Mineral-Insulated Temperature Measurement for Non-Invasive Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature-measuring devices are invasive, leading to issues such as loss of flow energy, abrasion, breakage, obstruction, and potential leakage, while non-invasive devices are inflexible and limited by temperature exposure requirements.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-measuring device with a mineral-insulated sheathed cable and flexible cable connection lines, allowing remote placement of the signal processing unit and enabling measurement of high and low temperatures with high accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a temperature sensor is mounted in a protective tube projecting into the interior of the pipeline or container, then the temperature of the medium can be measured, but components protrude into the process chamber resulting in loss of flow energy, abrasion, breakage damage, obstruction of the production process and/or cleaning processes and potential leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurementVSAvoidflow energy loss, abrasion, breakage, obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is extracted from the process chamber and mounted on the external surface of the pipe or container wall. The sensor measures the surface temperature of the enclosing structure, which thermally reflects the medium temperature, thereby eliminating the need for the sensor to protrude into the process chamber while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pipe or container wall acts as an intermediary thermal conduction path. Instead of the sensor directly contacting the medium, the sensor measures the temperature of the wall, which serves as a thermal mediator transmitting the medium's temperature information to the sensor location outside the process chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If both sensors are connected to the measurement processing equipment via a mineral-insulated sheathed cable or rod, then the device can withstand very high and/or very low measuring temperatures, but the signal processing electronics must not be exposed to temperatures of approx. 85° C. or more and very low temperatures can be a problem

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewithstand high and low temperaturesVSAvoidsignal processing unit temperature exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into two distinct parts: a mineral-insulated sheathed cable portion that can withstand extreme temperatures and is placed near the sensor on the process side, and a flexible cable portion that connects to the signal processing equipment on the ambient side. This segmentation allows each cable type to operate within its optimal temperature range, protecting the electronics from extreme temperatures while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the signal-processing unit is positioned head-mounted at one end of the mineral insulated measurement rod, then the measurement can be performed, but the device becomes inflexible and limits measurements of very high or very low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement flexibilityVSAvoidtemperature range adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system transitions from a rigid mineral-insulated sheathed cable to a flexible cable for the portion connecting to the signal processing equipment. This dynamic flexibility allows the cable to accommodate movement, bending, and positioning adjustments, enabling the signal processing unit to be remotely located away from the temperature-exposed measurement point while maintaining electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 non-invasive, flexible, and accurate temperature measurement across a wide range of temperatures without exposing the signal processing unit to extreme temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one connection line is partly realized as a mineral-insulated sheathed cable providing the measuring sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

both connection lines comprise a flexible cable connected to the value processing means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS12436040B2Temperature-measuring device

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

A temperature-measuring device for determining the temperature of a surface or a medium by utilizing the temperature of the surface enclosing the medium includes at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor as well as a value processing device, which is connected to the measuring sensor via a first connection line and which is connected to the reference sensor via a second connection line, wherein of both connection lines at least the first connection line is partly realized as a mineral-insulated sheathed cable providing the measuring sensor, wherein both connection lines comprise a flexible cable connected to the value processing means.