Sensor with integral vortex tube for warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensors installed in environments where ice can form, such as aircraft or jet engines, often provide inaccurate readings due to ice coverage, as existing solutions like electrical heating can inadvertently heat the sensor, leading to errors.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly incorporating a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube enclosed within the sensor body, which separates compressed air into hot and cold streams, with the hotter stream being directed to warm the sensor body to prevent ice formation without heating the sensor directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical heating elements are used to prevent ice formation on the sensor, then ice prevention is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inadvertent heating of the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is divided into distinct functional zones: a sensor body housing that receives heating fluid, and a sensor element positioned to measure ambient air temperature. The heating fluid flows through channels in the sensor body housing without directly contacting the sensor element, separating the heating function from the measurement function while maintaining thermal isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
A heating fluid (such as air or gas) acts as an intermediary carrier of thermal energy. The heating fluid is heated separately and then circulated through the sensor body housing to provide thermal protection against ice formation, without directly heating the sensor element. This intermediary approach allows indirect heating of the housing while maintaining accurate sensor measurements.
2Reliability
If the sensor body is warmed to prevent ice formation, then reliability is improved, but temperature control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic heating system is employed where compressed air or gas is circulated through channels in the sensor body housing to provide heating. This approach uses readily available pneumatic systems already present in aircraft environments, avoiding the need for separate electrical heating elements and their associated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating fluid circulation system serves multiple functions: it prevents ice formation on the sensor body housing, provides thermal protection for the sensor element, and can be integrated with existing aircraft pneumatic systems. The same heating fluid that protects against ice can also serve other thermal management functions in the aircraft.
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
Effectively prevents ice formation on the sensor while maintaining accurate readings by warming the sensor body without inadvertently heating the sensor, potentially eliminating the need for electrical heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
The vortex tube may be a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube, which is a device that separates compressed air into a first stream that exits a first outlet and a second stream that exits a second outlet, where the first stream is hotter than the second stream
Implementation Method 2
The hotter first stream may be directed to the sensor body for warming the sensor body
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor assemblies and methods of de-icing or preventing ice formation are provided. Compressed air may be supplied to a vortex tube. The vortex tube may separate the compressed air into a first stream and a second stream, the first stream hotter than the second stream. A sensor body may be warmed by the first stream, and the second stream may be directed away from the sensor body.