage. The PM sensor includes a pair of electrodes and detects an amount of the PM based on current passing through the PM deposited between the electrodes. The estimating unit estimates a failure-state energization timing at which the PM sensor starts to be energized due to the PM deposited between the electrodes assuming that the particulate filter has failed. The determining unit determines that the particulate filter is in a failure state when an actual energization timing of the PM sensor based on an output of the PM sensor is earlier than the failure-state energization timing estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto YAHATA, Tomohiro UENO
  • Patent number: 8200451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting the risk of icing on aerodynamic surfaces lapped by a fluid flow (F), in particular on load-bearing surfaces of fluid machines, of the type comprising a temperature sensor (20). The system is characterized in that the temperature sensor (20) is located close to the aerodynamic surface (5S) to be monitored for detecting the temperature of the surface (5S), and that the system comprises a rain sensor (30) located close to the surface (5S) for detecting the presence of water on that surface (5S). The system can thus detect the risk of icing on aerodynamic surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: S.I.SV.EL. S.p.A. Societa Italiana per lo Sviluppo dell'Eletrronica
    Inventor: Lorenzo Battisti
  • Publication number: 20120141251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for predicting the instability of an axial compressor, which is applicable to the aerospace and industrial field, specifically to the field of one- or multi-stage axial compressors. The invention relates to a method and a device for predicting the instability of an axial compressor which allows protecting said compressor from the instabilities of devices of this type. The present invention could be used in all those products requiring the use of said compressors, such as aircraft engines, turbofans, turboshafts, or turboprops in the aerospace field, gas turbines in the energy field, air conditioning systems in the civil field, and gas compression systems in the chemical or oil industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID
    Inventor: Efrén Moreno Benavides
  • Patent number: 8195420
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of micro- and nanotechnologies. In these techniques, it is sometimes necessary to glue several structures face to face and it is important to be able to check the alignment of the structures. A new method for measuring alignment, which comprises the following operations, is proposed for this purpose: activation of a heating element placed on the surface of the first structure, generation of electronic signals representative of a distribution of temperatures, on the basis of an array of temperature sensitive elements placed on the surface of the second structure, determination of a relative position of the heating element with respect to the array of sensitive elements, therefore of the first structure with respect to the second, on the basis of the distribution of temperatures, in a calculation circuit receiving the electronic signals engendered in the array of sensitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Comissariat a l'Energie
    Inventor: Francois De Crecy
  • Publication number: 20120136616
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for automatically determining a position of one or more calorimetric peaks in a set of calorimetric data is provided. The method comprises a) providing a non-linear fit for the calorimetric data, b) calculating a residual by subtracting the non-linear fit from the calorimetric data, c) calculating an error based on the residual, d) comparing the error with a predetermined error, and e) providing another non-linear fit if the error is greater than the predetermined error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Heather Yee-Mei Chan
  • Patent number: 8186873
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for determining thermal resistance values of building materials through the use of infrared cameras. In one example, an infrared camera may be used to capture one or more infrared images of a wall. Using temperatures obtained from the images, a thermal resistance value such as an R-Value associated with the wall may be determined. Potential cost savings associated with adjusting the thermal resistance value may also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Madding
  • Patent number: 8190384
    Abstract: A method of the present invention using a prediction process including a battery equivalent circuit model used to predict a voltage and a state of charge of a battery. The equivalent circuit battery model includes different equivalent circuit models consisting of at least an ideal DC power source, internal resistance, and an arbitrary number of representative parallel resistors and capacitors. These parameters are obtained a priori by fitting the equivalent circuit model to battery testing data. The present invention further uses a correction process includes determining a corrected predicted state of charge of the battery; and storing the corrected state of charge of the battery in a storage medium. In the present invention, an expectation of the predicted voltage of the battery and an expectation of the predicted state of charge of the battery are obtained by an unscented transform with sigma points selected by a Gaussian process optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangchun Zhang, Yen-Hung Chen, Chia-Wei Wang, Ann Marie Sastry
  • Patent number: 8185357
