Inverted Measurement Window for High-Pressure Optical Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical process measurement devices, such as refractometers, face challenges in withstanding high pressures and maintaining hygiene due to small, precision-required process seals and laborious installation processes, especially in applications like oil refineries and the food industry.

Innovation Solution

A measurement window structure with a rotationally symmetrical design, where the measurement window is installed from the process side and attached using a single, easy-to-manufacture and install seal, allowing high-pressure resistance and improved hygiene by ensuring the seal is pressed tightly against a rotationally symmetrical sealing surface, facilitating self-cleaning and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a measurement window is installed from the inside of the device, then the device can withstand high pressures, but the pressure resistance is restricted to below 50 bars

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement window is inverted from the conventional inside installation to outside installation on the process side. This inversion allows the measurement window to be directly exposed to process pressure, enabling the device to withstand high pressures (up to 100 bars or more) while simplifying the sealing structure to a single seal located at the process interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If small process seals are used, then the device can function with compact sealing, but the seals are technically difficult to manufacture and install due to tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing structure compactnessVSAvoidseal manufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the measurement window installation to the process side, the sealing location is moved to a position where a single, larger seal can be used. This eliminates the need for two small, precision seals with tight tolerances, significantly easing manufacturing and installation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If two separate seals are used, then the device can achieve adequate sealing, but the construction is not hygienic and installation is laborious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged into a single seal located at the process interface, combining the sealing tasks that were previously distributed across two separate seals. This single seal design simplifies installation, improves hygiene by eliminating multiple sealing interfaces, and maintains adequate sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If a rotationally symmetrical sealing surface is used, then the seal is pressed tightly against the surface, but the sealing surface requires precise geometric control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal contact reliabilityVSAvoidsealing surface geometric precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A rotationally symmetrical (curved) sealing surface is employed instead of a flat surface. This curved geometry naturally distributes and concentrates sealing forces, ensuring the seal is pressed tightly and uniformly against the measurement window. The rotational symmetry simplifies manufacturing compared to asymmetric precision surfaces while maintaining reliable seal contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 solution enhances pressure resistance and ease of installation, maintaining measurement accuracy and device cleanliness under high-pressure conditions, while simplifying manufacturing and installation processes, thus providing a reliable and hygienic optical process measurement device.

Implementation Method 1

the surface of the measurement window being provided with at least one planar surface through which light will be guided or reflected to the measurement surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guidance and reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

attaching means for pressing the measurement window against the sealing surface to attach the measurement window to the frame structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical pressing force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8456627B2Structure of measurement window

Publication Date: 2013.06.04 VAISALA

AI summary

A measurement window structure is disclosed for an optical process measurement device. The measurement window structure can include a measurement window made of an optical material and having a measurement surface that is arranged to be placed into a process solution, a sealing surface formed to a frame structure of the optical process measurement device and facing the process solution, the measurement window made of an optical material being arranged to press against the sealing surface, and an attaching device or mechanism for pressing the measurement window made of an optical material against the sealing surface and for attaching it to the frame structure. The sealing surface formed to the frame structure can be a rotationally symmetrical surface and the surface pressing against the sealing surface formed to the frame structure of the measurement window made of an optical material can be a rotationally symmetrical surface.