Grain Storage Pendulum Sensor for Interstitial Air Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature sensors in grain storage systems face interference from thermal convection and heat transfer, leading to inaccurate temperature measurements due to the high thermal insulation properties of grains, resulting in increased risk of dry matter loss from fungal, insect, and bacterial attacks.
Innovation Solution
A pendulum-type measurer with transversal passages providing porous protection allows precise measurement of interstitial air temperature, relative humidity, and dew point temperature, accurately representing grain storage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional temperature sensors are positioned inside a pendulum and measure temperature through conduction and heat transfer, then the measurement structure is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to high thermal insulation of grains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces interstitial air as an intermediary medium between the sensor and the grain mass. The sensor measures the temperature of this air, which acts as a mediator to transfer thermal information from the grains to the sensor, overcoming the thermal insulation barrier without requiring direct thermal contact with the grains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the gaseous phase (air) within the grain mass to perform temperature measurement. By measuring the temperature of interstitial air rather than directly contacting grains, the system employs pneumatic principles to overcome thermal insulation and achieve accurate temperature detection throughout the grain mass.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional sensors measure temperature at a small portion of grains (0.2 kg), then the measurement is localized, but the reliability deteriorates due to high thermal insulation preventing representative measurement
Solution Approach 1:
Interstitial air serves as a ubiquitous intermediary that permeates throughout the entire grain mass. By measuring the temperature of this air, the sensor indirectly measures the temperature of the entire grain mass, ensuring representativeness and reliability without being limited to a small localized portion of grains.
3Device complexity
If conventional thermometry is used, then the device complexity is low, but the loss of substance increases due to inaccurate temperature measurements leading to fungal, insect, and bacterial attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses interstitial air as a mediator to achieve accurate temperature measurement throughout the grain mass. This accurate measurement enables timely detection of temperature changes that indicate fungal, insect, or bacterial infestation, allowing for prompt intervention to prevent dry matter loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous temperature monitoring of the interstitial air, creating a feedback mechanism that detects temperature changes indicating spoilage conditions. This feedback enables early warning and intervention to prevent fungal, insect, and bacterial attacks from progressing to significant dry matter loss.
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 significantly improves measurement precision, reducing grain losses by providing more accurate and reliable data on storage conditions, thereby minimizing the risk of fungal, insect, and bacterial attacks.
Implementation Method 1
transversal passage with a porous protection, which enables to measure with precision the interstitial air
Implementation Method 2
measuring, through conduction and heat transfer, the temperature of the grains that are in contact with the external surface of the pendulum
Implementation Method 3
the grains present a high thermal insulation, as mentioned in different technical literatures, one centimeter thickness of a corn grain (1 cm) is equivalent to a concrete wall of twelve centimeters (12 cm)
Implementation Method 4
system of psychrometry of silos and grain deposits, reducing the grain losses due to the attack of fungi, insects, and bacteria
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement pendulum for stored grains mass in which a pendulum type measurer (1) formed by a protection structure (2), holds sensors (3) in its inside that have the direct interface with the outside through one or more transversal passages (4), provided of a porous protection (5) in order to measure the desired variables from the interstitial air that crosses the porous protection (5), and represents the grains characteristics in the outside.