Temperature Monitoring Lamp for Electric Heat Tracing System Utilizing Heating Cable Surface Temperature as Power Source

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature sensing lamp for an electric heat tracing system. The surface temperature of a heating cable can be utilized as the driving power for the temperature sensing lamp of the present invention. Thanks to this, wired power is not used, and thus power lines installed in the EHT system are not damaged. Above all, the inconvenience and effort associated with replacing or charging batteries are eliminated.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an Electrical Heat Tracing (EHT) system, and in particular to a temperature monitoring lamp installed in an EHT system. Background Technology

[0003] Electric heat tracing systems are installed in industries such as oil refining, petrochemicals, gas, and pharmaceuticals to manage processes, including fluid viscosity and temperature, within pipelines or tanks. These systems supply heat by attaching heating cables and heating devices according to the shape and layout of the tanks and process piping. To maintain the target temperature range of the object being heated, the temperature must be accurately measured and monitored. Furthermore, it is paramount to accurately supply the necessary power to the heating cables to compensate for heat loss. Wireless temperature transmitters play a crucial role in this regard. Additionally, LED signal lamps installed at predetermined locations serve to visually indicate the performance and operation status of the heating cables. Multiple signal lamps should be installed to enhance monitoring of the heat tracing system and ensure visibility. Managers can check the power supply status and the operation of the heating cables from a distance by observing the illumination of these signal lamps.

[0004] Conventional EHT systems utilize either battery-powered or wired power connections for signal lamps. When using batteries, frequent replacements are unavoidable due to battery depletion, leading to reduced monitoring efficiency. Furthermore, given the piping characteristics of industrial sites, replacing batteries in signal lamps installed at heights exceeding 3 meters increases operational costs, such as labor and equipment rental, while also raising safety risks associated with working at heights. Due to these difficulties, wired power supply installations are widely used. However, drawing power from the EHT system's control panel significantly increases wiring costs. Additionally, to supplement power from nearby power lines or heating cables, the sheathing of existing lines must be cut to expose the conductive parts and create new electrical contacts; this presents problems of increased costs on one hand and increased electrical safety risks on the other.

[0005] The inventor of the present invention has completed the present invention after much deliberation to solve these problems.

[0006] [Prior Art] Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1539990 <End Ramp Device Installed in Industrial Heating Cable System> The problem to be solved

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to propose a method of using a separate, independent energy source as the driving power for a temperature monitoring lamp (signal lamp), rather than the existing battery or wired power supply methods. By doing so, installation costs are economical, maintenance is simple, and the installation location of the temperature monitoring lamp can be freely selected, enabling more efficient and highly visible monitoring. Furthermore, the need to physically damage power lines to obtain power is eliminated. The above objective is supported by a specific design that utilizes the temperature generated from a heating cable as the driving power source.

[0009] Meanwhile, other unspecified objects of the present invention will be further considered to the extent that they can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and effects. means of solving the problem

[0011] The present invention, for achieving the above objectives, relates to a temperature monitoring lamp installed at a predetermined location in an Electrical Heat Tracing (EHT) system installed in a pipe or tank, wherein

[0012] A temperature monitoring lamp is equipped with a temperature difference voltage generator, wherein the high-temperature portion of the temperature difference voltage generator is located adjacent to a heating cable installed in a pipe or tank, and the low-temperature portion of the temperature difference voltage generator is installed on the opposite side of the heating cable and has a heat dissipation structure in contact with a heat sink, and is characterized by supplying power generated from the temperature difference between the high-temperature portion and the low-temperature portion to the lamp PCB assembly of the temperature monitoring lamp.

[0013] In addition, in a temperature monitoring lamp of an electric heat tracing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

[0014] The above temperature monitoring lamp includes a heat medium frame that fixes the heat sink, and

[0015] It is preferable to install wing sections on both sides of the heat medium frame that are connected to straps housing magnets for pipe attachment.

[0016] In addition, in a temperature monitoring lamp of an electric heat tracing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature difference voltage generating unit is composed of one or more Peltier elements, and it is preferable that the high-temperature portion is formed on the lower surface of the Peltier element and the low-temperature portion is formed on the upper surface of the Peltier element.

