Noninvasive Thermometer With Heat Insulating Support Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noninvasive temperature measurement in containments like pipelines faces challenges due to heat draining from the process to the environment, leading to significant measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A thermometer apparatus with a flexible, heat-insulating support element is arranged on the outer surface of the containment, securing a temperature sensor in thermal contact with the containment. This setup reduces heat draining to the environment, maintaining thermal equilibrium and enhancing measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a temperature sensor is secured from the outside to a containment for noninvasive temperature measurement, then the ease of operation and installation is improved, but heat draining from the process to the environment occurs leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
A support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the temperature sensor and the containment surface. This support element provides mechanical support for mounting the sensor while simultaneously serving as a thermal bridge to conduct heat from the containment to the sensor, thereby eliminating measurement errors caused by heat draining to the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the containment interior and mounted on the exterior surface. This allows noninvasive temperature measurement without interfering with the process flow, while the support element ensures proper thermal coupling is maintained despite the external mounting position.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is immersed in the medium for direct contact measurement, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and inability to perform noninvasive measurement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The support element acts as a mediator that enables the temperature sensor to achieve thermal equilibrium with the process medium without direct immersion. The support element conducts heat from the containment wall to the sensor, providing accurate measurements while keeping the sensor external to the process stream.
3Ease of operation
If surface thermometers are used for noninvasive measurement, then the ease of operation is improved, but insufficient thermal contact between container and thermometer leads to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The support element serves as a dedicated thermal intermediary that ensures optimal thermal contact between the containment and the temperature sensor. It is specifically designed to conduct heat efficiently from the containment surface to the sensor, overcoming the insufficient thermal contact that plagues conventional surface-mounted thermometers.
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
The apparatus achieves high accuracy in noninvasive temperature measurement by minimizing heat loss, ensuring the temperature sensor remains in thermal equilibrium with the process, thereby expanding the measuring range and improving detection of flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible, heat insulating support element, which is arrangeable on an outer surface of the containment
Implementation Method 2
The heat flows between the medium, the containment, in which the medium is located, the thermometer and the process environment in such case play a deciding role
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable, especially the temperature, or the flow, of a medium in a containment, including a temperature sensor for registering temperature and a flexible, a heat insulating support element, which is arrangeable on an outer surface of a wall of the containment, wherein the temperature sensor is secured to the support element.