Extended Mobile Bypass to Measure the Mass Flow Rate

The KONTAS-cp facility consists of a bypass with electric heating, temperature difference measurement and a Coriolis mass flow sensors to measure the specific thermal heat capacity (C_p) of heat transfer fluid (HTF). During the SFERA-II project, the measurement accuracy of the C_p-measurement is enhanced and an additional Coriolis mass flow sensor is included. This further mass flow rate sensor enables the recalibration of already installed mass flow sensors in a testing facility. The calibration bypass is portable and can be coupled to practically any test facility using thermal oil. Among others, mass flow and specific heat capacity are key measurands to carry out energy balance studies and efficiency measurements in thermal collector assessments.
This deliverable describes the integration of a highly accurate mass flow rate sensor (Coriolis) to the bypass. Most test facilities have inline volume flow or even mass flow measuring devices to carry out energy balance studies. As a matter of fact, such sensors are installed in piping and data acquisition system and thus cannot be taken out easily for calibration or functional checks. Over time, e.g. due to changes in temperature, an initially low measurement uncertainty of an integrated flow or mass flow sensor may change. By connecting the upgraded measurement bypass to facilities, an inline facility sensor can be calibrated and thereby the sensor specific and overall measurement uncertainty is decreased.
This measure in combination with the enhancement of measurement accuracy of heat capacity measurements lead to a high measurement accuracy of thermal performance tests of CSP components and systems. Thus, European research centres are enabled to offer a more reliable service to users from industry and research.