    Abstract: Changes, increase or decrease, in the body fluid are passively detected by using a single pixel, non-linear blind de-mixing procedure, which can be extended to general biomedical measurement and diagnosis instruments. More specifically, the single pixel, non-linear blind de-mixing procedure in applied on the hot spots of rheumatic arthritis or breast cancer detection problem using passive two-color infrared imaging, as well as to passively detect blockages in the body fluid circulatory system that might be of importance for coronary artery bypass surgery, diabetes and deep vein thrombosis. Other applications of the mentioned algorithm include a pair of cameras for video, a pair of antennas for cell phones, and in situ data gathering or imaging using multiple mode fiber-optical sensing, as well as selective amplification hearing aids through two-ear binaural processing for de-noise echo cancellation and signal classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Harold H. Szu, James R. Buss, Ivica Kopriva
  • Publication number: 20120109573
    Abstract: A method of sensing an ambient heat transfer condition surrounding a shape memory alloy element includes heating the shape memory alloy element, sensing the resistance of the shape memory alloy element, and measuring the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy element to a pre-determined level of a resistance characteristic. The ambient heat transfer condition surrounding the shape memory alloy element is calculated by referencing a relationship between the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy to the pre-determined level of the resistance characteristic and the ambient heat transfer condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Lei Hao, Andrew C. Keefe, Christopher P. Henry
  • Publication number: 20120100269
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a cooking process, which includes a process for determining doneness using a single parameter as a combination of temperature and time applicable to a class of foods and specifically configured to be a robust measurement of doneness, parameter which will be referred to as “cooking score”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Bogdan R. Polt
  • Publication number: 20120072163
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a building envelope. The method comprises calculating a thermal decay time (TDT) based on: an equipment off time during a work cycle, an ambient temperature, a thermostat set point temperature, and a thermostat set point dead-band; calculating at least one of: a building load factor (BLF) under a calm condition based on the TDT, and a BLF under a windy condition based on the TDT; providing a normal BLF for a calm condition; and analyzing the building envelope for at least one of: a quality of building envelope insulation, and whether the building envelope is leaking; wherein the quality of building envelope insulation is determined based on the BLF under the calm condition and the normal BLF for the calm condition, and whether the building envelope is leaking is determined based on the BLF under the windy condition and the BLF under the calm condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Haorong Li
  • Publication number: 20120065789
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility's envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. In doing so, costs for the product may be more accurately divided between different tenants of the facility without having to install individual services or measurement equipment for each individual tenant. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user's access of the consumable product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NetESCO LLC
    Inventors: Michael Craig Scelzi, James Scelzi, Allan H. Vaitses, William Shawn Bonwell, Mark Christopher Hartman
  • Publication number: 20120059619
    Abstract: A precious stone testing apparatus includes a hand held casing receiving a microprocessor therein, a testing head, and an indicating arrangement provided at the hand held casing and electrically linked with the microprocessor. The testing head includes a testing probe for contacting a tested object, a UV light source for UV light generation, and a thermal conduction unit electrically linked to the microprocessor for determining a thermal conductivity of the tested object through the testing probe, wherein the thermal conduction unit and the UV light source are independently operated for evaluating the tested object, The indicating arrangement includes a plurality of indicating lights to be activated in responsive to the corresponding thermal conductivity of the tested object so as to classify the tested object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Xiuling Zhu, Gary Bruce Peckham
  • Publication number: 20120054124
    Abstract: A system and related method are provided to diagnose and/or monitor energy efficiency of a building. The system includes temperature sensors positioned inside and outside the building. For various outside temperatures, the temperature differentials over time at the inside sensors are calculated over selectable time periods, whether for the entire building as a whole or for individual rooms. The temperature differential information is then used to determine energy efficiency of the building, including fuel costs/savings and improvements based on weatherization. The system includes standalone temperature monitoring modules or, alternatively, the system includes temperature monitoring modules that do not retain acquired temperature information but instead transmit that information to a networked device, such as an access point for wireless radio frequency signal transmissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Sunil Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20120041726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating heat transfer during water quench of an aluminum part. The method includes: estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when a temperature of the part is greater than 500° C. using q=?(?T) ??(1); estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when the temperature of the part is greater than T2 and less than 500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Cherng-Chi Chang, Jayaraman Sivakumar, Michael R. Harper
  • Patent number: 8117005
