Oil quality sensor and deep frying device with such an oil quality sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil quality sensors for deep-frying devices face challenges in handling simplicity and safety, as well as measurement precision, with portable devices requiring operator activation and potential damage, and stationary sensors not meeting high precision requirements.
Innovation Solution
A permanently installed oil quality sensor with a cylindrical or tubular capacitor design, featuring a second temperature sensor to account for temperature gradients and a shielding electrode for interference protection, allowing for precise capacitance measurements and flexible operation across different oil types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable oil quality sensor is used, then the operator can manually measure oil quality, but the device requires operator activation and may be damaged by contact with the deep-frying basin
Solution Approach 1:
The oil quality sensor is permanently installed in the frying device and automatically measures oil quality without requiring operator intervention. The sensor integrates temperature compensation and automatic capacitance measurement, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating manual handling risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the oil quality sensor, temperature sensor, and evaluation unit into an integrated system permanently installed in the frying device. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate portable devices and ensures reliable operation within the frying environment.
2Reliability
If a stationary oil quality sensor is used, then the device can be permanently installed, but the measurement precision does not meet high requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an elongated capacitor design with increased length to enhance the measurement signal. The extended capacitor provides a larger measurement volume and improved sensitivity, directly increasing measurement precision while maintaining permanent installation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple capacitance measurement with a sophisticated evaluation system that includes temperature compensation and correlation function-based polar component calculation. This substitution of basic measurement with advanced evaluation significantly improves measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If a temperature gradient exists between the frying oil and oil quality sensor, then the dielectric constant measurement becomes inaccurate, but adding temperature compensation increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temperature sensor as an intermediary element that measures the actual oil temperature. This temperature data is then used by the evaluation unit to compensate for thermal effects on the dielectric constant, accurately separating temperature effects from quality changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through temperature measurement and compensation. The temperature sensor continuously monitors oil temperature, and the evaluation unit uses this feedback to adjust the dielectric constant calculation, eliminating measurement errors caused by temperature gradients.
4Device complexity
If an interdigital capacitor is used for measurement, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement precision is significantly lower compared to an elongated capacitor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar interdigital capacitor to an elongated three-dimensional capacitor structure. This dimensional change increases the measurement volume and interaction between the electric field and oil sample, significantly improving measurement sensitivity and precision.
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 solution ensures safer, simpler handling and significantly improved measurement precision by integrating temperature gradient management and interference shielding, enabling accurate oil quality assessment without operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the capacitance of the deep-frying oil in a deep-frying device
Implementation Method 2
the dielectric constant of the frying oil changes as it ages
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of the frying oil is also measured using the known device, since the dielectric constant is not only dependent on the frying oil quality
Data Source
Figure 1~1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An oil quality sensor to determine the quality of deep-frying oil by measuring the capacitance of the deep-frying oil in a deep fryer includes a housing and a hollow space in the housing through which the deep-frying oil is guided. An inlet opening introduces deep-frying oil to the hollow space, and a drain opening guides the deep-frying oil out of the hollow space. A first bent electrode extends along the hollow space, and a second bent electrode extends along the hollow space and is arranged opposite the first electrode, in which case the two electrodes form a capacitor and deep-frying oil is guided through the space formed between these two electrodes to measure its capacitance. A first temperature sensor measures the temperature of the oil used for deep frying that needs to be measured. An evaluation unit records the measured capacitance of the capacitor and the measured temperature, digitalizes these measured values, and calculates the polar fractions in the deep-frying oil, in which case these polar fractions are a criterion for the quality of the deep-frying oil.