External Quantum Sensing Through Containment Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies for process monitoring in industrial applications are limited in their application range and often require invasive installation, making them unsuitable for comprehensive process analysis and miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A sensor apparatus utilizing a crystal body with defects, a magnetic field system, and a detection unit to detect magnetic field-dependent fluorescent signals, allowing non-invasive installation on containment walls and enabling high-resolution process monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sensor technologies are used for process monitoring, then installation is straightforward, but application range is limited and invasive installation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the containment wall itself as an intermediary medium to transmit magnetic fields between the external sensor apparatus and the internal process medium. The magnetic field system generates fields that penetrate the wall, allowing the crystal body to sense process variables without direct contact or invasive installation inside the containment.
2Measurement precision
If conventional sensors are installed inside containments, then comprehensive process analysis is possible, but miniaturization is hindered and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing sensors inside the containment to achieve comprehensive process analysis, the patent inverts the approach by placing the sensor apparatus outside and using magnetic field penetration through the wall. This external placement enables miniaturization while maintaining measurement precision through the non-invasive magnetic coupling method.
3Reliability
If invasive sensor installation is used, then direct contact with process medium is achieved, but application range is limited and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field system serves multiple functions: it enables non-invasive installation on various containment types (metallic and non-metallic), allows measurement of different process variables (temperature, pressure, composition) through the same wall-penetration mechanism, and provides reliable direct measurement capability without requiring invasive installation for each application.
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 high-accuracy, non-invasive process monitoring with enhanced measurement resolution, facilitating comprehensive process analysis and miniaturization while expanding the range of applications.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a magnetic field-dependent, fluorescent signal from the crystal body
Implementation Method 2
magnetic field-dependent fluorescent signal from the crystal body
Implementation Method 3
a magnetic field system for producing a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field system is arranged in such a manner that by means of the magnetic field system a magnetic field is producible in the region of the crystal body and in the region of the medium located within the containment
Implementation Method 4
the detection unit has an excitation unit for optical exciting of the defect
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a containment includes: a crystal body including at least one defect; a magnetic field system for producing a magnetic field in the region of the crystal body and in the region of the medium within the containment, wherein the crystal body and the magnetic field system are arrangeable from the outside at a wall of the containment; a detection unit for detecting a magnetic field-dependent, fluorescent signal from the crystal body, wherein the detection unit has an excitation unit for optical exciting of the defect and a detector for detecting the fluorescent signal; and an evaluation unit for ascertaining at least one piece of information concerning the process variable based on the fluorescent signal.