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the lyophilization process of a product in containers (4, 4a, 4b) arranged inside a lyophilization chamber, including a temperature measurement system (6) associated with each container housed inside (10) the lyophilization chamber, capable of surveying local temperature data for each container. The system includes a wireless communication system (8) for the surveyed temperature data and a processing module (16) for said data, located externally to the lyophilization chamber, programmed to determine at least one parameter indicative of the progress of the lyophilization process not measured by the measurement system, through the use of a predetermined representation model of the process, capable of correlating a local temperature value of the container with the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: Politecnico Di Torino, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1
    Inventors: Antonello Barresi, Giancarlo Baldi, Marco Parvis, Alberto Vallan, Salvatore Velardi, Hassan Hammouri
  • Patent number: 8112368
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to predict faults. Initially, a plurality of features are provided to a plurality of models. A subset of features is selected for each model. The plurality of features selected by a respective model is dependent upon a time scale associated with a respective model. As a result of their dependence upon different time scales, the plurality of selected features provided to a first model will differ from those provided to a second model. The plurality of models process the respective plurality of selected features. The outputs from the plurality of models are fused to generate a measure indicative of an impending fault. By providing different selected features to the models that are dependent upon the associated time scales and by then combining the outputs of the plurality of models, the resulting measure of an impending fault may accurately predict a fault well in advance of its occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Neil H. Eklund, Xiao Hu
  • Patent number: 8108082
    Abstract: A cooling system and method for an outdoor electronics enclosure includes an air conditioner controlled to operate during off-peak hours, so as to pre-cool batteries. The cooled batteries keep the enclosure cool during peak hours so that it is not necessary to run the air conditioner when electricity prices are at their peak. A clock or light sensor determines the time of day. A controller has stored data indicating the peak hours when electricity costs more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Joseph Yeh, Walter Hendrix
  • Patent number: 8100167
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting an abnormality of a heat exchanger exchanging heat between a first fluid flow flowing in a conduit and a second fluid flow flowing along a flow path, said conduit and said flow path each having an inlet and an outlet, whereby the method comprises the steps of establishing at least one parameter representative of the temperature conditions of the heat exchanger, establishing a second fluid inlet temperature, establishing a parameter indicative of expected heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the second fluid, processing the heat exchanger temperature, the second fluid temperature and the parameter indicative of expected heat exchange for establishing an estimated second fluid outlet temperature, and employing the estimated second fluid outlet temperature for evaluating the heat exchange between the first and second fluids by comparing the estimated second fluid outlet temperature, or a parameter derived therefrom, with a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Claus Thybo, Christian Bendtsen
  • Publication number: 20120000628
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a system and method for monitoring functional operational reliability of a cooling system having at least one thermosyphon for transformers provided with at least one evaporator and with at least one condenser. The cooling system using a coolant which can be vaporized and a gaseous medium, as a heat carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Benjamin WEBER, Bhavesh Patel, Jens Tepper, Bruno Agostini, Marcos Bockholt, Michael Luckey
  • Patent number: 8086359
    Abstract: A method for improving thermal efficiency in one or more data centers includes measuring a temperature at one or more computing devices having allocated thereto one or more computing workloads and determining whether the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. If the predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded, sufficient computing workloads are migrated to one or more alternate computing devices to reduce the temperature at one or more of the computing devices to less than or equal to said predetermined temperature threshold. In accomplishing the method, there is provided a data orchestrator configured at least for receiving data concerning the measured temperature, determining whether the measured temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, and migrating one or more of the computing workloads to one or more alternate computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Z. Spiers, Till Franke
  • Publication number: 20110313713
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to a differential scanning calorimeter comprising a sample holder thermally coupled to a first furnace, a reference holder thermally coupled to a second furnace, and a processor electrically coupled to the first furnace and the second furnace, the processor configured to receive data during a scan of a sample to provide a heat flow trace and further configured to subtract a calculated baseline from the heat flow trace, the calculated baseline comprising the sum of an isothermal baseline function, a scanning baseline function and a transient baseline function. Calibration methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: PERKINELMER HEALTH SCIENCES, INC., PERKINELMER LTD
    Inventors: Robert Alan Hoult, Richard Bruce Cassel
  • Publication number: 20110313712
