Inexpensive non-invasive flow meter for solar applications

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5746040

Gleman, S M; Hallberg, C; Athoe, J; Miller, M

A simple device for measuring liquid flow in pipes is described. The unit, suitable for monitoring and diagnostics of solar systems, is a clamp-on flow head that requires only about a six-inch length of exposed pipe for applications. No cutting, piercing, or modification of the pipe is required. The device works on a thermal principle and, as tested with water flow in 1/2'' pipes, exhibits increasing resolution with decreasing flow, contrary to most flow meters in common use. Our prototype unit exhibits repeatability, and an accuracy of about seven percent (RMS).

• Research Organization: Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral
• OSTI ID: 5746040
• Report Number(s): CONF-810509-(Vol.1)
• Journal Information: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States), Vol. 4.1; Conference: Annual conference of the International Solar Energy Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 May 1981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
FLOWMETERS
DESIGN
PIPES
FLUID FLOW
CONSTRUCTION
HEATERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
METERS
140900* - Solar Thermal Utilization