Direction-Selective Detector for Fill Level Measurement Using Cosmic Muons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiometric measuring devices for determining fill levels, limit levels, and densities in containers are bulky, time-consuming to install, and require complex radiation protection, making them costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A measuring device that uses a direction-selective detector to detect secondary cosmic radiation particles, eliminating the need for a radioactive source and simplifying installation by correcting detector count rates for environmental influences using measurement data, allowing for a compact and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radiometric measuring devices with radioactive sources are used to determine fill levels, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase due to radiation protection containers and shielding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the radioactive source from the measuring device, replacing it with a detector that only observes secondary cosmic radiation particles. This eliminates the need for radiation protection containers and shielding structures while maintaining measurement capability through detection of naturally occurring cosmic muons that have passed through the medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces secondary cosmic radiation particles (cosmic muons) as an intermediary medium between the measurement target and the detector. These particles naturally traverse the medium and carry information about its properties, eliminating the need for direct contact between a radioactive source and the medium, thereby simplifying the device structure.
2Measurement precision
If radiometric measuring devices with radioactive sources are used to determine fill levels, then measurement capability is improved, but installation time increases due to radiation protection regulations and adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the radioactive source from the system, the patent eliminates the need to comply with radiation protection regulations during installation. The device can be installed quickly without requiring specialized radiation safety procedures, shielding adjustments, or complex positioning requirements, thereby significantly reducing installation time.
3Measurement precision
If radiometric measuring devices with radioactive sources are used to determine fill levels, then measurement function is achieved, but cost increases due to radiation protection requirements and regulatory compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the radioactive source and associated radiation protection infrastructure, thereby eliminating costs related to radiation safety compliance, specialized shielding materials, and regulatory approval processes. The device can be manufactured using conventional detectors and electronics, significantly reducing overall manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a detector system that uses naturally occurring cosmic radiation instead of expensive, regulated radioactive sources. This approach replaces costly long-lived radioactive materials with free, abundant cosmic particles, thereby reducing the cost of the measuring device while maintaining measurement functionality.
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 accurate and efficient determination of fill levels without the need for radioactive sources, reducing installation costs and simplifying operation by accounting for environmental factors, resulting in a more space-saving and cost-effective solution.
Implementation Method 1
a direction-selective and/or direction-resolving detector (12), which is set up to detect particles of the secondary cosmic radiation after at least partial passage through the medium (101)
Implementation Method 2
measurement data which is associated with at least one influence on the flow rate of the secondary cosmic radiation particles at the location of the measuring device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A measuring device (10) is proposed which is configured to determine a fill level and/or density of a medium (101) and which has a direction-selective detector (12) configured to detect particles of secondary cosmic radiation after at least partial passage through the medium (101) and to determine a detector count rate (200) that correlates with a flux rate of particles of secondary cosmic radiation at the location of the measuring device (10).Furthermore, the measuring device has an evaluation unit (14) which is configured to determine a count rate (202) corrected for the at least one influence on the flux rate of the particles of secondary cosmic radiation at the location of the measuring device (10), based on the detector count rate (200) determined by the detector (12) and based on measurement data which are related to at least one influence on the flux rate of the particles of secondary cosmic radiation at the location of the measuring device (10), and to determine the fill level and/or the density of the medium (101) based on the corrected count rate (202).