Fluid presence detector for gas pipe using an excited wire mesh

摘要

A liquid presence detector and method of using the same for a gas fluid conduit is provided by a capacitor that is placed inside the conduit and that is formed of two interwoven wire grids with one of the grids being insulated and the other grid being uninsulated. In one embodiment, the capacitor is generally planar and is oriented generally transverse a longitudinal axis of the conduit with a peripheral portion lying in a generally axial orientation along an inner surface of the conduit. A circuit is provided that measures capacitance between the two wire grids. The conduit is electrically grounded. Liquid particles entrained in the gas fluid or traveling along the conduit wall contact the capacitor and changes the capacitance thereof. In another embodiment, the capacitor is formed as a generally open cylinder positioned coaxially within the conduit. A flow distributor is positioned within a portion of the cylinder and directs gas flow and liquid particle movement in a non-axial direction for contact with the capacitor.