Inventors:
Branin A. Boyd - Malvern PA
Assignee:
Thermal Instrument Co. - Trevose PA
International Classification:
G01F 168
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring mass flow rates and other characteristics of a fluid in a large conduit uses a sensor circuit having a heater/thermometer, a reference resistor, and a thermometer resistor arranged in four-wire network to enable measurement of all characteristics of the resistor network. That sensor circuit is preferably mounted on an interior wall surface of a support tube. A plurality of such support tubes, each having a plurality of sensors within the support tube, are mounted in an array in the cross section of the duct. A cleaning plate for cleaning the exterior surface of the support tube permits calibration of the network while cleaning. A program for using the circuit to calculate values of interest and to display desirable output data is also disclosed, as is a program for controlling the cleaning/calibration cycle.