Microwave Moisture Sensor Resonator Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring moisture content, such as heating samples, are time-consuming and impractical for real-time monitoring, especially in large quantities, and existing online moisture content measuring devices either require contact or have limited installation flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A volute-shaped and fork-shaped microwave coupling moisture content sensor using a microwave resonator to detect changes in resonance frequency and amplitude when objects are exposed to microwaves, allowing for non-contact, real-time measurement of moisture content through a method that derives a linear regression correlation between signal data and actual moisture values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If heating method is used to measure moisture content, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical heating method with an electromagnetic field-based microwave resonance method. The microwave resonator generates electromagnetic fields that interact with water molecules in the material, causing resonance at specific frequencies. This substitution eliminates the need for time-consuming heating and drying processes while maintaining measurement accuracy through frequency-based detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dielectric properties and resonance behavior of water molecules under microwave radiation. By detecting changes in resonance frequency and quality factor (Q-factor) of the microwave resonator when materials are placed inside, the system can determine moisture content without physical phase change of the material being measured, thus enabling rapid non-contact measurement.
2Reliability
If contact type measuring device is used, then measurement reliability is improved, but installation flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a microwave resonator as an intermediary measurement medium. The resonator serves as a coupling interface between the microwave source and the material being measured, enabling non-contact measurement while maintaining reliability. The resonator's electromagnetic field interacts with the material's moisture content, and this interaction is detected through changes in resonance characteristics, providing reliable measurement without physical contact requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The microwave resonator design enables the device to measure moisture content of various materials with different physical properties (solids, liquids, powders) without requiring contact or adjustment. The resonator can be positioned at different locations and orientations, providing universal applicability across different measurement scenarios while maintaining measurement reliability through consistent electromagnetic interaction principles.
3Ease of operation
If traditional sampling method is used, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement representativeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous, real-time moisture content measurement of materials as they pass through or are placed near the microwave resonator. This continuous measurement capability eliminates the need for discrete sampling, allowing the system to monitor moisture content across the entire product stream, thereby providing representative data for overall product quality assessment while maintaining operational simplicity.
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
Enables efficient, non-contact, and accurate real-time monitoring of moisture content in objects, improving the speed and scalability of moisture measurement while reducing installation constraints.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing microwaves fed into a resonator to generate resonance electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
microwaves fed into a resonator to generate resonance electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 3
the variation of resonance frequency and amplitude of microwaves is detected when the objects are disposed in an distribution field of the microwaves
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave coupling moisture content sensor and a method for deriving a linear regression correlation between signal data generated by a microwave moisture content sensor and moisture contents of objects are disclosed. The microwave coupling moisture content sensor includes a microwave resonator and a signal feeding member or a microwave emitting member. An object is placed outside the microwave resonator, and the signal feeding member or the microwave emitting member emits microwaves, which penetrate the object. The resonance frequency and the amplitude of the microwave resonator are measured to obtain the moisture content of the object. Several objects having known moisture contents are detected by the microwave coupling moisture content sensor to obtain corresponding resonance frequency and amplitude. Correlation coefficients of several combinations are calculated, and the combinations having low correlation coefficients are removed, whereby the best linear regression correlation is derived for the measurement of moisture contents of objects.