[0017] In addition, in a temperature monitoring lamp of an electric heat tracing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable to install a first thermally conductive cement on the upper surface of the Peltier element to transfer heat so that heat is dissipated from the low-temperature portion of the Peltier element to the heat sink.

[0018] In addition, in a temperature monitoring lamp of an electric heat tracing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable to install a second thermally conductive cement on the lower surface of the Peltier element to transfer heat to the high-temperature portion of the Peltier element while preventing heat loss from the heating cable. Effects of the invention

[0020] According to the method of the present invention, by using an independent temperature monitoring lamp separated from the power connection kit, the installation location can be freely selected, multiple lamps can be installed, and a more efficient, more sophisticated, and intuitive temperature monitoring function can be implemented.

[0021] The present invention has the advantage of eliminating the need for stripping work to expose the conductors of power supply lines or heating cables, significantly reducing installation, maintenance, and replacement costs, and further ensuring and maintaining the electrical safety of the EHT system.

[0022] Meanwhile, it should be added that even if an effect is not explicitly mentioned here, the effects described in the following specification and the provisional effects expected by the technical features of the present invention are treated as described in the specification of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an example of the installation configuration of a temperature sensing lamp of an ETH system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the installation cross-sectional configuration of a temperature sensing lamp (100) of an ETH system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a configuration in which a pipe installation strap (180) is added to a temperature sensing lamp (100) of an ETH system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an example configuration in which a temperature sensing lamp (100) of an ETH system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed with piping. It should be noted that the attached drawings are provided as examples for reference to help understand the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the rights of the present invention is not limited by them. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the specific details of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating the configuration of the present invention by way of example. It should be noted that the drawings are provided for the convenience of those skilled in the art to understand the configuration of the present invention and are not depicted with great precision and accuracy. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known functions are omitted if they are deemed obvious to those skilled in the art and could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an example of the installation of a temperature monitoring lamp installed in an electric heat tracing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Fluid flows through the pipe (10). The control system of the present invention manages the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the pipe (10) by treating it as a heating target. To this end, a means for heating the fluid, namely a heating cable (20), is installed. A temperature monitoring lamp (100) is installed to indicate whether the heating cable (20) is operating normally. Since the temperature monitoring lamp (100) of the present invention secures driving power through the temperature of the heating cable (20), if power is supplied normally to the heating cable (20), the temperature monitoring lamp (100) also operates normally. If power is not supplied normally to the heating cable (20), the heating operation of the heating cable (20) does not occur, so driving power cannot be secured, and therefore the temperature monitoring lamp (100) cannot operate normally.

[0029] In this embodiment, a heating cable (20) is installed over a pipe (10), and a plurality of temperature monitoring lamps (100) are mounted and installed at predetermined locations on the heating cable (20). The temperature monitoring lamps (100) are surrounded by a pipe insulation material (50) that protects the heating cable (20) and maintains the temperature, while a part of the heat sink (150) and the temperature monitoring lamp housing (110) are exposed. An LED lamp and a PCB containing the electronic configuration of the temperature monitoring lamp are installed inside the temperature monitoring lamp housing (110). The electronic configuration of the temperature monitoring lamp itself for realizing known functions is known to those skilled in the art, except for a configuration that uses the heat generated by the heating cable (20) as the driving power source.

[0031] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional configuration in the view that a pipe installation configuration of a temperature monitoring lamp (100) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a pipe (10) on which a heat cable (20) is installed.

[0032] The temperature sensing lamp (100) of the present invention includes a lamp PCB assembly (101) in which an LED lamp is installed, a PCB support member (105) that supports the lamp PCB (101), a lamp cover (110) that protects the lamp, and a holding guide (115) that supports the lamp cover (110). Additionally, it includes a heat medium frame (160) mounted on a pipe (10), a heat conductive cement (30) interposed between the heat medium frame (160) and a heating cable (20), a temperature difference voltage generating unit (120), a first heat conductive cement (130) and a second heat conductive cement (140) respectively installed above and below the temperature difference voltage generating unit (120), a heat sink (150), and an electrical line (170) electrically connected to the lamp PCB assembly (101) to supply power generated from the temperature difference voltage generating unit (120).

