A method of detecting a temperature sensor failure in a turbine system, includes obtaining individual measurement values from each temperature sensor in a group of temperature sensors, calculating a characteristic value for each temperature sensor in the group based on the measurement values for the corresponding temperature sensor, selecting a first characteristic value among the calculated characteristic values, determining a first maximum value as the maximum of the characteristic values except for the first characteristic value, and determining that the temperature sensor corresponding to the first characteristic value is defective if the first characteristic value is larger than the first maximum value multiplied by a predetermined factor. A corresponding device, system, computer program and computer program product utilize the method.

A reference range identifying device acquires and records, at a predetermined time interval, a measuring result of a load and exhaust temperature of an engine. The device identifies, based on combinations of the load and exhaust temperature recorded at multiple points of time, for each load zone, for example a 95% confidence interval of a distribution of exhaust temperatures as a reference range. Subsequently, the device calculates an approximate curve for lower limits and upper limits of reference ranges identified for the load zones. The device identifies a range sandwiched by the calculated two approximate curves as a reference range that changes in accordance with a load. The device, upon detecting that a current load and exhaust temperature of the engine is not included in the reference range, notifies the detected fact to a user.

Disclosed is a sensor, comprising: a housing; a detecting element provided inside the housing; a first cylinder provided inside the housing and sleeved outside the detecting element, the first cylinder having an amount of elastic deformation in a direction intersecting a surface around the detecting element; a particle filler, for filling an inner cavity of the housing. When external environment produces mechanical shock to the sensor or the sensor produces mechanical vibration, the limiting action of the first cylinder and the particle filler enables the detecting element to only have very little vibration displacement or even no vibration displacement with respect to the housing. The external mechanical shock can be partially or completely absorbed by the first cylinder and the particle filler, so as to reduce vibration displacement of the detecting element caused by the shock.

A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within the fluid flow system. A control device includes a microprocessor and is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model and at least one input from the fluid flow system. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

A temperature sensor includes a pair of thermocouple wires, a temperature measuring junction formed by joining tip ends of the pair of thermocouple wires together, an outer tube having a tip end provided with a tip end cover in which the temperature measuring junction is held, an insulator insulating the pair of thermocouple wires from the outer tube, and a glass seal filled in a base end of the outer tube to seal the outer tube from inside thereof. The glass seal contains bubbles which are independent of each other.

A temperature sensor includes a pair of thermocouple wires, a temperature measuring junction formed by joining tip ends of the pair of thermocouple wires together, an outer tube having a tip end in which the temperature measuring junction is held, an insulator insulating the pair of thermocouple wires from the outer tube, and a glass seal filled in a base end of the outer tube. The pair of thermocouple wires disposed in the outer tube have surfaces where passive films are respectively formed due to the oxidization of the metallic materials on the surfaces of the pair of thermocouple wires.

An exhaust system is provided that includes an exhaust aftertreatment unit, first and second exhaust pathway in communication with and upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment unit, a thermally activated flow control device operable in a first and second mode, and a thermal storage device. In the first mode, the flow control device permits exhaust to flow to the aftertreatment unit through the first pathway and inhibits flow through the second pathway. In the second mode, the flow control device permits exhaust flow to the aftertreatment unit through the second pathway and inhibits flow through the first pathway. The flow control device may switch between the first and second modes based on a change of temperature. The thermal storage device is within the second pathway, stores thermal mass, and provides thermal insulation to enable a catalyst of the aftertreatment unit to maintain a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.

A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater has at least one resistive heating element and the heater is operable to heat fluid. The control device determines at least one flow characteristic of a fluid flow based on a heat loss of the at least one resistive heating element and determines a mass flow rate of the fluid based on the at least one flow characteristic and a property of the at least one resistive heating element. And the property of the at least one resistive heating element includes a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element under a given heat flux density.

A method for operating a heater system including a resistive heating element having a material with a non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile is provided. The method includes heating the resistive heating element to within a limited temperature range in which the resistive heating element exhibits a negative dR/dT characteristic, operating the resistive heating element within an operating temperature range that at least partially overlaps the limited temperature range, and determining a temperature of the resistive heating element such that the resistive heating element functions as both a heater and a temperature sensor. The resistive heating element can function as a temperature sensor in a temperature range between about 500 C. and about 800 C., and the non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile for the material of the resistive heating element can have a local maximum and a local minimum.

A heater is provided that includes at least one resistive heating element having a material with a non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile and exhibiting a negative dR/dT characteristic over a predetermined operating temperature range along the profile. The heater can include a plurality of circuits disposed in a fluid path to heat fluid flow.