    Abstract: A method for a fluid parameters determination in a porous medium includes phase transition temperature measurement of the fluid in question in the free space, saturation of the porous medium of the known pore space geometry with the fluid in question, measurement of the phase transition temperature of the fluid in question in the particular porous material and calculation of the wetting angle or interface tension of the fluid between the liquid and solid phases of the fluid in the porous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Vladimirovich Nikolyn, Sergey Sergeevich Safonov
  • Publication number: 20110301911
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, and a power draw value for each of the equipment racks, storing the received data, determining air flow between the at least one cooling provider and each of the equipment racks, determining inlet and exit air temperature for the at least one cooling provider based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow, for each equipment rack, determining inlet and exit air temperature based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow, and displaying an indication of the inlet and exit temperature for each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James W. VanGilder, Xuanhang Zhang, Christopher M. Healey
  • Patent number: 8069001
    Abstract: An isotherm sensor tracks space vehicle temperatures by a thermal protection system (TPS) material during vehicle re-entry as a function of time, and surface recession through calibration, calculation, analysis and exposed surface modeling. Sensor design includes: two resistive conductors, wound around a tube, with a first end of each conductor connected to a constant current source, and second ends electrically insulated from each other by a selected material that becomes an electrically conductive char at higher temperatures to thereby complete an electrical circuit. The sensor conductors become shorter as ablation proceeds and reduced resistance in the completed electrical circuit (proportional to conductor length) is continually monitored, using measured end-to-end voltage change or current in the circuit. Thermocouple and/or piezoelectric measurements provide consistency checks on local temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Sergey Gorbunov, Edward R. Martinez, James B. Scott, Tomomi Oishi, Johnny Fu, Joseph G. Mach, Jose B. Santos
  • Patent number: 8069003
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the efficiency of a heat exchanger is provided. Heat flows from a first medium into a second medium and an actual heat flow is detected and compared with at least one reference heat flow corresponding to a respectively predetermined degree of soiling of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, a device for controlling a plant having at least one heat exchanger is described. The plant has a storage device storing at least one reference heat flow of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Friedrich, Herbert Grieb, Thomas Müller-Heinzerling, Bernd-Markus Pfeiffer, Michael Schüler
  • Patent number: 8065108
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for measuring at least one thermal property of a material. The system includes a thermal source configured to generate an incident thermal wave that propagates through a medium and is provided onto the material at an incident angle. The system also includes a thermal detector that is configured to receive a reflected thermal wave corresponding to the incident thermal wave reflected from the material at a reflection angle that is approximately equal to the incident angle. The system further includes a controller configured to control a magnitude of the incident angle to ascertain a thermal Brewster angle of the material and to calculate the at least one thermal property of the material based on the thermal Brewster angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, Charles H. Volk, A. Douglas Meyer
  • Patent number: 8060334
    Abstract: An aircraft Ice Detection pitot-static tube is described which uses sensors integrated into the pitot-static tube to determine when and where the pitot-static tube is icing up. Temperature, thermal conductivity and impedance sensor measurements are combined with a mathematical transfer of the impedance sensor output into the complex dielectric plane to identify that the material accreating on the exterior and interior of the pitot-static tube is ice and only ice. Identification of ice realized when the trace in complex dielectric space has a distinctive semi-circular form, which only ice exhibits, with measured values in agreement with reference laboratory data stored in the onboard computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Philip Onni Jarvinen
  • Patent number: 8055054
    Abstract: A non-destructive evaluation system and method is provided for detecting flaws in an object. The system includes a lamp for impinging the object with optical pulses and a focal plane array camera configured to capture the images corresponding to evolution of heat due to an impact of the optical pulses in the object. The system also includes an image acquisition system for capturing data corresponding to the images from the focal plane array camera. Both transmission mode imaging and reflection mode imaging techniques are used in an exemplary embodiment. A time of flight analysis system is also provided for analyzing the data from both transmission mode imaging technique and reflection mode imaging technique. The data from transmission mode imaging is used to determine thickness values at different points in the data and for determining location of flaws using the thickness values. The data from reflection mode imaging is used for determining depth of these flaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harry Israel Ringermacher, Donald Robert Howard, Bryon Edward Knight
  • Patent number: 8050884
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to determine the emissivity, temperature and area of an object. The methods and apparatus are designed such that the emissivity and area of the object may be separately determined as functions dependent upon the temperature of the object derived from a three or more band infrared measurement sensor. As such, the methods and apparatus may only require a regression analysis of the temperature of the object without any regression analysis of the emissivity and area of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Ronald N. Murata
