Quartz crystal microbalance sensor and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a quartz crystal microbalance sensor and refrigeration equipment, the quartz crystal microbalance sensor comprises a shell and a sensor body arranged in the shell, the sensor body comprises a quartz layer, the quartz crystal microbalance sensor further comprises an elastic layer, the elastic layer is arranged between the quartz layer and the shell, and the elastic layer is arranged in the shell. The elastic layer is made of a porous breathable material. For low-frequency vibration in the refrigeration equipment environment, the porous breathable elastic layer is arranged in the quartz crystal microbalance sensor, the low-frequency vibration in the refrigeration equipment is absorbed through the elastic layer, and the influence of the vibration on the sensor body is weakened; therefore, the gas can be obtained by the sensor body through the elastic layer, so that the quartz crystal microbalance sensor can more accurately test the gas on the basis of avoiding vibration influence, and application of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor in refrigeration equipment is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, in particular to a refrigeration device comprising the quartz crystal microbalance sensor. Background Art

[0002] The quartz crystal microbalance sensor uses quartz crystal as an energy exchange element and outputs the mass signal of the substance as a frequency signal, thereby detecting the mass, density and concentration of the target sample. Its measurement accuracy is very high, reaching the ng level.

[0003] The present invention aims to apply a quartz crystal microbalance sensor to detect gas in refrigeration equipment. However, during the process of developing the present invention, the inventors discovered the following technical problems:

[0004] Since refrigeration equipment generally includes a compressor, which is a rotating machine, it generates a large amount of low-frequency vibrations below 100 Hz. This low-frequency vibration will be transmitted to the entire refrigerator. In this vibration environment, the measurement accuracy of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor will be greatly reduced, and the expected measurement effect cannot be achieved, which in turn restricts the application prospects of quartz crystal microbalance sensors in refrigeration equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the problem that the quartz crystal microbalance sensor in the prior art cannot achieve the expected detection accuracy when it is installed in the refrigeration equipment, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a quartz crystal microbalance sensor with higher measurement accuracy in the refrigeration equipment environment and a refrigeration equipment. 。

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose of the invention, one embodiment of the present invention provides a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, including a shell and a sensor body arranged in the shell, the sensor body including a quartz layer, the quartz crystal microbalance sensor also including an elastic layer, the elastic layer being arranged between the quartz layer and the shell, and the elastic layer being set as a porous breathable material.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the sensor body also includes a gas-sensitive material layer, an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer, the elastic layer includes a bottom elastic layer and a filler layer, the gas-sensitive material layer, the upper electrode layer, the quartz layer, the lower electrode layer and the bottom elastic layer are arranged in sequence, and the filler layer fills the area outside the sensor body and the bottom elastic layer in the shell.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the bottom elastic layer is configured as an elastic sponge, and the lower electrode layer and the bottom elastic layer are fixedly connected.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, an injection hole and a sealing member for sealing the injection hole are provided on the shell, and the filler layer is injected into the interior of the shell through the injection hole.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the filler layer includes a plurality of elastic parts, which are spherical before being fed into the injection hole. The elastic parts are expanded after being injected into the injection hole. The expanded elastic parts include a linear elastic trunk and a plurality of elastic radial lines connected to the elastic trunk.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the filler layer includes porous microspheres, the material of the porous microspheres is set to polyolefin or polyamide material, the porous microspheres include hollow channels, and the channels extend to the microsphere surface of the porous microspheres.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the filler layer includes aerogel.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, a ventilation hole is provided on the shell, and a waterproof breathable membrane is provided at the ventilation hole.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the waterproof breathable membrane and the gas-sensitive material layer are arranged opposite to each other, and the elastic layer is partially arranged between the waterproof breathable membrane and the gas-sensitive material layer.

