Apparatus and method for monitoring the presence of a conductive media
Abstract
An inductive level sensor has inductively coupled primary and secondary windings. Circuitry drives the primary with an AC signal of constant current magnitude and selected frequency f to induce in the secondary, a voltage signal V of magnitude .vertline.V.vertline., frequency f and phase difference .phi. from the driving signal. Circuitry operates to generate a voltage output signal proportional to .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.), where .theta. is a selectively set phase shift factor. By properly and selectively adjusting the frequency f and phase shift factor .theta., an output signal .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.) can be provided which self-compensates for changes in mutual inductance caused by operating temperature variations so that an output signal is produced which is substantially linearly proportional to changes in the level of a pool of liquid metal being monitored. Disclosed also is calibration circuitry and circuitry for converting the voltage signal .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.) into a current signal.
- Inventors:
-
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863408
- Patent Number(s):
- 4164146
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
- DOE Contract Number:
- N4889004P
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; method; monitoring; presence; conductive; media; inductive; level; sensor; inductively; coupled; primary; secondary; windings; circuitry; drives; signal; constant; current; magnitude; selected; frequency; induce; voltage; vertline; phase; difference; phi; driving; operates; generate; output; proportional; cos; theta; selectively; set; shift; factor; properly; adjusting; provided; self-compensates; changes; mutual; inductance; caused; operating; temperature; variations; produced; substantially; linearly; pool; liquid; metal; monitored; disclosed; calibration; converting; selected frequency; secondary windings; secondary winding; substantially linear; temperature variations; constant current; level sensor; phase difference; signal proportional; voltage signal; voltage output; inductively coupled; phase shift; liquid metal; output signal; operating temperature; current signal; temperature variation; mutual inductance; current magnitude; /73/
Citation Formats
DuVall, Bruce W, Valentine, James W, and Morey, Kenneth O. Apparatus and method for monitoring the presence of a conductive media. United States: N. p., 1979.
Web.
DuVall, Bruce W, Valentine, James W, & Morey, Kenneth O. Apparatus and method for monitoring the presence of a conductive media. United States.
DuVall, Bruce W, Valentine, James W, and Morey, Kenneth O. Mon .
"Apparatus and method for monitoring the presence of a conductive media". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863408.
@article{osti_863408,
title = {Apparatus and method for monitoring the presence of a conductive media},
author = {DuVall, Bruce W and Valentine, James W and Morey, Kenneth O},
abstractNote = {An inductive level sensor has inductively coupled primary and secondary windings. Circuitry drives the primary with an AC signal of constant current magnitude and selected frequency f to induce in the secondary, a voltage signal V of magnitude .vertline.V.vertline., frequency f and phase difference .phi. from the driving signal. Circuitry operates to generate a voltage output signal proportional to .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.), where .theta. is a selectively set phase shift factor. By properly and selectively adjusting the frequency f and phase shift factor .theta., an output signal .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.) can be provided which self-compensates for changes in mutual inductance caused by operating temperature variations so that an output signal is produced which is substantially linearly proportional to changes in the level of a pool of liquid metal being monitored. Disclosed also is calibration circuitry and circuitry for converting the voltage signal .vertline.V.vertline. cos (.phi.-.theta.) into a current signal.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1979},
month = {1}
}