Triaxial thermopile array geo-heat-flow sensor

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5936770

Carrigan, C R; Hardee, H C; Reynolds, G D; Steinfort, T D

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.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A7516399
• Application Number: ON: DE92004606; PPN: US 7-516399
• OSTI ID: 5936770
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150900 -- Geothermal Engineering
440500* -- Thermal Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACCURACY
DESIGN
ENERGY TRANSFER
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
INVENTIONS
LEVELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
THERMISTORS
THERMOCOUPLES
TRANSDUCERS
UNDERGROUND