[0015] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objects of the invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigeration device, which includes the above-mentioned quartz crystal microbalance sensor.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: for low-frequency vibrations in the refrigeration equipment environment, a porous and breathable elastic layer is set in the quartz crystal microbalance sensor, and the low-frequency vibrations in the refrigeration equipment are absorbed by the elastic layer, thereby reducing the impact of the vibration on the sensor body. Moreover, since the elastic layer is set as a porous and breathable material, the gas can be obtained by the sensor body through the elastic layer, so that the quartz crystal microbalance sensor can test the gas more accurately while avoiding the influence of vibration, which is beneficial to the application of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor in refrigeration equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a packing layer of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 1 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of the packing layer of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 is a top view of a quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Among them, 100, quartz crystal microbalance sensor; 10, sensor body; 11, gas-sensitive material layer; 12, upper electrode layer; 13, quartz layer; 14, lower electrode layer; 20, elastic layer; 21, filler layer; 211, elastic part; 2111, elastic trunk; 2112, elastic radiation; 212, porous microspheres; 2121, pores; 2122, microsphere surface; 22, bottom elastic layer; 30, shell; 31, air vent; 32, injection hole; 33, sealing part; 40, waterproof and breathable membrane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional changes made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] It should be understood that the terms used herein, such as "upper," "above," "lower," and "below," etc., indicating spatial relative positions, are used for ease of explanation to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to another element or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention provides a quartz crystal microbalance sensor and a refrigeration device with higher measurement accuracy in a refrigeration device environment.

[0025] The refrigeration device of this embodiment can be a refrigerator, a freezer, an upright refrigerator, a wine cabinet, etc. The following embodiments will be described using a refrigerator as an example. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration system, which includes a compressor. The compressor is a rotating machine that can generate vibrations during operation. The vibrations include vertical vibrations and torsional vibrations.

[0026] In order to accurately classify, perceive and identify the characteristic odors of food in the refrigerator, this embodiment provides a quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 in the refrigerator to achieve accurate detection of the maturity and freshness of the food.

[0027] like Figure 1-4As shown, a quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention includes a shell 30 and a sensor body 10 arranged in the shell 30. The sensor body 10 includes a quartz layer 13. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 also includes an elastic layer 20. The elastic layer 20 is arranged between the quartz layer 13 and the shell 30. The elastic layer 20 is set to a porous breathable material.

[0028] On the one hand, the elastic layer 20 can increase the buffering to prevent the vibration when the refrigerator press is turned on from affecting the signal of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100; on the other hand, since it is set to a porous breathable material, the gas can pass through the elastic layer 20 to reach the position of the sensor body 10 without affecting the sensor body 10's detection of the gas.

[0029] The sensor body 10 also includes a gas-sensitive material layer 11, an upper electrode layer 12 and a lower electrode layer 14. The elastic layer 20 includes a bottom elastic layer 22 and a filler layer 21. The gas-sensitive material layer 11, the upper electrode layer 12, the quartz layer 13, the lower electrode layer 14 and the bottom elastic layer 22 are arranged in sequence, and the filler layer 21 fills the area outside the sensor body 10 and the bottom elastic layer 22 in the shell 30.

[0030] In order to clearly express the position and direction described in this embodiment, in this embodiment, it is defined that the upper electrode layer 12 is located at the top and the lower electrode layer 14 is located at the bottom. That is, the gas-sensitive material layer 11, the upper electrode layer 12, the quartz layer 13, the lower electrode layer 14 and the bottom elastic layer 22 are arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The upper and lower positions can also be referred to as Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The upper part in the figure is the upper part of this embodiment. Figure 1 The bottom in the figure is the bottom in this embodiment. Therefore, the bottom elastic layer 22 is disposed below the sensor body 10. Of course, in the preferred embodiment, the bottom can be parallel to the physical bottom (ie, with reference to the direction of gravity).

[0031] The quartz crystals in the quartz layer 13 exhibit both positive and negative piezoelectric effects. The piezoelectric effect is the generation of a voltage between two opposing surfaces when a certain pressure is applied to the crystal surface. The voltage signal is proportional to the applied pressure. The sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor are determined by the drift amplitude of the resonant frequency. The gas-sensitive material layer 11 is fabricated on the upper electrode layer 12. Materials include polymers, lipids, gas chromatography stationary materials, metal oxides and sulfides, carbon nanotubes, and the like. It is used for selective adsorption of specific gases, such as oxygen, formic acid, aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen sulfide, and nitrotoluene.

[0032] Since the bottom elastic layer 22 is provided below the sensor body 10 , that is, when the bottom elastic layer 22 supports the sensor body 10 above, vibration transmitted from below can be absorbed by the bottom elastic layer 22 .

[0033] In this embodiment, the bottom elastic layer 22 is configured as an elastic sponge, and the lower electrode layer 14 is fixedly connected to the bottom elastic layer 22. Experimental verification shows that the elastic sponge can effectively absorb the low-frequency vibration of the compressor, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100.