[0033] The lamp cover (110) protecting the lamp is made of a transparent material. Fluid will flow in the cavity (1) inside the pipe (10).

[0034] The lamp PCB assembly (101) uses 4 LEDs and operates with an input power of 6V, 420mA.

[0035] The temperature difference voltage generation unit (120) uses a Peltier element. Two power line cables are connected from the terminals of the Peltier element to a DC-DC converter (not shown). A Peltier element with a square shape and two sides is known as a semiconductor device used for cooling and heating purposes. When electrical energy is supplied to both ends of the Peltier element, a temperature difference (△T) is generated on both sides of the element. This characteristic is known as the Peltier effect. The operating principle of such a Peltier element can also be utilized in reverse. By increasing the temperature difference (△T) on both sides of the Peltier element, electrons can be made to flow from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side. Through this, it is possible to convert heat, known as the Seebeck effect, into electrical energy.

[0036] The energy efficiency of such Peltier elements is not high. However, if a continuous heat source is provided, significant power can be obtained to drive the lamp PCB assembly (101) of the temperature sensing lamp. Typically, the temperature of the pipes and tank surfaces to which the EHT system is applied is about 60°C to 150°C higher than the ambient temperature to control the flow of the internal fluid. In other words, in the present invention, a heating cable is installed in the EHT system as a heat source to maintain this high temperature difference. In the case of the TEC1-12706 Peltier element, the power generation capacity according to the temperature difference is as follows.

[0037] 20℃ > 0.96V, 225mA

[0038] 40℃ > 1.8V, 368mA

[0039] 60℃ > 2.4V, 469mA

[0040] 80℃ > 3.6V, 558mA

[0041] 100℃> 4.8V, 669mA

[0042] The present invention may configure one or more Peltier elements as a temperature difference voltage generating unit (120). Multiple Peltier elements may be connected in series and electrically connected from two terminals to a DC-DC converter, and power generated from the temperature difference may be supplied to a lamp PCB assembly (101).

[0043] In other words, the present invention supplies power to the lamp PCB assembly (101) in a self-generating manner that converts the difference between the surface temperature of the heating cable and the external temperature into power by utilizing a Peltier element as described above. In order to stably manage such power production and to maintain a higher temperature difference between the low-temperature section (upper side of the temperature difference voltage generating section (120)) and the high-temperature section (lower side of the temperature difference voltage generating section (120)), the temperature management solution configuration is preferably included inside the temperature sensing lamp (100) of the present invention. Such a temperature management solution configuration may include a first thermally conductive cement (130), a heat sink (150), a second thermally conductive cement (140), and a heat medium frame (160).

[0044] The heat medium frame (160) is made of a metal material such as aluminum that can quickly transfer heat from the heat cable (20) located below upward, and the heat sink (150) is fixed by inserting a fastening means (165) through brackets at both ends.

[0045] A second thermally conductive cement (140) is installed over the surface of the heat medium frame (160), and heat conducted from the heat cable (20) is rapidly transferred to the temperature difference voltage generating unit (120).

[0046] A first thermally conductive cement (121) is attached over a temperature difference voltage generating part (120) that is in close surface contact with a second thermally conductive cement (140) so that heat from the low-temperature part of the Peltier element is rapidly sent to a heat sink (150) to dissipate heat.

[0047] The heat sink (150) is preferably composed of a plurality of heat dissipation fins made of aluminum material and lowers the heat of the low-temperature portion of the upper surface of the Peltier element.

[0048] That is, the second thermally conductive cement (140) located below the high-temperature portion of the Peltier element efficiently and rapidly transfers heat to the high-temperature portion of the Peltier element while preventing heat loss from the object being heated or the heating cable. On the other hand, the first thermally conductive cement (130) located below the low-temperature portion of the Peltier element rapidly dissipates heat from the low-temperature portion of the Peltier element. In this way, the temperature difference (△T) between the two sides of the Peltier element is efficiently maintained.

