Patent ID: 8366315
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
1. A drywell comprising: a receiver having first and second ends, one of the first and second ends being exposed to ambient air and defining an opening therein for receiving a probe and the other of the first and second ends being relatively more insulated from the ambient air; a first heating element in thermal contact with the receiver proximate the first end; a second heating element in thermal contact with the receiver proximate the second end; a receiver sensor in thermal contact with the receiver proximate the second end, the receiver sensor being the only temperature sensor in thermal contact with the receiver; an ambient sensor generating an ambient sensor reading; and a controller, wherein the first and second heating elements, the receiver sensor, and the ambient sensor are in data communication with the controller, the controller being programmed to monitor a temperature indicated by the receiver sensor, to compare the temperature indicated by the receiver sensor to a set temperature, to calculate a first heater power value according to the comparison, and to calculate a second heater power value according to the ambient sensor reading and the temperature indicated by the receiver sensor, the controller being further programmed to power the first heating element according to the first heater power value and power the second heating element according to the second heater power value.