Collinear Fuel Cloud Point Sensor with Mirror
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cloud point and freeze point sensors require access to both sides of a fuel sample, which is difficult in confined spaces, and their size and cooling requirements are inefficient, with refractive index changes causing misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cloud point or freeze point sensor with collinear optical geometry, featuring a walled structure with cooling surfaces, an optical port, and a mirror that allows radiation to pass through the fuel sample in a single path, enabling accurate measurements without the need for dual access and reducing sensor size and cooling power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensors use two-sided access for radiation passage, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-sided access configuration to a one-sided access configuration by introducing a collinear optical geometry with a mirror. The radiation source and detector are positioned on the same side of the fuel sample, and the mirror reflects radiation back through the sample, effectively creating a two-pass measurement path while maintaining one-sided access. This dimensional reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by achieving measurement accuracy without requiring two-sided access.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror serves as an intermediary element that enables the radiation to traverse the fuel sample twice (forward and reflected paths) while entering and exiting through the same optical port. This intermediary component allows the system to achieve enhanced measurement accuracy equivalent to two-sided access without the structural complexity of actual two-sided configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If refractive index changes are accommodated in conventional sensors, then adaptability is improved, but alignment stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collinear optical geometry with the mirror creates a feedback path where radiation travels through the fuel sample, reflects off the mirror, and returns through the same sample along the same optical path. This feedback configuration ensures that any refractive index changes due to temperature variations affect both the forward and reflected paths equally, maintaining alignment stability while adapting to temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an asymmetric optical configuration where the mirror is positioned at a specific angle (typically 45 degrees) relative to the optical axis, creating a collinear geometry that is inherently insensitive to refractive index changes. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that optical path length changes due to refractive index variations do not cause misalignment, thereby maintaining stability while adapting to temperature changes.
3Ease of operation
If sensor size is reduced for confined spaces, then ease of operation is improved, but cooling efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a one-sided access collinear optical geometry that allows the sensor to be positioned in confined spaces where only one side of the fuel sample is accessible. The mirror folds the optical path back through the sample, enabling accurate measurements without requiring two-sided access, thus improving ease of installation in confined environments while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor design segments the optical path into distinct segments (incident path, reflected path, and detection path) that can be independently optimized. This segmentation allows for a compact sensor head with efficient cooling surfaces positioned on the fuel sample container, improving both ease of installation in confined spaces and cooling efficiency through optimized thermal contact.
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 design allows for accurate measurement of cloud and freeze points in confined spaces with reduced sensor size and cooling requirements, improving efficiency and enabling placement in hostile environments.
Implementation Method 1
Traditional cloud point and freeze point measurements often use changes in optical scattering characteristics of a fuel as the temperature of the fuel is adjusted.
Implementation Method 2
a mirror configured to reflect the first radiation in order to provide second radiation to the optical port
Implementation Method 3
at least one cooling surface located on at least a portion of the walled structure and configured to cool the fuel sample
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a sensing cell having a walled structure configured to receive a fuel sample within an interior space of the walled structure. The sensing cell also has at least one cooling surface located on at least a portion of the walled structure and configured to cool the fuel sample. The sensing cell further has an optical port configured to couple to one or more optical fibers and to provide first radiation to the fuel sample. In addition, the sensing cell has a mirror configured to reflect the first radiation in order to provide second radiation to the optical port. The optical port defines a collinear optical geometry for providing the first radiation to the fuel sample and receiving the second radiation through the fuel sample. The system also includes at least one cooler configured to cool the fuel sample in the sensing cell by cooling the at least one cooling surface.