Pipe Deposit Thickness Estimation Using Post-Removal Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the thickness of deposits on pipe inner surfaces, such as hydrates, waxes, or scale, in pipelines face significant estimation errors due to inaccuracies in measuring physical quantities like outer surface temperature, fluid temperature, and heat transfer coefficients, especially in natural environments where environmental changes are frequent.
Innovation Solution
An estimation system that corrects estimated values for deposit thickness by using measured outer surface temperatures of the pipe, acquired within a predetermined time after a deposit removal process, to ensure the estimation error remains within a predetermined range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If estimated values are used for physical quantities that are not measurable (such as thermal conductivity of deposits, heat transfer coefficients), then the estimation system can operate without additional sensors, but the deviation between estimated values and true values becomes large, causing estimation error to exceed predetermined ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a deposit removal process (using heating or mechanical means) before conducting the thickness estimation. This preliminary action creates a known state where deposits are removed at specific locations, providing reference points for accurate estimation without requiring direct measurement of difficult-to-obtain physical quantities like thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses measured outer surface temperatures as feedback to correct estimated values. By comparing actual temperature measurements with model predictions, the system iteratively adjusts estimation parameters to reduce the deviation between estimated and true values, keeping estimation errors within predetermined ranges
2Measurement precision
If multiple physical quantities (outer surface temperature, fluid temperature, heat transfer coefficient, thermal conductivity) are measured to improve estimation accuracy, then estimation precision improves, but the system complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple sensors and measurement devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes only the outer surface temperature as a measurable parameter, removing the need to directly measure difficult-to-obtain quantities like thermal conductivity of deposits and internal heat transfer coefficients. By formulating estimation methods that rely on easily measurable outer surface temperatures alone, the system achieves accurate deposit thickness estimation without complex sensor arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses outer surface temperature as an intermediary parameter that indirectly provides information about internal deposit conditions. Instead of directly measuring internal properties, the system measures the easily accessible outer surface temperature and uses thermal conduction models to infer internal deposit thickness, simplifying the measurement system while maintaining accuracy
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 maintains estimation errors for deposit thickness within a predetermined range by correcting estimated values with real-time measured data, addressing inaccuracies caused by environmental changes and unmeasurable physical quantities.
Implementation Method 1
the first heating element removes the deposit on the inner wall of the first section of the pipeline by heating the first section of the pipeline
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
An estimation system includes an acquirer configured to acquire a measured value of an outer surface temperature of a pipe through which fluid flows, an inferrer configured to infer an execution time for a removal process for deposits on an inner surface of the pipe, corrector configured to correct an estimated value used for estimating a thickness of the deposits, by using the measured value of the outer surface temperature of the pipe, which is acquired within a predetermined time from an inference result of the execution time for the removal process for the deposits, and an estimator configured to estimate the thickness of the deposits based on the corrected estimated value and the measured value of the outer surface temperature of the pipe.