Non-Invasive Pipeline Temperature Probe Using Heated-Wall Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive temperature measuring devices for pipelines suffer from low accuracy due to poor heat transfer and thermal losses, and face installation challenges with existing clamping-type devices.
Innovation Solution
A clamping body with a protrusion that causes a depression in the pipeline wall to dilate and locate a sensor capsule for improved temperature measurement, using a rotatable design to enhance contact with the heated wall section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a clamping type device is used to measure temperature non-invasively, then installation is simplified and no aperture is needed, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to poor heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline wall is heated before the clamping device is installed, creating a depression in the wall that improves subsequent heat transfer to the sensor capsule
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the wall material is changed by heating it to create a depression, which alters the thermal contact properties between the wall and sensor
2Measurement precision
If a heat sensitive element is clamped to the tube wall, then temperature measurement is achieved, but thermal losses increase due to heat absorption into the surrounding wall
Solution Approach 1:
Heating the wall section before installation creates a depression that confines heat transfer, reducing thermal losses to surrounding wall material
Solution Approach 2:
The wall structure is locally modified by creating a depression only at the sensor location, concentrating heat transfer to the measurement point
3Measurement precision
If the clamping body is installed on a heated wall section, then heat transfer is improved, but installation complexity increases due to the heating step
Solution Approach 1:
The wall is heated in advance to create the depression, which is then utilized during device installation to improve thermal contact
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
Enhances temperature measurement accuracy by improving heat transfer and reducing thermal losses, while ensuring secure installation without invasive modifications to the pipeline.
Implementation Method 1
cause a depression in the heated wall section that dilates the wall and locates the protrusion within the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of a fluid in a pipeline includes a clamping body having a probe receptacle extending from a first body portion of the clamping body. A temperature measuring probe is installed in the probe receptacle with a sensor capsule located in a protrusion extending from the first body portion. A second body portion of the clamping body is rotatably mounted to the first body portion. The first body portion is installed on a wall section of the pipeline after the wall section has been heated. The second body portion is then rotated to engage the first body portion and drive the protrusion to contact the heated wall section and cause the wall section to dilate and locate the dilated wall and the protrusion in the pipeline passage where the sensor capsule measures the temperature of the dilated wall.