Foldable Intrinsically Safe Capacitive Sensor for OWTS Depth Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monitoring techniques for onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are inadequate for accurately measuring solid, oil, and effluent depths, leading to inefficient maintenance and increased environmental and health risks due to unreliable and costly sensors that are prone to breakage and require complex installations.
Innovation Solution
A foldable and intrinsically safe capacitive sensor system that measures depths of solids and liquids with different dielectric values, featuring multiple segments connected by hinges and separation guides to ensure safety and accuracy, allowing for reliable detection of depths in hazardous environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring techniques are used for OWTS, then installation and operation are simple, but measurement precision of solid, oil, and effluent depths is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor is divided into multiple segments connected by hinges, with each segment containing plates separated by insulating members. This segmentation allows the sensor to achieve complex measurement capabilities while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Insulating members are introduced as intermediaries between capacitor plates to maintain precise separation distances. These intermediaries enable accurate depth measurements by ensuring consistent geometric relationships between sensing elements.
2Reliability
If sensors are made robust for hazardous environments, then reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is designed as intrinsically safe for use in hazardous atmospheres by limiting electrical energy to levels that cannot cause ignition. This approach achieves reliability in explosive environments without requiring complex protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor combines conductive plates with insulating members to create a composite structure that provides both sensing capability and electrical isolation, enhancing reliability while maintaining design simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensing plates are used to measure different depths, then measurement capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor uses multiple segmented plates arranged in series, with each segment capable of sensing different depth ranges. This segmentation provides versatile measurement capability while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The same basic plate-and-insulator structure serves multiple sensing functions by being repeated in series. This universal design element performs both electrical isolation and depth sensing, reducing overall system complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If plates are kept at uniform distance for safety, then intrinsic safety is maintained, but sensing accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Insulating members serve as intermediaries that precisely maintain uniform plate separation. This consistent spacing ensures intrinsic safety by preventing electrical breakdown while the known geometry enables accurate depth calculations from capacitance measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor achieves measurement precision by calculating depth from changes in capacitance parameters rather than requiring variable plate distances. This approach maintains uniform spacing for safety while deriving accurate depth information from electrical parameter changes.
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 capacitive sensor system provides reliable, low-power, and cost-effective monitoring of solid, oil, and effluent depths, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing infrastructure costs by simplifying the reporting and maintenance processes for OWTS, while also being applicable to various waste management and environmental monitoring applications.
Implementation Method 1
A foldable and intrinsically safe capacitive sensor for sensing depth of solids in liquids and sensing depth of two different types of liquids with different dielectric values
Implementation Method 2
sensing depth of two different types of liquids with different dielectric values
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a novel foldable and intrinsically safe plate capacitive sensor to measure liquid depths, solids in liquid depths, and two different liquids depths. This invention is used in onsite wastewater management systems (OWTS) to monitor depths of solids, oil, and effluent in a wastewater tank. The plates are configured to allow for solids, liquids and gases to surround the plates. A number of plates are hung in series from near the OWTS tank lid to at least 18 inches below the output baffle to measure the different materials at different depths in the OWTS tank. The capacitive sensors are capable of use with various materials to measure solids, oil, and effluent depths in an OWTS tank.