Abstract: A heating assembly includes a support member for supporting a target thereon, a diffuser layer attached to the support member, and a heater attached to the diffuser layer. The diffuser layer includes discrete diffuser segments separated by gaps. The discrete diffuser segments are made of the same material and are configured to allow a desired thermal gradient to be maintained between the discrete diffuser segments during heating of the target.

Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater includes at least one resistive heating element having a relationship between resistance and temperature defining a non-monotonic curve. The heater is to heat fluid flow. The control device is to determine a flow characteristic of the fluid flow and a temperature of the at least one resistive heating element along the non-monotonic curve between resistance and temperature based on a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element.

Abstract: A method of calibrating temperature of a resistive element includes: generating a standard resistance-temperature (R-T) curve for the resistive element in an isothermal condition, wherein the resistive element comprises a material with a Curie temperature; generating an operational R-T curve for the resistive element during a normal operation of the resistive element; shifting the operational R-T curve toward the standard R-T curve at the Curie temperature to generate an adjusted operational R-T curve; and adjusting a measured temperature of the resistive element based on a resistance of the resistive element and the adjusted operational R-T curve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting at least one temperature along a fluid flow path of a fluid flow system having a heater disposed in the fluid flow path are provided. In one example, a method includes: obtaining at least one input, wherein the at least one input includes a setpoint, a mass flow rate, an inlet temperature, or a combination thereof; calculating a temperature associated with the heater based on a predefined model and the at least one input; and setting a value of the at least one temperature along the fluid flow path to the temperature of the heater.

Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater has at least one resistive heating element and the heater is operable to heat fluid. The control device determines at least one flow characteristic of a fluid flow based on a heat loss of the at least one resistive heating element and determines a mass flow rate of the fluid based on the at least one flow characteristic and a property of the at least one resistive heating element. And the property of the at least one resistive heating element includes a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element under a given heat flux density.

Abstract: A method of calibrating temperature of a resistive element having a material with a Curie temperature includes generating a standard resistance-temperature (R-T) curve for the resistive element in isothermal conditions to identify values of the R-T curve and an inflection point at the Curie temperature, generating operational R-T curves for the resistive element over an operational time period, comparing the standard R-T curve to the operational R-T curves, and adjusting the operational curves to the standard R-T curve at the Curie temperature to calibrate temperature of the resistive element.

Abstract: A method of predicting temperature of at least one location in a fluid flow system that has a heating system for heating fluid. The method includes obtaining a mass flow rate of fluid flow of the fluid flow system, obtaining at least one of a fluid outlet temperature and a fluid inlet temperature of a heater of the heating system, obtaining power provided to the heater, and calculating temperature at the at least one location based on a model of the fluid flow system and the obtained mass flow rate, fluid outlet temperature, and fluid inlet temperature.

Abstract: A heater includes a flow guide and electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis and defines perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The first longitudinal length is less than a full longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations. For each electrical resistance heating element, a length of that electrical resistance heating element and a pitch of the geometric helicoid at a distal end of that electrical resistance heating element are such that the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element is a distance X from the geometric helicoid at the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element. The distance X is less than or equal to 40% of the pitch at the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element.

Abstract: A heater includes a flow guide and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. The flow guide defines a predetermined pattern of perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid, the longitudinal direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis. The plurality of electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations. At least one electrical resistance heating element of the plurality of electrical resistance heating elements has a first region with a first watt density and a second region with a second watt density. The second region is located farther in the longitudinal direction than the first region. The second watt density is less than the first watt density.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a flow guide and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. The flow guide defines a predetermined pattern of perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis. The geometric helicoid has a first pitch at a first zone along the longitudinal axis and a second pitch at a second zone along the longitudinal axis. The second pitch is shorter than the first pitch. The electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations.

Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a condition of a dynamic system includes installing a vibration signal acquisition device at a predetermined location of the dynamic system, acquiring vibration signals by the vibration signal acquisition device, analyzing the vibration signals in a frequency domain, and predicting a change in the condition of the dynamic system based on the vibration signals in the frequency domain. A system is also provided, and a condition of the dynamic system includes clogging.

Abstract: A heating assembly includes a support member for supporting a target thereon, a diffuser layer attached to the support member, and a heater attached to the diffuser layer. The diffuser layer includes discrete diffuser segments separated by gaps. The discrete diffuser segments are made of the same material and are configured to allow a desired thermal gradient to be maintained between the discrete diffuser segments during heating of the target.

Abstract: A heater includes a flow guide and electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis and defines perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The first longitudinal length is less than a full longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations. For each electrical resistance heating element, a length of that electrical resistance heating element and a pitch of the geometric helicoid at a distal end of that electrical resistance heating element are such that the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element is a distance X from the geometric helicoid at the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element. The distance X is less than or equal to 40% of the pitch at the distal end of that electrical resistance heating element.

Abstract: A heater includes a flow guide and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. The flow guide defines a predetermined pattern of perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid, the longitudinal direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis. The plurality of electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations. At least one electrical resistance heating element of the plurality of electrical resistance heating elements has a first region with a first watt density and a second region with a second watt density. The second region is located farther in the longitudinal direction than the first region. The second watt density is less than the first watt density.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a flow guide and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The flow guide defines a continuous geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. The flow guide defines a predetermined pattern of perforations that extend in a longitudinal direction through a first longitudinal length of the geometric helicoid. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis. The geometric helicoid has a first pitch at a first zone along the longitudinal axis and a second pitch at a second zone along the longitudinal axis. The second pitch is shorter than the first pitch. The electrical resistance heating elements extend through the perforations.

Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is formed by depositing a diffuser layer onto an electrostatic puck and removing areas of the diffuser layer to form discrete diffuser segments separated by gaps. The discrete diffuser segments may define continuous concentric rings, discontinuous concentric rings, or a combination of continuous concentric rings and discontinuous concentric rings. The discrete diffuser segments are separated from each other by forming at least one trench in the diffuser layer. The trench may extend partially through the diffuser layer, completely through the diffuser layer to the electrostatic puck, or have a first portion that extends partially through the diffuser layer and a second portion that extends completely through the diffuser layer. Also, the trench can have a constant width or have a variable width.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a continuous series of perforated helical members and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The perforated helical members cooperate to define a geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. Each perforated helical member defines opposed edges and a predetermined pattern of perforations. The perforations extend through each perforated helical member parallel to the longitudinal axis. The heating elements extend through the perforations.

Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within the fluid flow system. A control device includes a microprocessor and is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model and at least one input from the fluid flow system. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.