Hot-wire anemometer with high temporal resolution

• Increased measurement speed due to instantaneous response to temperature gradients.
• Continuous data acquisition, enabling real-time monitoring of flow changes.
• Elimination of the need for thermal equilibrium, reducing downtime.
• Compatibility with existing thermal anemometer hardware.
• Compatibility with existing calibration process.
• High accuracy with temperature-dependent loss compensation.

The new technique can be applied to all thermal anemometer applications, where temporal resolution beyond the thermal time constant of the sensor element is required, like …

• wind speed monitors,
• alarm in case of flow failure, e.g. cooling water,
• rapid changes of flows, e.g. vehicle crosswind stabilization

Thermal anemometry is a well-established field, crucial for measuring fluid flow in numerous scien-tific and industrial applications. Traditional methods rely on the sensor reaching thermal equilibrium, which can be time-consuming and less responsive to rapid changes. DTA builds upon this founda-tion, addressing the limitations of prior art by introducing a method that significantly accelerates response time and maintains continuous measurement capabilities.

DTA technology utilizes a novel approach to thermal anemometry by focusing on the sensor's temperature gradient rather than its equilibrium state. This method measures the imbalance be-tween electrical heating and convective cooling, yielding flow velocity data with unprecedented temporal resolution. The DTA's innovative calibration and data processing techniques facilitate its integration into various industrial and research settings.

PCT, EP

H. Nobach, “Differential Temperature Anemometer“, submitted on Aug 7, 2023, https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.03435