Electro-Optic Prism Sensors for Fuel Tank Medium Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-optic liquid sensors struggle to accurately differentiate between different mediums within a fuel tank, such as air, water, and fuel, leading to inefficiencies in monitoring fuel levels and water accumulation, which can be critical in vehicles like airplanes.
Innovation Solution
A system of multiple optical sensors with prisms positioned at various levels in the fuel tank, each reflecting light differently based on the surrounding medium, allowing for precise identification of air, water, or fuel through distinct optical power levels, and a system controller to analyze these reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single optical sensor with a prism is used to detect liquid presence, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient to differentiate between multiple mediums
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection task into multiple independent sensor units positioned at different vertical levels within the fuel tank. Each sensor independently detects the medium at its specific level, enabling the system to differentiate between multiple mediums (fuel, water, air) by analyzing the spatial distribution of detected substances rather than relying on a single complex sensor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical spatial dimension to the detection system by positioning multiple sensors at different heights within the tank. This dimensional approach allows the system to distinguish between mediums based on their vertical distribution patterns, transforming a single-point detection problem into a multi-point spatial analysis that enhances measurement precision without requiring each individual sensor to be more complex
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed at different levels in the fuel tank, then the measurement precision for identifying multiple mediums improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each optical sensor unit is designed as a universal, multi-functional component that can detect multiple different mediums (fuel, water, air) using the same prism and detector architecture. The sensors are positioned at different vertical levels to perform different detection functions simultaneously, allowing a single sensor design to serve multiple detection purposes and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in optical parameters (light reflection intensity) based on the medium surrounding the prism to identify different substances. By monitoring how the optical reflection characteristics change with different mediums at different vertical levels, the system achieves precise multi-medium detection without requiring complex sensor hardware, instead relying on parameter analysis of the optical signals
3Measurement precision
If different sensor designs are used to detect different mediums, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of manufacture and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs identical prism-based optical sensor designs at all detection points, where each universal sensor can identify multiple mediums through its optical reflection characteristics. This standardized approach simplifies manufacturing by using a single sensor design across the entire system and facilitates maintenance through interchangeability, while still achieving precise medium identification through the collective data from multiple sensor locations
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 monitoring of fuel levels and water accumulation, optimizing refueling and draining schedules, and ensuring safety by detecting critical thresholds, while using a common sensor design for cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The respective prism of each of the first, second, and third sensors is configured to: reflect a first non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in air or inert gas; reflect a second non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in water; and reflect a third non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in fuel
Implementation Method 2
The prism has a coefficient of refraction of between 1.5 and 1.6
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor system includes one or more sensors managed by a controller. Each sensor within the sensor system includes a signal emitter configured to send a signal through a prism to an interface surface and a signal detector configured to receive a signal reflected through the prism from the interface surface. The controller analyzes the power level of the reflected signal to determine the medium (e.g., air, water, or fuel) that surrounds the interface surface. In certain examples, the presence of each of air, water, and fuel will result in a unique, respective power level of the reflected signal.