Optical Fiber Sensor for Fluid Property Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial manufacturing environments, particularly in the petroleum and petrochemical industry, face challenges in making accurate, high-spatial-density measurements of fluid properties due to harsh conditions such as high temperatures, high pressures, and complex chemical mixtures, which existing monitoring systems struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a sensing cable with an optical fiber sensor array and a heating element that induces nucleate boiling of the fluid, allowing for more sensitive measurements by increasing heat flow and using an optical signal interrogator to determine fluid properties based on the output of the sensing cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring systems are used in harsh industrial environments, then system simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to high temperatures, high pressures, and chemically caustic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electrical or mechanical sensing systems with an optical-based sensing cable system. The optical fiber sensor array detects fluid properties through optical signals that are immune to electromagnetic interference and harsh chemical environments, thereby improving both measurement accuracy and system reliability without being affected by high temperatures, pressures, or caustic chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a nucleating surface as an intermediary between the heating element and the fluid. This surface promotes controlled nucleate boiling, creating a stable thermal interface that enhances heat transfer while protecting the sensing cable from direct exposure to extreme conditions, thus improving measurement reliability in harsh environments.
2Measurement precision
If heating is applied to induce nucleate boiling, then heat flow and measurement sensitivity improve, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition from liquid to vapor through controlled nucleate boiling. By inducing localized boiling at the nucleating surface, the system achieves enhanced heat transfer coefficients and improved measurement sensitivity. The phase change process absorbs and releases latent heat, creating a self-regulating thermal mechanism that improves sensitivity while managing energy consumption through efficient phase transition heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the system by inducing nucleate boiling, which fundamentally alters the heat transfer regime from natural convection to phase-change dominated heat transfer. This parameter change increases the heat transfer coefficient by orders of magnitude, dramatically improving measurement sensitivity. The system optimizes energy consumption by operating in the nucleate boiling regime rather than film boiling or natural convection, where heat transfer is less efficient.
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 accurate and efficient monitoring of fluid properties in harsh environments, enhancing process efficiency and reducing harmful emissions by providing reliable measurements of temperature and phase information.
Implementation Method 1
heating the fluid exposed to a sensing cable to induce nucleate boiling of the fluid at a nucleating surface at least partly surrounding the sensing cable
Implementation Method 2
a sensing cable with an optical fiber sensor array located within the sensing cable
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a property of a fluid includes a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array located within the sensing cable; a heating element aligned with the optical fiber sensor array; and a nucleating surface, surrounding the sensing cable, to induce boiling of the fluid exposed to the nucleating surface when heated by the heating element. A system for determining a property of a fluid includes a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array located within the sensing cable; and a heating element, aligned with the optical fiber sensor array, to continuously heat the fluid exposed to the sensing cable. A system for determining a property of a fluid includes a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array; and a heating element, aligned with the optical fiber sensor array, to heat the fluid exposed to the sensing cable to induce nucleate boiling of the fluid.