US 12,339,038 B2
Ohmic heater with flow rate measurement
Jeremiah M. Callahan, Sullivan's Island, SC (US); and Michael J. Wieckowski, Charleston, SC (US)
Assigned to OHMIQ, INC., North Charleston, SC (US)
Filed by OhmIQ, Inc., North Charleston, SC (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/181,283.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/980,530, filed on Feb. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0285688 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. F24H 9/1818 (2022.01); F24H 1/10 (2022.01); G01F 1/64 (2006.01); G01F 1/684 (2006.01); G01N 27/08 (2006.01); H05B 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC F24H 9/1818 (2013.01) [F24H 1/106 (2013.01); G01F 1/64 (2013.01); G01F 1/684 (2013.01); G01N 27/08 (2013.01); H05B 3/0009 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flowmeter for measuring flow of an electrically conductive liquid comprising:
(a) a structure defining a flow path having a downstream direction and an upstream direction opposite to the downstream direction;
(b) a first pair of electrodes exposed within the flow path;
(c) an electrical circuit operative to apply a voltage between the first pair of electrodes so that an electrical current flows along a first conduction path between electrodes of the first pair within a liquid flowing in the flow path,
(d) means for computing an amount of temperature rise in the liquid passing through a first sensing region of the flow path, the first sensing region encompassing at least a part of the first conduction path; and
(e) a monitoring circuit for computing a flow rate of the liquid through the flow path using at least the computed amount of temperature rise and an amount of power dissipation.