Curved Liquid Level Gauge Mounted to Prevent Winter Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid level gauges face issues with high material and installation costs, significant thermal energy consumption, heavy maintenance workload, and a high failure rate, particularly in winter conditions, leading to inaccurate measurements and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A measuring instrument with a curved shape that matches the external structure of the measured device, allowing for close-contact mounting and insulation, eliminating the need for external heat tracing and insulation materials, and utilizing the device's inherent temperature for stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external heat tracing and insulation are installed on liquid level gauges, then the instrument can operate in cold conditions, but material costs, installation costs, and maintenance workload increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the liquid level gauge with the process vessel by installing it directly on the vessel wall, eliminating the need for separate heat tracing and insulation systems. The gauge utilizes the vessel's own thermal environment, combining two previously separate systems (gauge and vessel thermal management) into one integrated solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heat tracing and insulation components from the liquid level gauge system. By removing these auxiliary systems and relying on the process vessel's thermal characteristics, the patent simplifies the overall system while maintaining operational reliability in cold conditions.
2Ease of operation
If heat tracing pipes are installed with multiple bending points and high positions, then the instrument can be connected to the process vessel, but the resistance increases and flow rate decreases, causing temperature drop and potential freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heat tracing pipe system entirely by eliminating the need for impulse lines and connection pipes between the gauge and process vessel. The direct mounting on the vessel wall allows the gauge to operate using the vessel's inherent thermal environment, avoiding all temperature loss issues associated with piping.
3Ease of operation
If the measuring instrument is installed away from the measured device, then installation and maintenance are easier, but the instrument cannot utilize the device's temperature and requires separate insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measuring instrument with the measured device by direct mounting on the vessel wall. This integration allows the instrument to utilize the vessel's temperature directly, eliminating the need for separate insulation and thermal energy input while maintaining ease of operation through straightforward installation and access.
4Measurement precision
If traditional liquid level gauges are used in winter, then measurement can be performed, but freezing and blockage occur, leading to instrument failure and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the liquid level gauge directly with the process vessel, allowing both to share the same thermal environment. This integration ensures that the gauge operates at the same temperature as the process medium, preventing freezing and blockage while maintaining accurate liquid level measurement capability in winter conditions.
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
Achieves precise, long-term, and safe liquid level measurement by maintaining the instrument within an optimal temperature range, reducing costs and maintenance, and ensuring accurate readings even in extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the measuring instrument and the measured device are collectively insulated, utilizing the device body temperature to ensure that the instrument measuring cylinder is at the same temperature as the device or maintains the instrument within a suitable and ideal operating temperature range
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring instrument, the shape of the measuring instrument being a curved shape which matches the shape of an external structure of a device, so that the curved measuring instrument is mounted against the outer surface of the measured device. The measuring instrument is made into a curved liquid level gauge, and the measuring instrument is closely mounted to the measured device. The problems of heat tracing and accurate measurement for the instrument is solved using the temperature of the measured device itself.