[0034] During installation, the bottom elastic layer 22 is first adhered to the bottom of the housing 30, and then the sensor body 10 is fixed to the bottom elastic layer 22. In this embodiment, the sensor body 10 and the bottom elastic layer 22 can be fixed by bonding. For example, an adhesive can be applied to the upper surface of the bottom elastic layer 22, and then the sensor body 10 is bonded to the bottom elastic layer 22. During the fixing process of the sensor body 10 and the bottom elastic layer 22, care should be taken to ensure that the side surfaces of the sensor body 10 do not contact the housing 30.

[0035] Preferably, if the cross-section of the sensor body 10 is circular, the cross-section of the shell 30 is also set to be circular; if the cross-section of the sensor body 10 is square, the cross-section of the shell 30 is also set to be square, and the sensor body 10 and the shell 30 are coaxially arranged, so that the gap between the sensor body 10 and the shell 30 is roughly the same in any direction on the cross-section. On the one hand, the sensor body 10 is uniformly stressed in all lateral directions, and the amplitude of the vibration absorption is roughly the same. On the other hand, considering the vibration applied by the compressor, including lateral torsional vibration, such a coaxial arrangement and a structure in which the filler layer 21 is evenly filled in the gap are conducive to absorbing lateral torsional vibration.

[0036] Furthermore, the housing 30 is provided with an injection hole 32 and a sealing member 33 for closing the injection hole 32, such as Figure 1 As shown, the filler layer 21 is injected into the shell 30 through the injection hole 32. The injection hole 32 can be set on the side of the shell 30. The seal 33 can be set as a glue potting material. After the filler layer 21 is filled into the shell 30 through the injection hole 32, the injection hole 32 is sealed by glue potting to obtain the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100.

[0037] The packing layer 21 is described in detail below through three embodiments. In embodiment 1, the packing layer 21 is configured as follows. Figure 2 The elastic member 211 shown in the embodiment 2 is configured as follows: Figure 3 In the porous microspheres 212 shown in Example 2, the filler layer 21 is configured as aerogel.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] like Figure 2As shown, the filling layer 21 includes a plurality of elastic members 211. The elastic members 211 are spherical before being fed into the injection hole 32. The elastic members 211 are expanded after being injected into the injection hole 32. The expanded elastic members 211 include a linear elastic trunk 2111 and a plurality of elastic radial lines 2112 connected to the elastic trunk 2111.

[0040] The elastic member 211 can be made of one or more corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant, and aging-resistant materials such as polyolefins or polyamides. It is formed into a three-dimensional, elastic monomer using a special wire drawing and hair-making process, and then compressed into a small spherical shape. After being injected into the housing 30, the elastic member 211, due to its main structure consisting of a linear elastic backbone 2111, can expand three-dimensionally. Furthermore, due to the multiple elastic radials 2112 on the elastic backbone 2111, multiple such elastic members 211 can expand simultaneously, uniformly filling the space between the sensor body 10 and the housing 30 in all directions. Furthermore, the structure of the elastic backbone 2111 and the multiple elastic radials 2112 of the elastic member 211 creates the desired porous, breathable gap, allowing gas to enter the housing 30 and exchange with the gas-sensitive material layer 11 through the elastic member 211.

[0041] Based on the above-mentioned structural design of the elastic member 211, the elastic member 211 in Example 1 can be deformed after being injected into the shell 30, which is reflected in the increase in volume expansion. Under the action of the common expansion of multiple elastic members 211, the elastic member 211 can be more fully filled between the sensor body 10 and the shell 30. The filling degree is tighter than that of Examples 2 and 3, which are non-deformable or have relatively small deformation amounts. In other words, the elastic coefficient is relatively larger. Therefore, for low-frequency vibrations below 100 Hz generated by the compressor in a refrigerator environment, the larger elastic coefficient has a better vibration reduction effect on the low-frequency vibration, thereby better improving the detection accuracy of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100.

[0042] Example 2

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, the filler layer 21 includes porous microspheres 212 . The porous microspheres 212 are made of polyolefin or polyamide materials. The porous microspheres 212 include hollow channels 2121 . The channels 2121 extend to the microsphere surfaces 2122 of the porous microspheres 212 .

[0044] Here, the porous microspheres 212 can be set to polyolefin and polyamide materials. The porous microspheres 212 have a polymer cross-linked structure and gaps connecting the inside and outside, so that after the gas enters the shell 30, it contacts and exchanges with the gas-sensitive material layer 11 through the porous microspheres 212. That is to say, the porous microspheres 212 are not only hollow structures, but also the hollow channel 2121 structure will extend to the microsphere surface 2122, which can replace the gas to the outside, meeting the porous and breathable requirements of the filler layer 21.