[0050] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the installation configuration of a temperature sensing lamp having a structure for adhering to a curved surface of a pipe or tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] This embodiment is designed to easily attach a temperature monitoring lamp to a pipe or tank and to improve adhesion to a curved surface. It provides flexibility in installation. Wing portions (180) having slits into which straps can be inserted are installed on both sides of a heat medium frame (160).

[0052] Then, as described, a strap (190) having a receiving portion capable of receiving a neodymium magnet is attached to the slit of the wing portion (180). Next, a neodymium magnet (195) is inserted into the receiving portion of the strap (190). This configuration facilitates the installation of the temperature monitoring lamp (100) and improves the adhesion to the curved surface of the pipe or tank.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which a temperature monitoring lamp (100) is installed as in the embodiment of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0055] After installing a temperature monitoring lamp (100) on the pipe (10) using a strap, stability can be ensured by sealing the bottom with pipe insulation material (50).

[0056] It is desirable to expose the heat sink (150) of the temperature sensing lamp (100) in order to lower the temperature of the upper surface, which is the low-temperature part of the petier element.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Peltier element with dimensions of 40 mm x 40 mm x 3.9 mm was used. A heat sink, which performs the function of releasing heat from the surface of the Peltier element to maintain a low temperature of the low-temperature portion of the Peltier element, is made of aluminum material with a fin structure advantageous for heat dissipation, and is bonded using thermally conductive cement (130) to ensure thermal contact with the surface of the Peltier element. A DC-DC converter converts the voltage generated by the Peltier element into a predetermined voltage and supplies it as a driving power source for a temperature sensing sensor.

[0058] The pipe insulation material (50) of the present invention surrounds the pipe (10) to protect the heating cable and minimizes heat loss from the object to be heated. This pipe insulation material (50) uses mineral wool with a thickness of 30 mm. As previously explained, thermally conductive cement is embedded to prevent heat loss of the heating cable (20) and to efficiently transfer heat to the object to be heated and the high-temperature part of the Peltier element.

[0060] In the present invention described so far, wired power is not used to drive the temperature sensing lamp, so no physical damage is caused to the power lines used in the EHT system. This is because the technical concept of the present invention is to secure a 6V driving power supply in a non-contact manner that does not expose the current-carrying parts or conductors. Therefore, the safety of the entire power system can be maintained, and above all, the installation and management of the temperature sensing lamp can be done flexibly. Conventionally, stripping work was performed to expose the conductors of power supply lines or heating cables, but in the present invention, such work is not necessary. Those skilled in the art will understand that this significantly reduces installation costs, maintenance costs, and replacement costs.

[0061] Meanwhile, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the descriptions and expressions of the embodiments explicitly described above. Various substitutions and modifications are possible within the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be added that the scope of protection of the present invention cannot be limited by obvious modifications or substitutions made in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

Claims

Claim 1 A temperature monitoring lamp installed at a predetermined location in an Electrical Heat Tracing (EHT) system installed in a pipe or tank, wherein the temperature monitoring lamp is equipped with a temperature difference voltage generating unit composed of one or more Peltier elements; a second thermally conductive cement is applied to the lower surface of the Peltier element to transfer heat while preventing heat loss from the heating cable, and is adjacent to the heating cable so as to allow for heat conduction; a first thermally conductive cement is applied to the upper surface of the Peltier element to dissipate heat to the low-temperature portion of the Peltier element, and has a heat dissipation structure in surface contact with a heat sink, wherein power is obtained from a heat source continuously generated from the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the Peltier element, and this power is supplied to a lamp PCB assembly of the temperature monitoring lamp. Claim 2 A temperature monitoring lamp of an electric heat tracing system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature monitoring lamp comprises a heat medium frame that fixes the heat sink, and wing portions that are coupled to straps that house magnets for pipe attachment are installed on both sides of the heat medium frame. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete

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