Natural Gas Thermal Capacity Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sensor technologies for determining the thermal capacity of natural gases lack accuracy due to incomplete measurement of thermal conductivity parameters, particularly temperature dependency coefficients, which affects the precision of thermal capacity calculations.

Innovation Solution

A sensor device with multiple heating and sensing components that measure thermal conductivity at different temperatures, determining first, second, and third temperature coefficients of the thermal conductivity's temperature dependency function, using a fitting function to calculate the thermal capacity, and compensating for temperature drift and material parameter changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thermal conductivity is measured at a single temperature, then the measurement process is simple, but the accuracy of thermal capacity determination is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal capacity measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by performing thermal conductivity measurements at multiple discrete temperature points (at least two different temperatures) rather than a single temperature. This periodic sampling of thermal conductivity across temperature ranges enables accurate determination of temperature dependency coefficients, which are then used in the fitting function to achieve precise thermal capacity measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by systematically varying the temperature parameter during measurements. By measuring thermal conductivity at different temperature points and analyzing how this parameter changes with temperature, the system determines temperature dependency coefficients (first and second coefficients) that capture the thermal conductivity's temperature relationship, leading to improved thermal capacity accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If temperature dependency coefficients are measured at multiple temperatures, then the thermal capacity accuracy improves, but the measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal capacity accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing measurements at multiple temperature points to establish the temperature dependency relationship before final thermal capacity calculation. The fitting function is prepared in advance with the determined temperature dependency coefficients, allowing efficient computation of thermal capacity without requiring repeated measurements during the actual calculation phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a fitting function with temperature coefficients is used, then the thermal capacity calculation accuracy improves, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal capacity calculation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex physical measurement systems with a computational model. Instead of requiring complex hardware to directly measure thermal capacity, the system uses a fitting function that computationally models the relationship between thermal conductivity and temperature. The determined temperature dependency coefficients are input into this mathematical model to calculate thermal capacity, substituting physical complexity with computational processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach significantly improves the accuracy of thermal capacity measurements by accounting for temperature-dependent thermal conductivity variations, leading to more precise calculations and reduced measurement errors.

Implementation Method 1

heat, at a first measuring step, the first heating structure to a first heating temperature and to measure, at the first measuring step, by the temperature sensor of the first sensing component, temperature changes at the first sensing component in dependence on the heating of the first heating structure, thereby measuring the thermal conductivity of the natural gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11474056B2Sensor for determining the thermal capacity of natural gas

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 SENSIRION AG

AI summary

The disclosure concerns a sensor device for determining the thermal capacity of a natural gas. The sensor device comprises a substrate, a recess or opening arranged in the substrate, a first heating component and a first sensing component. The first heating component comprises a first heating structure and a temperature sensor and the first sensing component comprises a temperature sensor. The sensor device is configured to measure the thermal conductivity of the natural gas at a first measuring temperature and at a second measuring temperature. The sensor device is configured to determine a first, in particular a constant, and a second, in particular a linear temperature coefficient of a temperature dependency function of the thermal conductivity and to determine the thermal capacity of the natural gas based on a fitting function. The fitting function is dependent on the first and the second temperature coefficient.