Infrared Temperature Sensor Positioning for Radiant Heating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensors for infrared heating systems, such as air temperature sensors, are prone to errors due to air movement and cannot accurately measure the radiant temperature of the heated area, leading to inefficient energy usage and inaccurate temperature control.
Innovation Solution
An infrared heating system with an infrared temperature sensor positioned outside the heating area and/or in the plane of the emission surface, capable of calculating the mean radiant temperature of the heating area, and a controller to adjust the heater's power based on this measurement, optionally combined with a motion detector to optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If air temperature sensors are used to measure temperature in infrared heating systems, then the sensor can be placed within the heated space, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to air movement and inability to sense radiant temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air temperature sensors (mechanical/physical contact-based measurement) with infrared temperature sensors that measure radiant temperature remotely. This substitution eliminates the problems of air movement interference and enables accurate measurement of radiant temperature, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and reading stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared sensor as an intermediary device that measures temperature remotely without being affected by air movement. The sensor captures thermal radiation from the heated area and converts it to temperature data, serving as a mediator between the heating system and the measurement requirement, thus improving both accuracy and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If black bulb sensors are used to measure radiant temperature, then the sensor can detect radiant energy, but the sensor must be placed within the heated area and pointed towards the heater, increasing system complexity and limiting measurement scope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the infrared sensor universal by enabling it to measure radiant temperature from any position and orientation, not just when placed within the heated area facing the heater. The sensor can be positioned outside the heated zone and still accurately measure the radiant temperature of the target area, eliminating the restrictive placement and orientation requirements of black bulb sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the traditional black bulb sensor approach (requiring placement within the heated volume) to an external measurement approach. By positioning the infrared sensor outside the heated area, the system adds spatial flexibility and measures radiant temperature from a different dimensional perspective, reducing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If separate remote temperature sensors are used, then the sensor can be positioned away from the heater, but the sensor is subject to environmental factors such as air convection and conduction errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based or air-based temperature sensing (prone to convection and conduction errors) with infrared radiant temperature sensing. This substitution allows the sensor to be positioned remotely while maintaining high measurement precision, as it detects thermal radiation directly without being affected by air movement or conductive heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrared sensor acts as an intermediary that measures temperature through thermal radiation rather than through air or direct contact. This intermediary measurement method enables the sensor to be positioned flexibly away from the heater while avoiding environmental factors like convection and conduction that would otherwise degrade measurement accuracy.
4Reliability
If infrared temperature sensors are positioned outside the heating area, then the sensor avoids environmental interference, but the field of view must be carefully aligned with the heating angle to capture the correct measurement area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the field of view parameters of the infrared sensor to match the heating angle parameters. By changing the sensor's optical parameters (field of view angle) to correspond with the heater's emission parameters, the system achieves accurate measurement without complex mechanical alignment mechanisms, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through parameter coordination.
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
Provides accurate temperature measurement and control, reducing energy waste by ensuring the heated area maintains the desired temperature, and optimizing energy consumption based on occupancy.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared temperature sensor, the infrared temperature sensor having a field of view defined by a sensor angle
Implementation Method 2
an infrared heater, the infrared heater comprising at least one heating element and an infrared emission surface configured to emit infrared radiation across a heating angle to a heating area
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
An infrared heating system (10) comprising: an infrared heater (12), the infrared heater comprising at least one heating element and an infrared emission surface configured to emit infrared radiation across a heating angle to a heating area; an infrared temperature sensor, the infrared temperature sensor having a field of view defined by a sensor angle, the field of view comprising a portion of the heating area; and a controller configured to: receive a temperature value of the field of view from the infrared temperature sensor; calculate a mean radiant temperature of the heating area based on the temperature value from the field of view; output a control signal corresponding to the mean radiant temperature; and transmit the control signal to a component of the infrared heater, wherein the infrared temperature sensor is outside of the heating area and/or is in the plane of the emission surface