[0045] Example 3

[0046] The filler layer 21 includes aerogel, which also has a polymer cross-linked structure inside, allowing for the exchange of gas molecules, thus meeting the porous and breathable requirements of the filler layer 21 .

[0047] Furthermore, if Figure 1 and 4 As shown, a vent hole 31 is provided on the housing 30 , and a waterproof breathable membrane 40 is provided at the vent hole 31 .

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, the opening shape of the air holes 31 can be cross-shaped. On the one hand, multiple cross-shaped air holes 31 have higher structural strength, and on the other hand, they can accommodate gas to pass through. In addition, the air holes 31 can also be circular, linear, etc.

[0049] The waterproof breathable membrane 40 can be made of porous polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride membrane or other materials, and is provided at the housing 30 at the breathable hole 31 for gas exchange with the external environment to prevent humidity from affecting the detection accuracy of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 .

[0050] In this embodiment, if Figure 1 As shown, the waterproof breathable membrane 40 is disposed opposite the gas-sensitive material layer 11, and the elastic layer 20 is partially disposed between the waterproof breathable membrane 40 and the gas-sensitive material layer 11. This places the gas-sensitive material layer 11 closer to the vents 31, shortening the path for gas to reach the gas-sensitive material layer 11 and improving sensitivity.

[0051] In other embodiments, since the elastic layer 20 is configured as a porous, breathable material, the air holes 31 may also be positioned elsewhere, even at the bottom of the housing 30. This allows the air holes 31 to be relatively far from the gas-sensitive material layer 11, resulting in better test stability and less interference from the airflow within the refrigerator. Specifically, if the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 is positioned at a vent, the air holes 31 may be positioned relatively far from the gas-sensitive material layer 11. If the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 is positioned at a location with relatively gentle airflow, the air holes 31 may be positioned relatively close to the gas-sensitive material layer 11, for example, where the waterproof breathable membrane 40 is positioned relative to the gas-sensitive material layer 11.

[0052] Compared with the conventional technology, this embodiment has the following beneficial effects:

[0053] In response to low-frequency vibrations in the refrigeration equipment environment, a porous and breathable elastic layer 20 is set in the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100. The elastic layer 20 absorbs the low-frequency vibrations in the refrigeration equipment, thereby reducing the impact of the vibration on the sensor body 10. Since the elastic layer 20 is set to a porous and breathable material, the gas can be obtained by the sensor body 10 through the elastic layer 20, so that the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 can test the gas more accurately while avoiding the influence of vibration, which is beneficial to the application of the quartz crystal microbalance sensor 100 in refrigeration equipment.

[0054] It should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation method can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0055] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quartz crystal microbalance sensor, comprising a housing and a sensor body disposed in the housing, wherein the sensor body comprises a quartz layer, characterized in that: The quartz crystal microbalance sensor further comprises an elastic layer, which is arranged between the quartz layer and the shell, and the elastic layer is arranged as a porous air-permeable material.

2. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor body also includes a gas-sensitive material layer, an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer, and the elastic layer includes a bottom elastic layer and a filler layer. The gas-sensitive material layer, the upper electrode layer, the quartz layer, the lower electrode layer and the bottom elastic layer are arranged in sequence, and the filler layer fills the area outside the sensor body and the bottom elastic layer in the shell.

3. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom elastic layer is configured as an elastic sponge, and the lower electrode layer is fixedly connected to the bottom elastic layer.

4. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The shell is provided with an injection hole and a sealing member for closing the injection hole, and the filler layer is injected into the shell through the injection hole.

5. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: The packing layer includes a plurality of elastic members, which are spherical before being fed into the injection hole. The elastic members are expanded after being injected into the injection hole. The expanded elastic members include a linear elastic trunk and a plurality of elastic radial lines connected to the elastic trunk.

6. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The filler layer includes porous microspheres, the material of the porous microspheres is set to be a polyolefin or polyamide material, the porous microspheres include hollow channels, and the channels extend to the microsphere surfaces of the porous microspheres.

7. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The filler layer includes aerogel.

8. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The shell is provided with ventilation holes, and a waterproof and breathable membrane is provided at the ventilation holes.

9. The quartz crystal microbalance sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that: The waterproof breathable membrane is arranged opposite to the gas-sensitive material layer, and the elastic layer is partially arranged between the waterproof breathable membrane and the gas-sensitive material layer.

10. A refrigeration device, characterized in that: The refrigeration device comprises a quartz crystal microbalance sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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