Piezo Valve Element Life Diagnosis Under Variable Drive Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezo elements in fluid control valves, such as those used in vaporization systems, degrade faster due to varying operating conditions like temperature and voltage, leading to inaccurate mean time to failure calculations and premature or delayed replacement.
Innovation Solution
A piezo element diagnosis device that acquires driving information, calculates consumed or remaining life based on expected life and actual operating conditions, and provides timely replacement notifications, using a life calculation unit and alarm output to manage piezo element maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piezo element replacement is based on fixed MTTF calculations, then replacement timing can be determined in advance, but the replacement timing becomes inaccurate when operating conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static MTTF replacement strategy into a dynamic one by continuously monitoring driving information (voltage, temperature) and calculating real-time remaining life. The life calculation unit dynamically adjusts the replacement timing based on actual operating conditions, allowing the system to adapt when voltage or temperature changes occur during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by acquiring actual driving information from the piezo element during operation and using this information to recalculate remaining life. The alarm output unit provides feedback to users about the current life state, enabling informed replacement decisions that account for actual usage patterns rather than relying solely on predetermined MTTF values.
2Productivity
If piezo element replacement is delayed to extend usage, then productivity is improved, but the risk of sudden failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by calculating remaining life in advance based on accumulated driving information and alerting users before the piezo element actually fails. The alarm output unit provides advance notice when remaining life falls below thresholds, allowing users to plan replacement during scheduled maintenance rather than experiencing sudden failures that disrupt productivity.
3Reliability
If piezo element replacement is performed early based on conservative MTTF, then reliability is improved, but resources are wasted through premature replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the piezo element to effectively report its own health status through accumulated driving information. The life calculation unit processes this self-generated data to determine actual remaining life, replacing the element only when truly necessary rather than following conservative predetermined schedules that would cause premature replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention enables a piezo element to be replaced or maintained at an appropriate timing, and is a piezo element diagnosis device for making a diagnosis of a piezo element incorporated in a piece of equipment, and includes a driving information acquisition unit that acquires driving information of the piezo element, and a life calculation unit that calculates a consumed life or a remaining life of the piezo element based on the driving information.