Convective heat flow probe

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865629

Dunn, James C ^[1]; Hardee, Harry C ^[1]; Striker, Richard P ^[1]

---

1. Albuquerque, NM

A convective heat flow probe device is provided which measures heat flow and fluid flow magnitude in the formation surrounding a borehole. The probe comprises an elongate housing adapted to be lowered down into the borehole; a plurality of heaters extending along the probe for heating the formation surrounding the borehole; a plurality of temperature sensors arranged around the periphery of the probe for measuring the temperature of the surrounding formation after heating thereof by the heater elements. The temperature sensors and heater elements are mounted in a plurality of separate heater pads which are supported by the housing and which are adapted to be radially expanded into firm engagement with the walls of the borehole. The heat supplied by the heater elements and the temperatures measured by the temperature sensors are monitored and used in providing the desired measurements. The outer peripheral surfaces of the heater pads are configured as segments of a cylinder and form a full cylinder when taken together. A plurality of temperature sensors are located on each pad so as to extend along the length and across the width thereof, with a heating element being located in each pad beneath the temperature sensors. An expansion mechanism driven by a clamping motor provides expansion and retraction of the heater pads and expandable packer-type seals are provided along the probe above and below the heater pads.

• Research Organization: AT & T CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4547080
• OSTI ID: 865629
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/374/
adapted
arranged
below
beneath
borehole
clamping
comprises
configured
convective
convective heat
cylinder
desired
device
driven
element
elements
elongate
elongate housing
engagement
expandable
expanded
expansion
extend
extending
firm
flow
flow probe
fluid
fluid flow
form
formation
formation surrounding
heat
heat flow
heater
heater element
heaters
heating
heating element
housing
housing adapted
length
located
lowered
magnitude
measured
measurements
measures
measuring
mechanism
monitored
motor
mounted
outer
outer peripheral
packer-type
pad
pads
peripheral
peripheral surface
periphery
plurality
probe
probe comprises
probe device
provided
provides
providing
radially
radially expand
retraction
seals
segments
sensors
separate
supplied
supported
surfaces
surrounding
temperature
temperature sensor
temperature sensors
temperatures
walls
width