Gas Pressure Sensor Membrane Layout to Prevent Icing Stress
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure sensor devices for gaseous fluids are prone to icing issues due to moisture accumulation, leading to mechanical stress and operational failures, especially in low temperatures, and existing solutions either require long thawing times or are complex and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A pressure sensor device with a detection membrane exposed to the fluid, protected by a supporting body and sealing elements, allowing for easy installation and reliable operation by minimizing moisture accumulation and compensating for mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protection element made of elastically compressible material is arranged inside the fluid inlet channel and/or detection chamber to compensate for volume increase during icing, then the sensitive element is protected from mechanical stress, but the device requires relatively long waiting times to return to normal operation after complete thawing
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful fluid accumulation zone is extracted and eliminated by designing the detection chamber without dead volumes or recesses where fluid could accumulate and freeze. The membrane is positioned to be directly exposed to the fluid flow, ensuring no trapped moisture remains after the fluid circuit is interrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows dynamic fluid flow through the detection chamber during operation, preventing static accumulation. The membrane responds dynamically to pressure changes while maintaining direct exposure to flowing fluid, which prevents icing by ensuring continuous fluid movement and heat exchange.
2Reliability
If the inlet channel is filled with an incompressible fluid to transfer pressure stress to the sensing diaphragm, then moisture accumulation and icing are avoided, but the production process becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The gas fluid itself serves the dual function of being the medium whose pressure is measured and the protective medium that prevents icing. The flowing gas provides continuous heat exchange and prevents moisture accumulation through its own movement, eliminating the need for additional incompressible fluids or complex heating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid inlet channel serves multiple functions: it delivers the gas whose pressure is to be measured, provides continuous heat exchange to prevent icing, and creates fluid flow that prevents moisture accumulation. The same fluid performs both measurement and protection functions.
3Reliability
If the detection membrane is directly exposed to the fluid in the duct, then moisture accumulation is minimized and icing is prevented, but the device requires simple installation and avoids complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular components: a housing body with integrated detection chamber, a separately mountable sensitive element, and distinct electrical connection terminals. This segmentation allows the detection chamber to be pre-configured with direct membrane exposure while enabling simple installation by mounting the complete assembly onto the duct.
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 device ensures quick and reliable pressure measurement by preventing icing and mechanical stress, maintaining operational integrity without complex assembly or high costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure-sensitive element having a substrate that defines or has an elastically deformable detection membrane associated thereto
Implementation Method 2
a protection element formed having an elastically compressible material is arranged. In these solutions, the increase in volume given by the icing of the fluid residues is compensated by the decrease in the volume of the protection element
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure sensor device has a pressure-sensitive element (3), including a detection membrane, and a control circuit (30), including a circuit support (30a) and electrical connecting elements (3e), the pressure-sensitive element (3) being mounted on a supporting body in such a way that a substantial portion of the detection membrane is exposed to a fluid, wherein the supporting body has an engaging part (4) comprising a distal end portion, and the circuit support (30a) is associated to a positioning body (20), which is on the pressure-sensitive element (3), with the electrical connecting elements (3e) which constrain the circuit support (30a) to the pressure sensitive element (3), with the positioning body (20) at least partially set therebetween, to form a detection unit (10), detection unit (10) being fixed to the distal end portion of the engaging part (4) by means of a fixing element (6).