Deicing System with Localized Temperature Control Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow and ice melting systems on uninsulated surfaces, such as ships and oil platforms, face challenges in accurate temperature control due to varying heat transfer coefficients caused by local wind conditions, leading to inefficient energy use and potential safety hazards, as they often rely on centralized temperature sensors that fail to detect when snow or ice has been fully melted.
Innovation Solution
A deicing system comprising a cassette with a heat tracing cable and a temperature control element, both with similar heat loss characteristics, where the temperature control element is smaller and has a temperature sensor exposed to the same environmental conditions, allowing for localized temperature control and efficient energy management by powering the heat tracing cables based on temperature data from the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If centralized temperature sensors are used to control heat tracing cables on uninsulated surfaces, then the system can operate with simpler control architecture, but the temperature control precision deteriorates due to varying heat transfer coefficients caused by local wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into multiple independent temperature control elements, each with its own heat tracing cable and temperature sensor. This segmentation allows each element to independently respond to local environmental conditions, thereby improving temperature control precision across different wind exposure zones while maintaining relatively simple control architecture at each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local temperature control by placing temperature control elements at specific locations with different heat loss characteristics. Each location's temperature control element is tailored to its local environmental conditions (wind exposure, insulation level), enabling precise local temperature management rather than uniform centralized control.
2Reliability
If fixed duration heating is used based on conservative energy estimates, then safety is improved by ensuring sufficient heat, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to excessive energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs temperature sensors in each temperature control element that continuously monitor local temperature conditions and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust heating duration and intensity based on actual temperature readings, ensuring safety by maintaining adequate heat while eliminating excessive energy consumption associated with fixed conservative timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static fixed-duration heating to dynamic adaptive heating. The heating system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time temperature sensor data, environmental conditions, and heat loss characteristics of each temperature control element, thereby optimizing energy usage while maintaining safety requirements.
3Measurement precision
If precipitation sensors are used to detect snow and ice, then the onset of snow conditions can be detected, but the system cannot reliably detect when snow or ice has been fully melted, leading to continued heating and energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor the temperature at each temperature control element and provides feedback to determine when snow or ice has completely melted. This feedback mechanism allows the system to accurately detect the end of the melting process and terminate heating, preventing energy waste from continued operation after snow/ice removal, while maintaining reliable detection capability throughout the process.
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 system provides precise temperature control, reducing energy wastage and ensuring safety by accurately detecting when snow or ice has been melted, and maintaining optimal heat levels on uninsulated surfaces, even in varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Heat tracing cables have one or more electrical conductors or conductor arrangements that generate heat along the cable length when an electrical current is applied to the conductor(s)
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor exposed to the top surface of the second casing... the controller configured to operate the power switching devices to activate and deactivate power to the heating element based on a temperature read by the temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
The first heat tracing cable is disposed in the interior and secured in good thermal contact with the interior surface of the first casing
Data Source
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AI summary
A deicing system may include one or more walkway cassettes, a temperature control element, and a control unit. Each walkway cassette may include a casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing. The temperature control element may include a comparatively smaller casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing, and may exhibit similar heat loss characteristics to the walkway cassettes. The temperature control element may include a temperature sensor on a top surface of its casing, which may generate temperature data and send the temperature data to the control unit. The control unit may provide power to the temperature control element and the walkway cassette(s) in parallel based on the temperature data. The temperature control element may be placed in proximity to the walkway cassette(s), and may be exposed to substantially the same environmental conditions as the walkway cassettes.