Differential Emissivity Hydrometeor Mass Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques fail to accurately and automatically measure the mass and density of hydrometeors, such as snow and rain, due to limitations in existing measurement technologies, particularly for frozen and semi-frozen particles, which affect precipitation rate and snow water equivalent measurements.
Innovation Solution
A differential emissivity imaging device using a heated plate with a low-emissivity surface and a thermal camera measures the mass and density of hydrometeors by tracking the evaporation time and size of particles on the plate, leveraging the contrast in emissivity between the particles and the plate to calculate their properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If light scattering technologies are used to measure particle properties, then measurement can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates for frozen and semi-frozen particles due to unknown internal density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from optical scattering properties to thermal emissivity properties. By heating the plate to a temperature below the Leidenfrost point and measuring the thermal radiation emitted by particles during evaporation, the system obtains accurate mass measurements for all particle types including frozen and semi-frozen particles, eliminating the density assumption problem inherent in light scattering methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical collection method of weighing gauges with an optical-thermal measurement system. Instead of collecting and weighing particles, the system uses a thermal camera to detect infrared radiation from particles on a heated plate, enabling automatic measurement without manual intervention while maintaining high precision
2Measurement precision
If weighing gauges are used to measure precipitation, then mass measurement is achieved, but device complexity increases due to anti-freeze additives and manual emptying requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The heated plate automatically evaporates collected particles, eliminating the need for manual emptying. The system is self-maintaining through continuous evaporation at temperatures below the Leidenfrost point, removing the operational complexity of weighing gauges including anti-freeze additives and manual intervention while preserving accurate precipitation rate measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the collection container, eliminating the need for a physical collection bucket. By measuring particles in situ on a heated plate using thermal radiation detection, the system removes the complex operational requirements of weighing gauges while maintaining measurement capability
3Length of moving object
If optical gauges are used to measure snow properties, then size and volume measurement is possible, but measurement precision deteriorates due to wide variations in snow density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal radiation detection with evaporation time measurement to create a composite measurement approach. By analyzing both the thermal signature and the duration of evaporation, the system simultaneously determines particle size and mass, then calculates density and snow water equivalent without being affected by the wide variations in natural snow density
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
The device provides accurate measurements of mass, size, density, and type of hydrometeors, improving the precision of precipitation rate and snow water equivalent calculations, and can operate in various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
calculate a mass of the individual evaporable particle via heat conduction using the surface area and the time
Implementation Method 2
The thermal camera can be oriented to produce a thermal image of the upper surface
Implementation Method 3
identify individual evaporable particles from the thermal image by differences between the particle emissivity and the plate surface emissivity
Data Source
AI summary
A differential emissivity imaging device for measuring evaporable particle properties can include a heated plate, a thermal camera, a memory device, and an output interface. The heated plate can have an upper surface oriented to receive falling evaporable particles. The evaporable particles have a particle emissivity and the upper surface has a plate surface emissivity. The thermal camera can be oriented to produce a thermal image of the upper surface. A memory device can include instructions that cause the imaging device to calculate a mass of the individual evaporable particle via heat conduction using a calculated surface area and an evaporation time.