RF Dielectric Fluid Sensor for Reliable Composition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sensors with moving parts, such as floats, can fail due to debris fouling, and those using voltage signals for long-distance communication often experience signal degradation due to increased resistance in connecting cables, reducing reliability and making it difficult to accurately measure fluid composition, especially in industrial applications like oil and water mixtures.
Innovation Solution
A RF dielectric sensor system that uses a controller unit and a sensor unit submerged in the fluid, transmitting and receiving RF signals based on the fluid's dielectric constant, allowing for detection of fluids like air, oil, and water by adjusting transmit power levels and using current signals to mitigate signal degradation over long distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor with moving parts (such as a float) is used to measure fluid level, then the sensor can detect fluid presence, but debris may foul the sensor causing it to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical float-based sensors with a dielectric sensor system that uses electromagnetic fields to detect fluid levels and composition. The sensor unit includes a transmitter that generates an electromagnetic field and a receiver that detects changes in the field caused by different fluids, eliminating moving parts that can be fouled by debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary between the sensor and the fluid. The dielectric sensor measures fluid properties by detecting changes in the electromagnetic field's propagation characteristics through the fluid, rather than direct mechanical contact, preventing debris fouling.
2Length of stationary object
If a voltage signal is used for long-distance communication between sensor and controller, then the sensor can transmit data, but signal degradation occurs due to increased cable resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal transmission parameter from voltage to current. The sensor unit transmits data using current signals, which are less susceptible to degradation over long distances compared to voltage signals. This parameter change allows reliable communication over thousands of feet of cable length.
3Measurement precision
If a dielectric sensor system is used to detect fluid composition, then fluid composition can be measured, but the system complexity increases compared to simple level sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor system into separate functional units: a transmitter unit that generates the electromagnetic field, a receiver unit that detects field changes, and a controller unit that processes the signals. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality for composition measurement.
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 detects the presence and composition of fluids by determining the required transmit power for successful signal detection, reducing signal degradation and improving reliability, even over long distances, and can accurately determine fluid levels and mixtures in wells.
Implementation Method 1
the dielectric constant of a mixture of oil and water may increase as the fraction of water in the mixture increases
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid sensor system comprises a radio frequency transmitter with adjustable output power, a radio frequency detector proximal to the radio frequency transmitter; a constant current source, and a switch coupled between the radio frequency detector and the constant current source. A method of determining the identity of a fluid using the fluid sensor system includes immersing the sensor system in a first fluid, increasing a transmit power of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter of the fluid sensor system until an RF signal is detected by a RF detector of the fluid sensor system, and determining the transmit power of the RF transmitter that first resulted in a detection of the RF signal by the RF detector to be the transmit power that is required for detecting the RF signal in the first fluid.