Patent ID: 6553828
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: G01F,G01P

Abstract:
A method of measuring velocity of a flowing fluid, the method comprising the steps of:placing a thermocouple probe in a flowing fluid having a bulk fluid temperature, the probe comprising a pair of conductors meeting at a junction; cooling the junction of said pair of conductors by a Peltier cooling effect to a temperature below the bulk fluid temperature of the flowing fluid by supplying a substantially constant direct electric current to the pair of conductors; shutting off said electrical current to said pair of conductors; measuring the temperature of the junction at an initial time, wherein said initial time is immediately after shutting off the electric current to said pair of conductors, to obtain an initial junction temperature, wherein said measuring the temperature of the junction at an initial time is done within less than {fraction (1/60)} second after shutting off the electric current to said pair of conductors; allowing the temperature of the junction to rise towards the bulk fluid temperature of the flowing fluid; measuring the temperature of the junction at a plurality of times while the junction temperature rises to obtain a plurality of junction temperature curve points, wherein said plurality of times are all later than said initial time; and correlating said initial junction temperature and the plurality of junction temperature curve points to fluid velocity.