Non-Invasive Fluid Temperature Sensing Through Housing Heat Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apparatus capable of non-invasively and accurately sensing and communicating changes in temperature within electrical equipment to detect over-temperature situations, which can lead to premature or catastrophic failure, and to assist in determining if the equipment is operating in an 'over-loaded' or 'extremely over-loaded' state, thereby enabling timely replacement and preventing failures.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a method using two temperature sensing elements, one sheltered from environmental conditions and the other exposed, to estimate the temperature of the fluid within the equipment's housing by measuring temperature differentials and activating a heating element to equalize the temperatures, allowing for accurate temperature determination of the fluid inside the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensing element is placed inside the housing to directly measure fluid temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to invasive installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the housing wall as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal information from the internal fluid to the external sensing element. The sensing element measures the temperature of the housing wall, which has thermally equilibrated with the internal fluid, thereby obtaining indirect but accurate temperature data without penetrating the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of inserting a sensor through the housing wall with a non-invasive thermal field approach. The sensing element remains externally positioned, utilizing heat conduction through the housing wall to obtain temperature information, thus eliminating the need for physical penetration and complex installation.
2Device complexity
If environmental conditions are exposed to the sensing element, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to environmental interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different environmental exposure conditions to different regions of the housing wall. The first region is deliberately exposed to environmental conditions to create a temperature differential, while the second region remains shielded. This localized quality difference enables the sensing element to measure the temperature gradient and calculate the internal fluid temperature accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in thermal parameters (temperature differentials) created by selective environmental exposure. By controlling which regions are exposed to environmental conditions, the system creates measurable temperature variations that provide information about the internal fluid temperature without requiring the sensing element to be shielded from all environmental factors.
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensing elements are used to compensate for environmental effects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single temperature sensing element performs multiple functions: it measures the temperature of the exposed region, detects the temperature differential between exposed and shielded regions, and enables calculation of the internal fluid temperature. This multi-functionality achieves accurate temperature estimation without requiring multiple separate sensing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from measuring temperature at a single point to measuring the temperature differential across two spatial dimensions (exposed vs. shielded regions). This dimensional approach allows the system to extract internal temperature information from environmental temperature variations, achieving accurate measurement with a single sensing element.
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
This approach enables rapid detection of over-temperature situations, allowing for timely intervention and preventing premature failure of electrical equipment by providing accurate and non-invasive temperature estimation of the fluid within the housing.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensing element to measure a temperature of the housing at a first location
Implementation Method 2
a second temperature sensing element to measure a temperature of the housing at a second location, the second location being exposed to prevailing environmental conditions
Implementation Method 3
activating a heating element to equalize the temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for non-invasively determining a temperature of a fluid inside a housing are provided. First and second temperature sensors are positioned so that there is a temperature differential between the first and second temperature sensors. A difference between the temperature of the first and second temperature sensors can be used to estimate the temperature of the fluid inside the housing and/or a zero heat flow methodology can be used to determine the temperature of the fluid inside the housing.