Air Duct Airflow Sensor Using Uncertainty-Weighted Pressure Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air duct airflow sensors have varying levels of uncertainty in pressure measurements, affecting the accuracy of airflow control and damper mechanism operation.
Innovation Solution
An airflow sensor system using multiple pressure sensors with different uncertainty values, employing a weighted averaging method to determine an estimated airflow measurement with reduced uncertainty, thereby improving airflow measurement accuracy and damper control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple pressure sensors with different uncertainty values are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pressure sensors with different uncertainty characteristics into a single airflow measurement system. The controller integrates readings from both sensors and applies weighted averaging based on their respective uncertainty values, merging their capabilities to achieve superior measurement precision that neither sensor could achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of measurement uncertainty by selecting and combining sensors with different uncertainty characteristics. The controller dynamically adjusts the weighting of each sensor's contribution based on its uncertainty value, optimizing the overall measurement precision for different operating conditions.
2Reliability
If weighted averaging based on uncertainty values is implemented, then reliability of airflow estimation is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements a feedback mechanism where it continuously monitors the uncertainty values of both pressure sensors and dynamically adjusts the weighting factors in the weighted averaging calculation. This feedback loop ensures that the airflow estimation reliably reflects the current measurement quality of each sensor, improving overall estimation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a computational approach. Instead of using a single complex sensor, the system uses multiple simpler pressure sensors with computational weighting and averaging in the controller, substituting mechanical complexity with manageable computational processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An airflow sensor system for an air duct including a damper positioned therein is provided. The controller is configured to determine, via a first pressure sensor, a first airflow measurement based on a first one or more pressure measurements. The controller is further configured to determine, via a second pressure sensor and a damper position sensor, a second airflow measurement based on a second one or more pressure measurements and one or more damper position measurements. The first airflow measurement and the second airflow measurement have a first uncertainty value and a second uncertainty value associated therewith. The controller is further configured to determine an estimated airflow based on weighted values of the first airflow measurement and the second airflow measurement. The weighted values are based on the airflow measurements and the uncertainty values associate therewith.