IP Library Granted Patent US 10,782,193
Granted Patent B2
US 10,782,193 · App. 15/694,708 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

High command fidelity electromagnetically driven calorimeter

Inventors: Tom Byvank (Knoxville, TN); Benjamin S. Conner (Columbus, OH); Roger A. Kisner (Knoxville, TN); Michael A. McGuire (Knoxville, TN); Orlando Rios (Knoxville, TN); Michael S. Kesler (Knoxville, TN); Gerard M. Ludtka (Oak Ridge, TN); Boyd Evans (Sewanee, TN); Cajetan Ikenna Niebedim (Ames, IA); Ralph William McCallum (Santa Fe, NM)
Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC; Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
G01K17/00G01K7/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,782,193
App. No.
15/694,708
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example apparatus can comprise an emitter to emit radio frequency radiation, an absorber that changes temperature based on emissions from the emitter, and one or more sensors to measure a temperature difference between a sample and a reference coupled to the absorber.

Claims (37)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an emitter to emit radio frequency radiation, the emitter comprising an induction coil;

an absorber that changes temperature based on radio frequency radiation from the emitter, the absorber being positioned within the induction coil; and

one or more sensors to measure a temperature difference between a sample and a reference coupled to the absorber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the emitter is configured to heat the absorber at a rate greater than 50 degrees Celsius per minute.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency radiation has a frequency less than 300 MHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the emitter is a water cooled induction coil.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive shield positioned annularly around the emitter to prevent electromagnetic radiation from passing therethrough.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more thermocouples.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a signal processing module to process the output from the one or more thermocouples.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the absorber comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion positioned within the first tubular portion, and a third tubular portion positioned within the second tubular portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first tubular portion comprises a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity and relatively low electromagnetic absorption.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first tubular portion comprises fused quartz or silica.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second tubular portion comprises a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and relatively high electromagnetic absorption.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second tubular portion comprises graphite.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the third tubular portion comprises a material having relatively low electromagnetic absorption.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the third tubular portion comprises alumina.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a thermal insulator is positioned annularly between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the thermal insulator comprises a ceramic felt.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an emitter to emit electromagnetic radiation;

an absorber that changes temperature based on electromagnetic radiation from the emitter;

one or more thermocouples configured to measure a temperature difference between a sample and a reference coupled to the absorber; and

a signal processing module configured to attenuate an alternating current portion of an output signal from the one or more thermocouples by a factor of more than 100.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the absorber comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion positioned within the first tubular portion, and a third tubular portion positioned within the second tubular portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the emitter is an induction coil.

20. A method comprising:

exciting an induction coil emitter with alternating current such that the induction coil emitter emits radio frequency radiation, wherein an absorber is positioned within the induction coil emitter such that the temperature of the absorber changes based on the alternating current and the radio frequency radiation, wherein a sample and a reference are coupled to the absorber, and wherein a thermocouple measures a temperature difference between the sample and the reference;

passing an output from the thermocouple through an analogue low-pass filter;

converting an output of the low-pass filter from analogue to digital to obtain a converted digital signal;

amplifying the converted digital signal to obtain an amplified signal; and

filtering the amplified signal.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

an emitter to emit radio frequency radiation;

an absorber that changes temperature based on radio frequency radiation from the emitter; and

one or more sensors to measure a temperature difference between a sample and a reference coupled to the absorber;

wherein the absorber comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion positioned within the first tubular portion, and a third tubular portion positioned within the second tubular portion.

Assignments (6)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 21, 2022
From: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 060391/0576 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 046824/0838 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: KESLER, MICHAEL S.
To: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 045520/0578 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2018
From: NLEBEDIM, CAJETAN IKENNA; MCCALLUM, RALPH WILLIAM
To: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 045307/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2018
From: EVANS, BOYD M., III
To: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 045286/0473 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2018
From: RIOS, ORLANDO; MCGUIRE, MICHAEL A.; BYVANK, TOM; CONNER, BENJAMIN S.; KISNER, ROGER A.
To: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 045170/0370 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62382361 · Sep 1, 2016
Related Publication 20180058953A1 · Mar 1, 2018