Multipoint Temperature Sensor With Segmented Thermal Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multipoint temperature sensors face challenges in achieving precise temperature profiling due to the use of mineral-insulated lines, which are mechanically robust but slow down heat flow and can damage less robust temperature-sensitive components during production, and make it difficult to sense local temperature points accurately.
Innovation Solution
A multipoint sensor design featuring a tubular sheath with cylindrical spacers made of high thermal conductivity materials and a filling material with lower thermal conductivity, allowing precise temperature sensing and accommodating both robust and less robust temperature-sensitive components, without the need for pultrusion processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mineral-insulated lines are used to protect temperature sensors, then mechanical robustness and reliability are improved, but heat transfer speed deteriorates and local temperature measurement precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mineral-insulated line is segmented into multiple sections with different insulation characteristics. Sections with better thermal conductivity are positioned at measurement points to enable precise local temperature sensing, while other sections maintain standard insulation for overall protection and heat retention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the mineral-insulated line are given different thermal insulation properties. The insulation material's thermal conductivity is varied locally to optimize both protection and measurement capabilities at different positions along the line.
2Strength
If pultrusion processes are used to produce mineral-insulated lines, then mechanical strength and structural integrity are improved, but the process cannot accommodate less robust temperature-sensitive components
Solution Approach 1:
The production process is divided into separate stages: first assembling the temperature sensor assembly with its protective structure, then subsequently applying the mineral insulation through pultrusion. This segmentation allows fragile components to be protected during assembly while still enabling mechanical strengthening in later stages.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature-sensitive components are pre-assembled and protected within a structural framework before the pultrusion process begins. This preliminary protective structure shields the components from the mechanical forces of pultrusion while allowing the process to proceed and create the final strong, insulated assembly.
3Reliability
If insulating material surrounds temperature sensors in mineral-insulated lines, then thermal protection is improved, but heat flow from process medium to sensor is slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation structure is segmented to create thermal pathways. At measurement points, the insulation is configured to facilitate faster heat transfer to sensors, while maintaining overall thermal protection through the segmented insulation architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal conductive elements or pathways are introduced as intermediaries between the process medium and temperature sensors. These intermediaries facilitate efficient heat transfer to the sensors while the surrounding insulating material maintains overall thermal protection and prevents heat loss to the environment.
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 precise local temperature profiling with improved heat transfer and mechanical stability, allowing the use of both thermal elements and resistance thermometers, and can be used in various applications including pipelines and containers.
Implementation Method 1
n cylindrical spacers with n>1, n∈N, which are produced from a material having a high thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 2
a filling material, which is arranged between the spacers and which surrounds each of the elongate temperature sensors, wherein the filling material has a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the spacers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a multipoint sensor for determining a temperature profile of a medium and to a method for producing said multipoint sensor. The multipoint sensor includes a tubular sheath having a closed end region; at least two cylindrical spacers produced from a material having a high thermal conductivity and arranged in an axially-spaced manner in the interior of the sheath. Each spacer includes a recess for holding a temperature-sensitive component of an elongate temperature sensor. Each spacer, with the exception of the spacer closest to the closed end region, has through-bores for feeding through the elongate temperature sensors fastened to the preceding spacers. The number of through-bores of a spacer corresponds to the number of preceding spacers. A filling material, is arranged between the spacers and surrounds each of the elongate temperature sensors. The filling material has a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the spacers.