Acoustic Interferometry for Mixed Fluid Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature measurement methods in enclosed fluid chambers, such as infrared thermometers and acoustic pyrometry, face limitations like low signal-to-noise issues and the need for emissivity determination, which affect accuracy and reliability, especially in mixed fluid environments with varying compositions.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method using acoustic interferometry to generate and analyze standing wave signals, determining the average velocity of sound in a mixed fluid medium, and employing sensors and radar to identify noise, fumes, and turbulence, allowing for precise temperature calculation by comparing theoretical and obtained sound velocities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Infrared (IR) thermometer is used to measure temperature of mixed fluid inside a chamber, then temperature measurement can be performed non-contact, but measurement precision deteriorates because many bodies emit less radiation at the same temperature requiring emissivity determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/infrared measurement system with an acoustic measurement system. Instead of using IR thermometers that rely on electromagnetic radiation, the invention uses acoustic waves (sound signals) transmitted through the fluid to measure temperature. This substitution eliminates the emissivity problem inherent in IR measurement while maintaining non-contact capability, as acoustic wave velocity through the fluid is directly related to temperature without requiring material-specific emission properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from electromagnetic radiation intensity (which requires emissivity calibration) to acoustic wave velocity (which has a direct, universal relationship with temperature). By measuring the velocity of sound through the fluid and correlating it to temperature, the system achieves accurate temperature measurement without needing to determine emissivity of the fluid or chamber walls.
2Measurement precision
If acoustic pyrometry based on time of flight (ToF) is used to measure temperature, then temperature can be determined from sound velocity, but reliability deteriorates due to low Signal to Noise (S/N)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resonant vibration of the fluid chamber at specific natural frequencies to enhance the acoustic signal. By exciting the chamber at its resonant frequencies, the acoustic waves are amplified and the signal-to-noise ratio is significantly improved compared to simple time-of-flight measurements. This resonant enhancement makes the temperature measurement more reliable and consistent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the acoustic response and adjusting the excitation frequency to maintain resonance. The measured acoustic signal is fed back to the control system, which adjusts the excitation parameters to optimize the signal strength. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent high-quality measurements even in the presence of environmental noise and disturbances.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional temperature measurement methods are used in mixed fluid chambers, then measurement can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates due to varying fluid compositions affecting radiation and sound properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement system based on acoustic wave velocity that works across different fluid compositions. Unlike IR measurement which requires knowing the specific emissivity of each fluid type, the acoustic method provides a universal approach where sound velocity through any fluid is directly related to its temperature. This multi-functional capability allows the same system to accurately measure temperature in various mixed fluid conditions without recalibration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides accurate and consistent temperature measurement in mixed fluid chambers, compensating for foreground noise, turbulence, and fumes, ensuring improved process control and safety by offering highly accurate instantaneous temperature readings.
Implementation Method 1
generating, by exciting a first transducer in a frequency sweep mode, a sound signal to be transmitted to a second transducer in a mixed fluid medium inside a chamber
Implementation Method 2
generating, based on transmission of the sound signal, a superimposed standing wave signal between the first transducer and the second transducer
Implementation Method 3
identifying a presence of at least one of (i) noise, (ii) fumes, (iii) turbulence in the chamber based on a shift in frequency of a radar
Data Source
AI summary
Temperature measurement is an important part of many potential applications in the fields of metallurgy. Conventional temperature measurement methods do not provide accurate and precise average temperature of fluid inside an enclosed chamber. The present disclosure provides multi-sensory techniques for measuring average temperature of mixed fluid inside a chamber. The average temperature is measured based on acoustic interferometry technique on standing wave and inputs received from one or more sensors and radar. The present disclosure utilizes radar to compensate the effect of fumes, noise based on Doppler effect. Further, the inputs received from the one or more sensors are used to determine the concentration of one or more fluids present in the chamber. The method of proposed disclosure depends on the principle of dependence of temperature on sound speed in fluid. So, measurement of sound speed can be mapped to report average temperature of mixed fluid inside the chamber.