Pipe Clamp Fluid Temperature Estimation With Faster Thermal Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive process fluid temperature calculation systems, such as those using pipe clamp sensors, are less accurate and have slower response times compared to thermowells, creating a barrier to their adoption and limiting their application areas.
Innovation Solution
A process fluid temperature estimation system with a sensor capsule and measurement circuitry that calculates an estimated process fluid temperature using a heat transfer calculation and a known thermal relationship, combined with a controller to improve response time through mathematical enhancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-invasive pipe clamp sensor is used to avoid process intrusion, then ease of installation and avoidance of process fluid leakage are improved, but measurement precision and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal conductor as an intermediary element between the process pipe and the temperature sensor. This thermal conductor is in direct thermal contact with the process fluid through a process intrusion, while the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the thermal conductor from the exterior. The thermal conductor acts as a mediator that transfers thermal energy efficiently, enabling accurate non-invasive temperature measurement without requiring the sensor to be in direct contact with the process fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical direct-contact temperature sensing system with a hybrid system that combines thermal conduction through a solid conductor with non-invasive exterior measurement. Instead of requiring the sensor to mechanically penetrate the process system, the solution uses thermal conduction through a separately installed thermal conductor, substituting the direct mechanical intrusion approach with a thermal field-based measurement approach.
2Ease of operation
If a non-invasive pipe clamp sensor is used to avoid process intrusion, then ease of installation is improved, but response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conductor serves as a mediator that provides a dedicated thermal pathway from the process fluid to the measurement point. By introducing this intermediary element with high thermal conductivity, the system creates an efficient heat transfer path that reduces the thermal mass and distance between the process fluid and the sensor, thereby improving response time while maintaining the non-invasive exterior measurement approach.
3Reliability
If a thermowell is used to protect the temperature sensor, then reliability and sensor protection are improved, but device complexity and process intrusion requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensor from the harsh process environment by measuring the temperature of a thermal conductor from the exterior, rather than placing the sensor directly in the process fluid within a thermowell. This extraction eliminates the need for complex thermowell structures while maintaining sensor protection, as the sensor remains in a controlled exterior environment while still measuring process fluid temperature through thermal conduction.
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 system effectively speeds up the response time of heat flow-based temperature estimation, providing accurate temperature measurements comparable to thermowells without the need for process intrusion.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor capsule has at least one temperature sensitive element disposed therein and is configured to sense at least a temperature of the external surface of the process fluid conduit
Implementation Method 2
employ a heat transfer calculation with the reference temperature, the external surface temperature measurement and a known thermal relationship between the external surface temperature sensor in the sensor capsule and the reference temperature to generate an estimated process fluid temperature output
Data Source
AI summary
A process fluid temperature estimation system includes a mounting assembly configured to mount the process fluid temperature estimation system to an external surface of a process fluid conduit. A sensor capsule has at least one temperature sensitive element disposed therein and is configured to sense at least a temperature of the external surface of the process fluid conduit. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the sensor capsule and is configured to detect a characteristic of the at least one temperature sensitive element that varies with temperature and provide sensor capsule temperature information. A controller is coupled to the measurement circuitry and is configured to obtain a temperature measurement of the external surface of the process fluid conduit and to obtain a reference temperature and employ a heat transfer calculation with the reference temperature, the external surface temperature measurement and a known thermal relationship between the external surface temperature sensor in the sensor capsule and the reference temperature to generate an estimated process fluid temperature output. The controller is also configured to improve response time of the process fluid estimation system mathematically. In some examples, the controller is configured to extract the system tau value from the measured data.