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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Radionuclide calorimeter system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:868072
A circuit for measuring temperature differentials in a calorimeter is disclosed. The temperature differential between the reference element and sample element containing a radioactive material is measured via a wheatstone bridge arrangement of thermistors. The bridge is driven with an alternating current on a pulsed basis to maintain the thermal floor of the calorimeter at a low reference value. A lock-in amplifier connected to the bridge phase locks a signal from the bridge to the input pulsed AC signal to provide a DC voltage. The DC voltage is sampled over time and provided to a digital computer. The digital computer, using curve fitting algorithms, will derive a function for the sample data. From the function, an equilibrium value for the temperature may be calculated.
Research Organization:
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORP
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP03533
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 5067820
Application Number:
07/540,240
OSTI ID:
868072
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English