Calorimetry

Input/output modules are used to acquire and present information.
The function engine is also used to configure the functions linked to the customer’s business sector (commonly called the “business logic layer”). This engine makes it possible to combine flow rate, temperature or analogue input measurements and produce a result that is displayed directly on the device: yield, COP, power and energy, etc.

Our converters are available in two versions:

• mono-pipe/mono-calorimeter measurement,
• bi-pipe/bi-calorimeter measurement.

A mono-pipe calorimeter is used to measure power expended and energy exchanged in a heating or cooling system.
It measures:

• the temperature of the coolant (water for example) entering the heat transfer system (a boiler, for example),
• the temperature of the coolant leaving the heat transfer system,
• the flow rate of the coolant.

The difference in temperature between the input and output circuits (of a heating system, for example) is proportional to the exchange of thermal energy in the installation (for example, dissipation of heat in radiators and pipes). This can be used to calculate the heating value and the energy expended.

The following diagram illustrates a measurement result typical of the calorimetry application, in which the values displayed are:

• the temperature difference between the probes,
• the instantaneous power in kW,
• the energy in kWh.

Calculating the heating value* : Q = v x m x Cp x ∆t°

Calculating energy * : ∫Q = ∫ v x m x Cp x ∆t° dt

Where:
v = volumetric flow (m³/s)
m = density (kg/m³)
Cp = specific heat capacity (Kjoule/kg.°C)
t° = temperature (°C)

* Formula used by the function engine integrated into Ultraflux devices