Contactless Temperature Control With Feedback-Shaped Heat Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contactless temperature measurement and control methods lack precision and flexibility in delivering heat energy remotely without direct contact, and they struggle to maintain constant or variable temperature profiles over time.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a source of electromagnetic waves, a thermal radiation detector, and a controller in a feedback loop, allowing for the generation and control of temperature profiles by adjusting the amplitude and distribution of electromagnetic radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contactless temperature measurement methods are used, then the measured object does not need to be in direct contact with the measurement device, but the measurement precision is not high enough
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into multiple independent infrared sensors arranged in an array, each measuring temperature at different spatial locations. This segmentation allows parallel measurement of multiple points simultaneously, improving both contactless capability and overall measurement precision through spatial distribution of measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical system acts as an intermediary between the measured object and the infrared sensors. The optical system includes lenses and mirrors that focus and direct infrared radiation from the object to the sensors, enhancing the weak thermal signals and improving measurement precision while maintaining contactless operation.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is placed close to the measured object to collect maximum infrared radiation, then measurement precision improves, but the object cannot be moved and the system becomes less flexible
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical proximity requirement is replaced by an optical system that can focus infrared radiation from distant objects. The optical components (lenses, mirrors) substitute for the need for physical closeness, allowing the sensor to collect maximum radiation energy while maintaining distance from the object, thus enabling object movement and positioning flexibility.
3Use of energy by moving object
If contact-based heating methods are used, then heat can be delivered directly to the object, but material compatibility problems arise and biological samples require isolation
Solution Approach 1:
Infrared radiation serves as an intermediary for heat transfer between the heating source and the object. The source emits infrared radiation that passes through air or vacuum without contact, delivering thermal energy to the object surface. This radiative heating mechanism eliminates material compatibility issues and isolation requirements while maintaining efficient heat delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Direct mechanical contact heating is replaced by radiative heating using infrared radiation. The thermal energy is transferred through electromagnetic waves rather than physical contact, eliminating the need for thermal conduction through intermediate materials and avoiding contamination or compatibility problems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional temperature control systems are used, then temperature can be maintained in a feedback loop, but selective creation and modification of temperature field profiles is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent infrared radiation sources or controllable zones, each capable of independent intensity modulation. This allows selective heating of different regions to create customized temperature profiles while maintaining overall temperature stability through individual feedback control of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system transitions from static uniform heating to dynamic spatially-resolved temperature profiling. Each region's temperature can be dynamically adjusted independently over time, allowing creation of complex temperature field profiles that evolve temporally while maintaining stability at each location through feedback control.
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
Enables precise and flexible control of temperature fields at a given point or over a surface, maintaining constant or variable temperature profiles over time without direct contact, and is applicable in various industrial and scientific processes.
Implementation Method 1
The source of electromagnetic waves, the thermal radiation detector and the controller... generation and control of temperature profiles by adjusting the amplitude and distribution of electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
In contactless methods, the subject of the measurement is the wavelength of the emitted infrared radiation... The measurement proceeds based on Planck's law and Wien's law
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B~4
AI summary
A set for controlling the temperature, characterised in that it comprises a source of electromagnetic waves (1), like a laser or a diode, or an ultrasound generator connected by wires to a specialised controller (3) with a microprocessor connected by wires to a thermal radiation detector (2), like a pyroelectric detector or a thermocouple detector, the source of electromagnetic waves and the thermal radiation detector being placed at an angle a between 0° and 180° with respect to each other, and a method for generating the profiles of radiation wavefronts and the use of the set to generate the profiles of temperature fields using the profiles of wavefronts.