Non-Intrusive Pipe Fluid Temperature Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the temperature of a fluid inside a pipe are cumbersome, prone to damage, and ineffective for pipes with small diameters or high-density fluids, as they require direct installation of thermometers, which can disturb the fluid flow and are difficult to install accurately.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates the internal fluid temperature using a heat flux, outer surface temperature, and flow velocity, without the need for a thermometer inside the pipe, employing a flow meter, heat flux meter, thermometer, and calculator with pre-trained algorithms to determine the internal fluid temperature, and includes modules for maintaining the temperature within a preset range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thermometer is installed inside the pipe to measure fluid temperature, then the temperature can be measured, but the thermometer may be damaged by direct contact with the fluid and the installation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the pipe wall as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy. Instead of placing the thermometer directly in the fluid, the system measures the temperature of the pipe wall (which is in thermal contact with the fluid) and uses this information to infer the fluid temperature, thereby avoiding direct contact between the thermometer and the fluid
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based temperature measurement (thermometer in direct contact with fluid) with a non-contact thermal measurement system that uses thermal conduction through the pipe wall and electrical resistance temperature sensing, eliminating the need for physical insertion of the thermometer into the fluid
2Measurement precision
If a thermometer is installed inside the pipe, then the temperature can be measured, but the installation becomes difficult and requires drilling holes and adding thermowells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensing function from the fluid interior and places it on the pipe wall exterior. By measuring the temperature of the pipe wall surface (which thermally represents the fluid temperature), the system eliminates the need to drill holes in the pipe or install complex thermowell structures
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe wall serves as a thermal intermediary that conducts heat from the fluid to the temperature sensor. This allows temperature measurement without penetrating the pipe wall, simplifying installation while maintaining measurement capability
3Measurement precision
If a thermometer is installed inside the pipe, then the temperature can be measured, but the fluid flow may be disturbed and the thermometer can be damaged by high-density fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe wall acts as a protective intermediary barrier between the fluid and the temperature sensor. Thermal energy is transferred through the pipe wall material, allowing temperature measurement without the thermometer being exposed to the fluid, thereby preventing fluid flow disturbance and thermometer damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical temperature sensing in the fluid with thermal conduction through the pipe wall combined with electrical resistance measurement. This substitution eliminates the need for the thermometer to be in direct contact with the fluid, preventing interaction between the sensor and the fluid while maintaining temperature measurement capability
4Measurement precision
If a thermometer is installed inside a long pipe, then the temperature can be measured at one position, but the temperature accuracy decreases for fluids at positions far from the thermometer due to temperature changes along the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature measurement system into multiple independent temperature sensors distributed at different positions along the pipe. Each sensor measures the local temperature at its specific location, allowing the system to capture temperature variations along the pipe length and adapt to different positions
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 solution allows for easy and accurate temperature measurement of fluids in pipes of any size and type, preventing thermometer damage and enabling temperature control within a specified range, thus ensuring pipe safety and efficient fluid management.
Implementation Method 1
a heat flux meter to measure the heat flux passing through an outer surface of the pipe
Implementation Method 2
a thermometer to measure the outer surface temperature of the pipe
Implementation Method 3
a flow meter to measure the flow velocity of the fluid flowing inside the pipe
Implementation Method 4
a calculator configured to calculate an internal fluid temperature, which is the temperature of the fluid flowing inside the pipe, by using the flow velocity of the fluid measured by the flow meter, the heat flux measured by the heat flux meter, and the outer surface temperature of the pipe measured by the thermometer
Data Source
AI summary
A system for calculating a temperature of a fluid inside a pipe by using a heat flux, an outer surface temperature of the pipe, and a flow velocity of the fluid includes a flow meter to measure the flow velocity of the fluid flowing inside the pipe, a heat flux meter to measure the heat flux passing through an outer surface of the pipe, a thermometer to measure the outer surface temperature of the pipe, and a calculator configured to calculate an internal fluid temperature, which is the temperature of the fluid flowing inside the pipe, by using the flow velocity of the fluid measured by the flow meter, the heat flux measured by the heat flux meter, and the outer surface temperature of the pipe measured by the thermometer.