US3847207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for determining and controlling liquid cooling system characteristics
Assignee: Brown and Root Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-26
•
Granted: 1974-11-12
•
Expires: 1992-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for determining the thermal characteristics of a cooling system and controlling the cooling system in response to the determined thermal characteristics. The flow pattern of a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere is represented by a plurality of water segments each representing a specified time interval, preferably equal time intervals. A thermal characteristic of the segments is determined at least periodically, preferably in response to the prevailing thermal transfer characteristics at the surfaces of the segments, and the flow pattern of the cooling reservoir is modified to accommodate the required cooling needs of the system and to prevent the discharge of cooling water into natural reservoirs if the thermal characteristics of the cooling water do not permit such discharge because of set standards. A method for at least periodically calculating the temperature of each segment from known and assumed thermal data through a trial iteration process is also disclosed. The system can also be used to determine the thermal characteristics of a natural body of water and to describe its responses to meteorological conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bear
- 👤 P Peavy
- 👤 P Woo
- 👤 C Weber
- 👤 C Rucker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:38
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B13/00; G05B13/02; G05B13/0205; G05B13/021; G05B13/0215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for operating a liquid cooling system including a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere along at least a portion of a flow path of the reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of reservoir segments each representing specified time intervals and together representing at least a portion of an overall flow pattern of the cooling system; determining an initial thermal characteristic of at least one of the segments at a first time and at a predetermined location in the cooling system; at least periodically determining the thermal characteristic of the one segment at successive specified time intervals after said first time; and, modifying the flow pattern of the cooling system responsively to the determined thermal characteristics of the at least one segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for operating a liquid cooling system including a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere along at least a portion of a flow path of the reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of reservoir segments each representing specified time intervals and together representing at least a portion of an overall flow pattern of the cooling system; determining an initial thermal characteristic of at least one of the segments at a first time and at a predetermined location in the cooling system; at least periodically determining the thermal characteristic of the one segment at successive specified time intervals after said first time; and, modifying the flow pattern of the cooling system responsively to the determined thermal characteristics of the at least one segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal characteristics of the one segment are determined at least hourly in response to the initially determined thermal characteristic and the prevailing heat transfer conditions to which the surface of the segment is exposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flow pattern of the cooling reservoir is modified by changing the length of the flow path of the at least one segment through the cooling reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flow pattern of the cooling reservoir is modified by introducing a liquid having thermal characteristics which differ from the calculated thermal characteristics of the one segment into the cooling reservoir at a predetermined location along the flow path of the reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the flow pattern of the cooling reservoir is further modified by discharging liquid from the one segment of the cooling reservoir.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for operating a liquid cooling system including a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere along at least a portion of a flow path of the reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of reservoir segments each representing specified time intervals and together representing at least a portion of an overall flow pattern of the cooling system; determining an initial temperature of at least one of the segments at a first time and at a predetermined location in the cooling system; determining subsequent temperatures of the at least one segment at specified time intervals after said first time in response to the initial temperature and prevailing thermal transfer conditions at the surface of the segment by assuming a subsequent temperature and a thermal transfer condition and calculating the actual subsequent temperature of the at least one segment by successive trial iteration; and modifying the flow pattern of the cooling system responsively to the determined temperature of the at least one segment.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for operating a liquid cooling system including a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere along at least a portion of a flow path of the reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of reservoir segments each representing specified time intervals and together representing at least a portion of an overall flow pattern of the cooling system; determining an initial temperature of at least one of the segments at a first time and at a predetermined location in the cooling system; determining subsequent temperatures of the at least one segment at specified time intervals after said first time in response to the initial temperature and prevailing thermal transfer conditions at the surface of the segment by assuming a subsequent temperature and a thermal transfer condition and calculating the actual subsequent temperature of the at least one segment by successive trial iteration; and modifying the flow pattern of the cooling system responsively to the determined temperature of the at least one segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the assumed thermal transfer condition is the equilibrium temperature at the surface of the segment.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for determining the thermal characteristics of a body of water having at least a portion of a surface exposed to the atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of segments of the body of water each segment representing a specified time interval and together representing at least a portion of the body of water along its exposed surface; determining an initial temperature for each of the segments at a first time and at predetermined locations in the body of water; thereafter determining subsequent temperatures of each of the segments at specified time intervals after said first time in response to the initial temperature of each segment and prevailing thermal transfer conditions at the surface of each segment by: assuming a subsequent segment temperature and an equilibrium temperature for each of the segments; calculating the actual equilibrium temperature and the actual subsequent temperature for each of the segments from the assumed temperatures and the prevailing thermal transfer conditions; comparing the values of the assumed and calculated temperatures; and, if the compared values are within predetermined tolerances, providing the calculated temperature for each segment as an output quantity; if the compared values are outside predetermined tolerances, modifying the values of the assumed temperatures and repeating the step of calculating and comparing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for determining the thermal characteristics of a body of water having at least a portion of a surface exposed to the atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of segments of the body of water each segment representing a specified time interval and together representing at least a portion of the body of water along its exposed surface; determining an initial temperature for each of the segments at a first time and at predetermined locations in the body of water; thereafter determining subsequent temperatures of each of the segments at specified time intervals after said first time in response to the initial temperature of each segment and prevailing thermal transfer conditions at the surface of each segment by: assuming a subsequent segment temperature and an equilibrium temperature for each of the segments; calculating the actual equilibrium temperature and the actual subsequent temperature for each of the segments from the assumed temperatures and the prevailing thermal transfer conditions; comparing the values of the assumed and calculated temperatures; and, if the compared values are within predetermined tolerances, providing the calculated temperature for each segment as an output quantity; if the compared values are outside predetermined tolerances, modifying the values of the assumed temperatures and repeating the step of calculating and comparing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the initial temperature of each segment comprises the temperature of that segment calculated during the immediately preceding time period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 wherein each of the specified time intervals which each segment represents is equal and wherein the specified time intervals at which subsequent temperatures are determined are hourly time intervals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein each of the specified time intervals which each segment represents is equal and wherein the specified time intervals at which subsequent temperatures are determined are hourly time intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the body of water is a natural reservoir and wherein the specified time intervals at which subsequent temperatures of each segment are determined are at least hourly time intervals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |