Energy measurement system for fluid systems

Abstract

A primary fluid flow loop and a secondary fluid flow loop fluidly coupled to the primary fluid flow loop. The secondary fluid flow loop exchanges heat with at least one of a heat source and a heat load. The secondary fluid flow loop includes an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupling the primary fluid flow loop to the secondary fluid flow loop. A fluid flow meter coupled to the primary fluid flow loop. A first temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the first temperature sensor measures the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the secondary fluid flow loop. A second temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the second temperature sensor measures the temperature of the fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the secondary fluid flow loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy measurement system for a fluid heating and cooling system, comprising:
 a primary fluid flow loop;   a first secondary fluid flow loop and a second secondary fluid flow loop each being fluidly coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the first secondary fluid flow loop exchanging heat with a heat load and the second secondary fluid flow loop exchanging heat with a heat source, the first and second secondary fluid flow loops each including an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupling the primary fluid flow loop to each of the first and second secondary fluid flow loops;   a fluid flow meter coupled to the primary fluid flow loop at any position along the primary fluid flow loop other than between the respect inlets and outlets of the first and second secondary fluid flow loops, the flow meter measuring a volumetric fluid flow of the flow within the primary loop at the position of the flow meter;   a first temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the first temperature sensor measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop;   a second temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the second temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the fluid in the primary fluid flow loop flowing downstream of the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop; and   a processor in communication with the first and second temperature sensors and the fluid flow meter, the processor being configured to multiply the difference between the measured temperatures of the first and second temperature sensors by the volume flow measured by the flow meter to determine the thermal energy consumption rate of the heat load of the first secondary flow loop.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a third temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the third temperature sensor measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop; and
 a fourth temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop, the fourth temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the fluid in the primary fluid flow loop flowing downstream of the outlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop; and   the processor in communication with the third and fourth temperature sensors, the processor being configured to multiply the difference between the measured temperatures of the fourth and third temperature sensors by the volume flow measured by the flow meter to determine the thermal energy production rate of the heat source of the second secondary flow loop.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a heat exchange element exchanging heat with the primary fluid flow loop. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a heat exchange element exchanging heat with the primary fluid flow loop. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a second primary fluid flow loop in thermal communication with the primary fluid flow loop; and wherein the second primary fluid flow loop exchanges heat with the primary fluid flow loop through the heat exchanging element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second primary fluid flow loop in thermal communication with the primary fluid flow loop; and wherein the second primary fluid flow loop exchanges heat with the primary fluid flow loop through the heat exchanging element. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , further including a second fluid flow meter coupled to the second primary fluid flow loop. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further including a second fluid flow meter coupled to the second primary fluid flow loop. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further including a tertiary fluid flow loop fluidly coupled to the second primary fluid flow loop, the tertiary fluid flow loop including at least one of a heat load and a heat source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further including a tertiary fluid flow loop fluidly coupled to the second primary fluid flow loop, the tertiary fluid flow loop including at least one of a heat load and a heat source. 
     
     
         11 . A method of measuring the energy consumption and production rates in a fluid heating or cooling system, comprising:
 coupling a single fluid flow meter to a primary fluid flow loop, the primary fluid flow loop being fluidly coupled to a first secondary fluid flow loop and a second secondary loop, the first secondary fluid flow loop including an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupling the primary fluid flow loop and the first secondary fluid flow loop, the first secondary fluid flow loop exchanging heat with a heat load and the second secondary flow loop exchanging heat with a heat source;   measuring the volumetric fluid flow rate within the primary fluid flow loop at any position along the primary fluid flow loop that is not between the inlet and the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop or between the inlet and the outlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop with the fluid flow meter;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop with a first temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop with a second temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop with a third temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop with a fourth temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop;   multiplying the difference between the measured temperatures of the first and second temperature sensors by the volume flow measured by the flow meter to determine the energy consumption rate of the heat load of the first secondary flow loop; and   multiplying the difference between the measured temperatures of the fourth and third temperature sensors by the volume flow measured by the flow meter to determine the energy production rate of the heat source of the second secondary flow loop.   
     
     
         12 . A method of measuring the energy consumption rate in a fluid heating or cooling system, comprising:
 coupling a single fluid flow meter to a primary fluid flow loop, the primary fluid flow loop being fluidly coupled to a first secondary fluid flow loop and a second secondary loop, the first secondary fluid flow loop including an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupling the primary fluid flow loop and the first secondary fluid flow loop, the first secondary fluid flow loop exchanging heat with a heat load and the second secondary flow loop exchanging heat with a heat source;   measuring the volumetric fluid flow rate within the primary fluid flow loop at any position along the primary fluid flow loop that is not between the inlet and the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop or between the inlet and the outlet of the second secondary fluid flow loop with the fluid flow meter;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop with a first temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop upstream of the inlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop;   measuring the temperature of a fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop with a second temperature sensor coupled to the primary fluid flow loop downstream of the outlet of the first secondary fluid flow loop;   multiplying the difference between the measured temperatures of the first and second temperature sensors by the volume flow measured by the flow meter to determine the energy consumption rate of the heat load of the first secondary flow loop.