Gas flow measurement system and method of operation

Abstract

A gas flow monitoring system is disclosed that includes a plurality of first gas flow sensors. A primary probe transmitter is connected to the plurality of first gas flow sensors is configured to process data received from the plurality of first gas flow sensors to generate first gas flow data. A plurality of second gas flow sensors are connected to an ancillary probe transmitter and to the primary probe transmitter, where the ancillary probe transmitter are configured to process data received from the plurality of second gas flow sensors to generate second gas flow data. The primary probe transmitter further comprises a building automation system interface, and is configured to receive the second gas flow data from the ancillary probe transmitter and to transmit the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data to a building automation system.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A gas flow monitoring system comprising:
 a plurality of first gas flow sensors dispose at predetermined intervals along a support bar to form a probe; and   a primary probe transmitter coupled to the plurality of first gas flow sensors and the support bar and configured to process data received from the plurality of first gas flow sensors to generate first gas flow data.   
     
     
         22 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the primary probe transmitter is enclosed within a duct. 
     
     
         23 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of second gas flow sensors disposed on a first structure at a first location within a duct and wherein the support bar is disposed at a second location that is different from the first location. 
     
     
         24 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  further comprising an ancillary probe transmitter coupled to a plurality of second gas flow sensors at a first location within a duct and to the primary probe transmitter, the ancillary probe transmitter configured to process data received from the plurality of second gas flow sensors to generate second gas flow data, and wherein the support bar is disposed at a second location that is different from the first location. 
     
     
         25 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the primary probe transmitter further comprises a building automation system interface and configured to receive second gas flow data from an ancillary probe transmitter, to process the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data to generate first processed data, and to transmit the first gas flow data, the second gas flow data and the first processed data to a building automation system. 
     
     
         26 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the primary probe transmitter is coupled to an ancillary probe transmitter over a wireless network and the primary probe transmitter is coupled to a building automation system over a wire line network. 
     
     
         27 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of first gas flow sensors comprise a first plurality of thermistors for self-heating and a first plurality of thermistors for ambient temperature measurement. 
     
     
         28 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein the primary probe transmitter further comprises an error indication system configured to receive a signal from each of the plurality of thermistors for self-heating and to generate a user-readable indication as a function of each of the error signals. 
     
     
         29 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the first gas flow data comprises gas flow data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors. 
     
     
         30 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein the first gas flow data comprises one or more of velocity data and volume data. 
     
     
         31 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  further comprising a touch screen controller coupled to the primary probe transmitter and configured to generate one or more user prompts and to receive user-entered selections in response to the user prompts. 
     
     
         32 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a first housing containing the primary probe transmitter, the first housing configured to be attached to an air flow component at a first location; and 
 a first sensor support coupled to the first housing and the air flow component at the first location, wherein the plurality of first gas flow sensors are disposed on the first sensor support. 
 
     
     
         33 . The gas flow monitoring system of  claim 32  further comprising:
 a second housing containing an ancillary probe transmitter, the second housing configured to be attached to the air flow component at a second location; and 
 a second sensor support coupled to the second housing and the air flow component at the second location, wherein the plurality of second gas flow sensors are disposed on the second sensor support. 
 
     
     
         34 . A method for monitoring gas flow comprising:
 receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of first gas flow sensors at a primary probe transmitter at a first location within a duct;   processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate first gas flow data;   receiving a data signal from each of a plurality of second gas flow sensors at an ancillary probe transmitter;   processing the plurality of second gas flow sensors data signals to generate second gas flow data;   transmitting the second gas flow data to the primary probe transmitter over a first communications media;   assembling the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data for transmission over a network at the primary probe transmitter; and   transmitting the first gas flow data and the second gas flow data from the primary probe transmitter to a building automation system.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein receiving the data signal from each of the plurality of second gas flow sensors at the ancillary probe transmitter comprises receiving the data signal from each of the plurality of second gas flow sensors at the ancillary probe transmitter from a second location within the duct. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating first gas flow data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating one or more of velocity data and volume data. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein processing the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals to generate the first gas flow data comprises generating one or more of velocity data and volume data for each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising determining whether one or more of the plurality of first gas flow sensor data signals should be omitted from the first gas flow data at the primary probe transmitter. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising testing each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors for operability with the primary probe transmitter as a function of a location of each of the plurality of first gas flow sensors within the duct.