MEASUREMENT OF MASS FLOW

摘要

A system and method for measuring mass flow of a non-gaseous phase (4) of material such as a solid particulate are described. The material flows through a conduit of which a section (14) is heated or cooled. One temperature sensor (6) is provided upstream of this section and at least another temperature sensor (7, 8) is provided downstream of it. These temperature sensors are adapted to measure the temperature of material in the non-gaseous phase directly. The section is heated or cooled for a first period of time and then neither heated nor cooled for a second period. A third temperature sensor (10) is provided in good thermal contact with the heated or cooled section - this temperature sensor. The temperature sensors measure the temperature of the non-gaseous phase of the material flowing the conduit in at least the second period of time. The mass flow of the non-gaseous phase of the material is calculated from the measurements of temperature.