  • Publication number: 20110264399
    Abstract: A thermal insulation jacket system comprising: a first thermal insulation jacket configured to fit on an object; a microcontroller located in the first thermal insulation jacket; a first temperature measuring means in signal communication with the microcontroller, configured to measure the temperature of the object; a second temperature measuring means in signal communication with the microcontroller, configured to measure the ambient temperature; where the microcontroller is configured to determine the energy savings achieved by the insulative properties of the first thermal insulation jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Scott M. Thayer, Brian Bannon
  • Patent number: 8046188
    Abstract: A temperature sensor for measuring temperature in accordance with a time-of-life of a fluorescent light that is produced by a fluorescent material, and is provided with a light source for imaging an excitation light, a fluorescent material for producing fluorescent light by the excitation light, a photoreceptor element for detecting the fluorescent light and outputting a fluorescent light signal in accordance with the fluorescent light intensity, and a signal processing circuit for calculating a temperature based on the fluorescent light signal from the photoreceptor element, where the signal processing circuit calculates integral values for the fluorescent light signals in the respective intervals A through C that have identical time durations, and then, based on the integral values, for two intervals, calculates a difference value, and then calculates a ratio of two difference values, to be a variable that varies in accordance with the temperature, and then references the relationship between the temperatur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kinugasa, Atsushi Kato
  • Publication number: 20110257926
    Abstract: Method for the analysis of the thermal behaviour of a structure including an energy-consuming appliance for providing a thermal environment by heating or cooling, the structure being modelled using a thermal model so that a relationship between a theoretical consumption by said appliance and a reference temperature inside the structure satisfies a determined criterion. According to this method, an actual consumption by said appliance, a temperature actually obtained inside the structure and at least one parameter relating to a use of the structure are measured; a variation between the aforesaid relationship and a corresponding relationship between the actual consumption by said appliance and the temperature actually obtained inside the structure are estimated; and when the estimated variation exceeds a threshold, a contribution relating to the use of the structure to said variation is estimated by taking account of said measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Soletanche Freyssinet
    Inventors: Jerome Stubler, Bernard Basile, Gilles Hovhanessian
  • Publication number: 20110257898
    Abstract: A thermal diffusivity measuring system including a measuring mechanism for measuring a radiation coefficient or a value for thermal conductivity for a mixed gas measured when the heater element has produced heat at a plurality of temperatures; a thermal diffusivity calculating equation storing device storing a thermal diffusivity calculating equation using the radiation coefficients or the thermal conductivities for a plurality of heat producing temperatures as independent variables and uses the thermal diffusivity as the dependent variable; and a thermal diffusivity calculating portion calculating a value for the thermal diffusivity of the mixed gas being measured through substituting the values of the radiation coefficients or the thermal conductivities of the mixed gas being measured, for the plurality of heat producing temperatures, for the independent variables of the radiation coefficients or thermal conductivities, for the plurality of heat producing temperatures, in the thermal diffusivity calculating
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuharu Ooishi
  • Publication number: 20110238362
    Abstract: An enthalpy-based ground heat exchanger (GHE) performance test instrumentation system for connection to a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installed in a deep Earth environment during performance testing operations. The enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation system includes a fluid pumping module for pumping, at controlled rate, aqueous-based heat transfer fluid through a test ground loop in which a GHE installation is installed, for performance testing. The GHE installation includes inlet and outlet ports for connection to the enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation system. A fluid heating module heats the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid while being pumped through the test ground loop including the GHE installation, so as to control the temperature of aqueous-based heat transfer fluid entering the GHE installation during performance test operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: John E. Kidwell
  • Patent number: 8025438
    Abstract: An electronic clinical thermometer having a low frequency of errors can be implemented. The electronic clinical thermometer for predicting an equilibrium temperature based on a temporal change in the actual measurement value of a temperature at a measurement target detected by a temperature detection element includes an abnormal change detection unit which detects an abnormal change of an actual measurement value from the temperature detection element, and a control unit which controls the start timing of a temporal change in actual measurement value used for derivation of a prediction value when the abnormal change detection unit detects an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Nakamura, Makoto Ikeda