Abstract
Abstract A heat balance method has been developed that directly estimates sap volume flow rate (m 3 s -1 ). The measuring device involves: a) a heating jacket wound around the stem that delivers constant heat, and b) four thermal sensors (copper-constantan thermocouples) used to measure temperature changes in the sap and thermal gradients at the upstream and downstream ends of the heating jacket. Lateral heat losses, minimized by surrounding the heat jacket with good insulation, are ignored. This method requires no previous calibration since empirical coefficients can be computed when the sap flow is zero. The method has been tested under laboratory conditions on stem segments and in a greenhouse on small potted fruit trees. The results appear satisfactory, especially under high flow conditions.
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Claims 3
Claim · model-written summary
The heat balance method directly estimates sap volume flow rate.
Verbatim
e0“A heat balance method has been developed that directly estimates sap volume flow rate (m 3 s -1 )”
t0“Small Trees”
Claim · model-written summary
The sap flow method needs no previous calibration because coefficients can be computed at zero flow.
Verbatim
e0“This method requires no previous calibration since empirical coefficients can be computed when the sap flow is zero”
t0“Small Trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Tests on stem segments and potted fruit trees gave satisfactory results, especially at high flow.
Not reportedComparatorValue
Verbatim
e0“The results appear satisfactory, especially under high flow conditions”
e1“small potted fruit trees”