Fluid Flow Direction Estimation with Circumferential Temperature Pairs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sensors face challenges in accurately detecting the direction of fluid flow due to misalignment of temperature sensors and complex configurations, particularly in limited installation spaces, leading to decreased accuracy and increased complexity in flow direction estimation.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sensor system with a sensor unit comprising three or more sensor pairs surrounding a heating element, and a computing device that identifies the sensor pair with the largest output difference and adjacent pairs to estimate the flow direction based on output differences, simplifying the process and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple secondary heating resistors are arranged around the main heating resistor to improve flow direction detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the configuration of the fluid sensor becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the secondary heating resistors from the sensor configuration and replaces them with temperature sensors. By using temperature sensors instead of heating elements for detection purposes, the system achieves flow direction detection without adding complex heating structures. This extraction principle simplifies the overall configuration while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection function into the existing temperature sensors that are already part of the fluid sensor system. Instead of adding separate heating elements for flow direction detection, the system combines multiple functions (temperature measurement and flow direction detection) into the same sensor array, reducing overall complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple secondary heating resistors and temperature sensors are added to detect flow direction accurately, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensors serve multiple functions: they detect both temperature for flow rate measurement and temperature differences for flow direction detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated flow direction sensing elements, thereby reducing the overall installation space required while achieving accurate flow direction detection.
3Measurement precision
If a complex process is used to estimate flow direction from temperature differences detected by multiple sensor pairs, then the detection capability is improved, but the estimation process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the temperature sensors to automatically detect temperature differences that inherently indicate flow direction. The temperature sensors and processing system work together to self-determine flow direction based on the natural temperature distribution caused by fluid flow, eliminating the need for complex external estimation processes.
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 system enables easy and accurate detection of fluid flow direction even in limited spaces by identifying the sensor pair with the largest output difference and calculating the inclination angle, improving installation flexibility and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged on the flow path forming surface and configured to generate heat according to electric power supplied from an external power supply
Implementation Method 2
a temperature difference corresponding to the flow of the fluid occurs between an upstream side and a downstream side of the heating element according to the flow of the fluid serving as a detection target
Data Source
AI summary
The sensor of a fluid sensor system includes an outer peripheral sensor unit including three or more sensor pairs to surround and sandwich the heating element. The computing device of the system includes a first identification unit identifies a sensor pair in which an output difference between an output value corresponding to a temperature detected by one temperature sensor of the sensor pair and an output value corresponding to a temperature detected by the other temperature sensor of the sensor pair is largest, a second identification unit identifies other sensor pairs adjacent to the identified sensor pair in the circumferential direction, and a flow direction estimation unit estimates the flow direction of the fluid on the basis of the output difference in the sensor pair having the largest output difference and output differences in the other sensor pairs adjacent to the sensor pair in the circumferential direction.