Pipe Pressure Measurement Using Angled Strain Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for non-intrusive measurement of hydrostatic pressure in pipes are flawed due to thermal effects, requiring multiple sensors and introducing bias and uncertainty, especially in environments with varying temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A method using two sensors positioned at different angles relative to the pipe's longitudinal axis, measuring deformation variations to isolate mechanical components from thermal effects, allowing for accurate pressure and temperature measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an additional temperature sensor is used to compensate for thermal effects, then temperature compensation is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to thermal inertia differences and systematic errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal effect component from the total deformation measurement by using two strain sensors positioned at different orientations. By measuring deformation in two different directions and mathematically separating the thermal component (which affects both directions equally) from the mechanical component (which affects directions differently), the method eliminates the need for an additional temperature sensor and its associated thermal inertia problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mathematical processing as an intermediary between the strain sensors and the pressure measurement result. Through coordinate transformation and differential calculations, the system mediates between the raw deformation measurements and the final pressure value, effectively separating thermal and mechanical effects without requiring additional physical sensors.
2Temperature
If multiple independent measurements are performed to account for thermal effects, then thermal compensation is attempted, but reliability deteriorates due to multiplied sources of uncertainty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal compensation function into the existing strain measurement system by using two strain sensors instead of one strain sensor plus a separate temperature sensor. This integration reduces the number of independent measurement chains and their associated uncertainty sources, while still achieving thermal effect compensation through the differential measurement approach.
3Measurement precision
If a material sample is obtained to determine thermal strain component, then thermal compensation accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to difficulty in obtaining pipe material samples
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring a physical material sample, the patent creates a mathematical model that copies the thermal expansion behavior of the pipe material. By measuring deformations in two directions and using the known relationship between thermal expansion and temperature, the system determines the thermal component without needing to physically obtain or test material samples.
4Temperature
If additional sensors are added to compensate for thermal effects, then thermal compensation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the strain sensors multi-functional by positioning them to simultaneously measure both thermal and mechanical deformation components. The same two strain sensors used for pressure measurement also provide thermal compensation data, eliminating the need for dedicated temperature sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
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 provides reliable and accurate measurements of internal pressure and temperature in pipes, independent of thermal variations, using a simplified setup with two sensors and compensating for thermal interference.
Implementation Method 1
sensors configured to measure a variation in the total strain of the pipe (including a mechanical component of strain and a thermal component of strain)
Implementation Method 2
the same temperature as said pipe, so that the total strain variations measured by the additional sensor do not include a mechanical strain component
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for measuring an internal pressure variation and/or a temperature variation of a pipe (4) comprising a portion (12). The method is based on calculating the internal pressure variation and/or the temperature variation of the pipe (4) from at least one deformation variation, each deformation variation being obtained solely from measured monitoring variables of which a first and a second are associated with a first and a second measurement direction, respectively. The first and second measurement directions define a first angle (Φ1) and a second angle (Φ2) with a plane normal to the longitudinal axis having absolute values different from modulo π.