Foam Analysis Device Using Total Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam analysis methods are limited in their ability to accurately measure foam parameters over larger areas, suffer from incorrect recognition of pore walls in transparent foams, and are complex, making them unsuitable for rapid sample changes and large-scale foam examination.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a cylindrical sample container with a transparent wall, a movable illumination device, and camera system that directs a light beam at an angle to cause total reflection when air or gas fills foam pores, allowing for stepwise or continuous illumination and imaging of the reflected light to accurately measure foam parameters over a larger area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a light beam is directed at the foam interface to measure foam parameters, then measurement capability is provided, but only a restricted spatial area can be examined and the design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The examination area is divided into multiple small fields of view that are scanned sequentially by moving the illumination device and camera along a curved track. This allows a large total area to be examined using a compact optical system with limited field of view at any given moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination device and camera are positioned outside the pressure vessel and moved along a curved track in the circumferential direction, rather than placing optical components inside the vessel. This external positioning simplifies the device design while still allowing examination of large foam areas through sequential scanning.
2Measurement precision
If prismatic components are attached to examine foam areas, then foam structure analysis is enabled, but the original measurement vessel geometry is disrupted and foam formation characteristics change
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device and camera are extracted from inside the pressure vessel and positioned externally on a curved track. This removes the need to attach prismatic components to the vessel, preserving the original vessel geometry and foam formation characteristics while still enabling foam structure analysis through external optical measurement.
3Loss of information
If electronic image recording devices are used to capture foam images, then foam pore structure can be visualized, but transparent pore walls are incorrectly recognised leading to falsified measurement results
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to image the entire foam volume, the system focuses the illumination and camera on a thin annular region near the front wall of the pores at the foam surface. This localized imaging approach captures only the relevant pore wall structures without the interference of deeper pore walls, eliminating the recognition errors that occur with full-volume imaging.
4Measurement precision
If optical conductors are used to measure liquid-foam interface, then interface detection is enabled, but the optical conductor must pass directly into the medium which complicates the design
Solution Approach 1:
The curved track serves as an intermediary mechanism that allows the illumination device and camera to access the foam interface for measurement without requiring optical conductors to pass directly into the medium. The external positioning on the track provides the necessary optical access while keeping the system design simple and modular.
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 solution enables precise and rapid analysis of foam parameters by preventing false recognition of pore walls and allowing for the examination of larger foam areas without disrupting the original measurement vessel geometry, facilitating quick sample changes and improved measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination device is designed to direct a light beam onto the wall of the cylindrical sample container at an angle which deflects the light beam into the sample vessel when liquid is present on the inside of the sample container and causes a total reflection when air or another gas fills the foam pores
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for foam analysis. The device comprises a cylindrical sample container with a transparent wall, at least one illumination device and a camera, which. can be moved on a track. The curvature of the web runs parallel to the wall of the container. The illumination device directs a light beam onto the wall of the cylindrical sample container at an angle which deflects the light beam into the sample vessel when liquid is present on the inside of the sample container and causes a total reflection when air or another gas fills the foam pores. The camera and the illumination unit are moved along the path in the circumferential direction of the wall of the sample container such that a region to be examined is illuminated in steps or in a continuous progression and the camera records the totally reflected light in the region.