Aircraft Temperature Sensor Assembly with Suction Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature sensors in aircraft engines face issues with accurately measuring fluid flow temperature due to heating effects that can lead to incorrect ambient air temperature readings, especially at varying angles of attack.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor assembly featuring a bluff body with a planar leading surface, concave surfaces, and an air injector that applies suction pressure to vents, guiding fluid flow through flow channels to position a sensor element for accurate temperature measurement, while preventing heated fluid from affecting downstream readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a heating element is disposed within the airfoil to heat the leading edge and prevent ice formation, then ice prevention is improved, but the temperature sensing accuracy deteriorates because the heated flow continues downstream and incorrectly heats the sensing element
Solution Approach 1:
The airfoil structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a heating zone with the heating element in the leading edge, and a separate sensing zone downstream. The sensing element is positioned in a region where unheated ambient flow is captured, physically separating the heating function from the sensing function to prevent thermal contamination of the measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the airfoil are assigned different thermal characteristics. The leading edge region has heating capability with the heating element, while the downstream sensing region is designed to capture and measure unheated ambient flow. This local differentiation ensures that the sensing zone remains thermally independent from the heated zones upstream.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor element is disposed downstream of the airfoil to measure fluid flow temperature, then the sensor can capture flow characteristics, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to heating effects from the airfoil surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing function is extracted from the heated flow path and placed in a separate unheated flow region. The sensing element captures ambient flow that has not been thermally contaminated by the airfoil heating element, effectively removing the thermal interference from the measurement process while maintaining the ability to measure flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The airfoil structure acts as an intermediary that directs and separates different flow paths. It channels heated flow over its surface while simultaneously capturing unheated ambient flow in a separate region for sensing. This intermediary structure enables the coexistence of heating and sensing functions without thermal contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the airfoil is aerodynamically shaped to guide fluid flow onto the sensing element, then flow guidance is improved, but thermal contamination of the sensor increases, reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic surface is segmented into a heating surface in the leading edge region and a separate sensing surface downstream. The heating surface guides heated flow over it, while the sensing surface is positioned to capture unheated ambient flow, creating distinct flow paths that prevent thermal contamination while maintaining effective flow guidance for 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
Enables accurate temperature sensing of fluid flow at large angles of attack and reduces ice formation by heating the fluid flow, ensuring precise measurements by aspirating heated portions before they reach the sensor.
Implementation Method 1
an air injector disposed within the body, where the air injector is configured to apply a suction pressure to the first plurality of vents and to the second plurality of vents
Implementation Method 2
a leading surface in thermal communication with the heated flow of air
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature sensor assembly includes a body configured to receive a heated flow of air therein. The body, in turn, includes a leading surface in thermal communication with the heated flow of air, a first concave surface including a first plurality of vents, a second concave surface including a second plurality of vents, and an air injector disposed within the body. The air injector is configured to apply a suction pressure to the first plurality of vents and to the second plurality of vents.