Non-Metallic Pressure Sensor Layout to Prevent Blockage and Leakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure sensors made from non-metallic materials like PEEK resin for liquid chromatographs face issues with lower pressure resistance and potential fluid blockage due to the diaphragm blocking fluid inlets and outlets, and leakage of pressure transmission liquid under high pressure.
Innovation Solution
A pressure sensor design with a non-metallic diaphragm and body block, featuring a separated fluid inlet and outlet, a recess for pressure transmission liquid, and a spacer to maintain packing integrity, preventing fluid blockage and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-metallic materials like PEEK resin are used for the main body block and diaphragm to prevent adsorption of biological samples, then inertness is improved, but pressure resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is divided into multiple components: a main body block, a diaphragm, and a housing. The housing is made from high hardness material (stainless steel) to provide structural strength and pressure resistance, while the main body block and diaphragm can be made from non-metallic materials for inertness. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor employs a composite structure combining different materials: non-metallic materials (PEEK resin) for the main body block and diaphragm to ensure chemical inertness, and high hardness material (stainless steel) for the housing to ensure mechanical strength. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve both inertness and pressure resistance.
2Device complexity
If the diaphragm is attached directly to the main body block to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid flow is blocked causing inlet/outlet obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid inlet and outlet are positioned in the thickness direction (z-direction) of the main body block, separated from the diaphragm attachment area. This spatial arrangement in another dimension prevents the diaphragm from blocking the fluid pathways while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid communication path is provided through the main body block that connects the fluid inlet and outlet, serving as an intermediary pathway that bypasses the diaphragm attachment region. This ensures continuous fluid flow without requiring complex routing around the diaphragm.
3Device complexity
If packing is supported directly by the non-metallic main body block to simplify support structure, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing reliability deteriorates under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure for the packing combines non-metallic material (main body block) with high hardness material (housing). The housing provides rigid support for the packing under high pressure conditions, while the overall structure maintains relative simplicity. This composite support approach ensures sealing reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to provide pre-compression force to the packing before high pressure is applied. This preliminary action ensures the packing is already compressed and sealed, preventing leakage when high pressure is subsequently applied to the system.
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
Ensures accurate pressure detection and prevents fluid blockage and leakage by maintaining fluid communication and sealing the diaphragm's peripheral edge, even under high pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
detects pressure of fluid flowing between the diaphragm and the diaphragm facing surface by a deformation amount of the diaphragm
Implementation Method 2
a sensor head that has a recess for accommodating pressure transmission liquid... and is configured to detect pressure of fluid flowing between the diaphragm and the diaphragm facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet-like diaphragm made from a non-metallic material, a main body block made from a non-metallic material, having a diaphragm facing surface facing a main plane of the diaphragm, disposed in a manner that the diaphragm facing surface is covered by the diaphragm, and provided with a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet facing the diaphragm side, a sensor head that has a recess for accommodating pressure transmission liquid, is disposed on a side opposite to the main body block across the diaphragm such that an opening of the recess is closed by the diaphragm, and is configured to detect pressure of fluid flowing between the diaphragm and the diaphragm facing surface by a deformation amount of the diaphragm are included. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are provided in a manner separated from the diaphragm further than the diaphragm facing surface.