Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor
Abstract
A triaxial thermopile array geothermal heat flow sensor is designed to measure heat flow in three dimensions in a reconstituted or unperturbed subsurface regime. Heat flow can be measured in conductive or permeable convective media. The sensor may be encased in protective pvc tubing and includes a plurality of thermistors and an array of heat flow transducers produce voltage proportional to heat flux along the subsurface regime and permit direct measurement of heat flow in the subsurface regime. The presence of the thermistor array permits a comparison to be made between the heat flow estimates obtained from the transducers and heat flow calculated using temperature differences and Fourier's Law. The device is extremely sensitive with an accuracy of less than 0.1 Heat Flow Units (HFU) and may be used for long term readings. 6 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5936770
- Patent Number(s):
- 7516399
- Application Number:
- ON: DE92004606; PPN: US 7-516399
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 30 Apr 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; HEAT FLOW; MONITORING; THERMOCOUPLES; DESIGN; ACCURACY; HEAT TRANSFER; INVENTIONS; THERMISTORS; TRANSDUCERS; UNDERGROUND; ENERGY TRANSFER; LEVELS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; Geothermal Legacy; 440500* - Thermal Instrumentation- (1990-); 150900 - Geothermal Engineering
Citation Formats
Carrigan, C R, Hardee, H C, Reynolds, G D, and Steinfort, T D. Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Carrigan, C R, Hardee, H C, Reynolds, G D, & Steinfort, T D. Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor. United States.
Carrigan, C R, Hardee, H C, Reynolds, G D, and Steinfort, T D. Mon .
"Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5936770.
@article{osti_5936770,
title = {Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor},
author = {Carrigan, C R and Hardee, H C and Reynolds, G D and Steinfort, T D},
abstractNote = {A triaxial thermopile array geothermal heat flow sensor is designed to measure heat flow in three dimensions in a reconstituted or unperturbed subsurface regime. Heat flow can be measured in conductive or permeable convective media. The sensor may be encased in protective pvc tubing and includes a plurality of thermistors and an array of heat flow transducers produce voltage proportional to heat flux along the subsurface regime and permit direct measurement of heat flow in the subsurface regime. The presence of the thermistor array permits a comparison to be made between the heat flow estimates obtained from the transducers and heat flow calculated using temperature differences and Fourier's Law. The device is extremely sensitive with an accuracy of less than 0.1 Heat Flow Units (HFU) and may be used for long term readings. 6 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}