Control method for a rapid heating apparatus for liquids, and corresponding rapid heating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rapid heating apparatuses for liquids face challenges in accurately detecting malfunctions or damage of the rotor in flowmeters, leading to potential errors in flow measurement, which can result in abnormal heater functioning and safety risks such as explosions or fires.
Innovation Solution
A control method that utilizes a detection and control device to analyze a proximity signal generated by a sensor element cooperating with the turbine of the flowmeter, defining thresholds to differentiate between high and low peaks in the signal's temporal development, and counting these peaks to indicate rotor malfunction or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flowmeter detection methods are used, then the apparatus can operate, but it cannot accurately detect rotor malfunctions or damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of detecting flow directly to infer rotor status, the invention inverts the approach by detecting the absence or anomaly of expected flow signal patterns. The method analyzes whether the flow signal contains the characteristic patterns that should be present when the rotor is functioning correctly, and identifies rotor malfunction when these expected patterns are missing or abnormal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback by continuously monitoring the flow signal and comparing it against expected operational patterns. The detection device provides feedback about rotor status based on signal analysis, enabling the system to identify when the rotor is malfunctioning or damaged through the characteristics of the flow measurement signal itself.
2Reliability
If complex detection solutions are implemented, then more parameters can be monitored, but the system becomes harder to implement and may still miss specific rotor problems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential diagnostic information from the flow signal by focusing specifically on patterns that indicate rotor status. Rather than monitoring all possible parameters, it isolates and analyzes the specific signal characteristics that directly reflect rotor functioning, simplifying the detection system while maintaining high reliability for detecting rotor malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical or electronic rotor status sensors with a signal analysis approach that uses the existing flow measurement system. By substituting direct mechanical detection with analysis of the flow signal's temporal and frequency characteristics, the system achieves reliable rotor malfunction detection without adding complex hardware.
3Ease of operation
If flow measurement is used for temperature control, then heating can be regulated, but rotor damage may go undetected leading to incorrect temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary detection of rotor status by analyzing the flow signal before using flow measurement for temperature control. By checking for characteristic signal patterns that indicate proper rotor functioning, the system ensures the rotor is operating correctly before relying on flow-based temperature regulation, preventing incorrect temperature control due to undetected rotor damage.
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 method allows for precise detection of rotor malfunctions or damage, preventing errors in flow measurement and ensuring safe and reliable operation of the rapid heating apparatus, thereby enhancing safety and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a signal converter device (24) configured to detect the proximity signal (34)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Control method for a rapid heating apparatus (10) for liquids, comprising a rapid heating unit (18), a flowmeter (15) able to measure a flow of liquid in the rapid heating unit (18), a detection and control device (20) configured to cooperate with the flowmeter (15) in order to detect a proximity signal (34) correlated to said flowmeter (15) with respect to said detection and control device (20), and to supply a possible indication of the malfunctioning or damage of the flowmeter (15).