Fatigue resistant thermowell and methods
Methods and thermowell systems that can be uses in high dynamic pressure environments. A thermocouple system includes a thermowell configured to enter a structure through which a medium flows; an elongated probe provided partially inside the thermowell and configured to measure a temperature; at least one o-ring disposed around the elongated probe at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell; and an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell.
1. A thermocouple system, comprising:
a thermowell configured to enter a structure through which a medium flows;
an elongated probe section of a thermocouple provided partially inside the thermowell and configured to measure a temperature;
at least one o-ring disposed on and in contact with the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell, wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that a dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell; and
an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell.
2. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , wherein the thermowell is selected from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells.
3. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second o-ring provided away from the first end.
4. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , wherein the dampening fluid is disposed in the thermowell.
5. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cap section configured to connect the elongated probe section of the thermocouple to the thermowell via the elastomer so that a vibrational frequency of the thermocouple is different from a resonating frequency of the structure.
6. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , wherein the thermowell of the thermocouple system is exposed to the medium for of which temperature is measured.
7. The thermocouple system of claim 1 , the thermowell further comprising:
a housing which includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.35 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm.
8. The thermocouple system of claim 7 , wherein an amount of a dampening fluid disposed inside of the stem section fills approximately one half of a volume within the stem section after the probe has been inserted into said housing.
9. The thermocouple system of claim 8 , wherein the dampening fluid is a thermoconductive oil with a flash point over 176.7° C.
10. A compressor comprising:
a thermowell configured to enter a wall of the compressor along which a medium flows;
an elongated probe of a thermocouple provided and configured to measure a temperature;
at least one o-ring disposed on and in contact with the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell, wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that a dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell; and
an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell;
an intake section being configured to receive the medium;
a shaft and rotor assembly configured to rotate and initiate compression of the medium received from the intake section; and
an outlet section being configured to discharge the compressed medium.
11. The compressor of claim 10 , wherein the thermowell is selected from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells.
12. The compressor of claim 10 , further comprising: a second o-ring provided away from the first end.
13. The compressor of claim 10 , further comprising:
a cap section configured to connect the elongated probe of the thermocouple to the thermowell via the elastomer so that a vibrational frequency of the thermocouple is different from a resonating frequency of the structure.
14. The compressor of claim 10 , wherein the thermowell is exposed to the medium for of which temperature is measured.
15. The compressor of claim 10 , the thermowell further comprising:
a housing which includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.34 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm.
16. The compressor of claim 15 , wherein an amount of the dampening fluid disposed inside of said stem section fills approximately one half of a volume within said stem section after the probe has been inserted into said housing.
17. The compressor of claim 16 , wherein the dampening fluid is a thermoconductive oil with a flash point over 350° F.
18. A method for dampening vibrations of a thermocouple system, the method comprising:
providing an elastomer in a housing piece, wherein the elastomer surrounds a first end of an elongated probe section of the thermocouple, and wherein the elongated probe section of the thermocouple is configured to measure a temperature of a medium contacting the thermocouple system;
disposing at least one o-ring on and in contact with a second end of the elongated probe section of the thermocouple;
disposing a dampening fluid within a housing of a thermowell in which the elongated probe section of the thermocouple is provided; and
inserting the elongated probe section of the thermocouple into the thermowell, wherein the elastomer, the at least one o-ring and the dampening fluid reduce vibrations of the thermocouple, and wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that the dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
selecting the thermowell from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
providing a second o-ring on the elongated probe section of the thermocouple away from the first o-ring.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the housing section includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.34 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm.
22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
altering a frequency of the thermocouple system such that the frequency of the thermocouple is a different from a resonating frequency of a structure to which the thermowell is attached.