Temperature Sensor Assembly Welded Metal Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature sensor arrangements in metallurgical plants suffer from signal quality issues due to splices, are not temperature-resistant, and prone to mechanical stress, as they have multiple fiber breaks and use components that cannot withstand high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor arrangement featuring an optical waveguide with fiber Bragg gratings directly connected to a metal or metal alloy plug, eliminating splices and using a protective tube with radial play for improved signal quality, increased robustness, and enhanced temperature resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a splice connection is used to connect the optical fiber with fiber Bragg gratings to the patch cable, then the temperature sensor arrangement can be assembled, but the signal quality deteriorates due to the additional temperature-sensitive connection point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical waveguide with the sensor housing into a single integrated component. The optical waveguide is directly embedded in the sensor housing without requiring separate splice connections or patch cables, thereby eliminating temperature-sensitive connection points and improving signal quality while reducing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the patch cable and splice connection from the temperature sensor arrangement. By removing these intermediate components, the design achieves a direct connection between the optical waveguide and the evaluation device, eliminating the harmful temperature-sensitive connection point
2Temperature
If conventional patch cables and splices are used in the temperature sensor arrangement, then the assembly can be constructed, but the arrangement cannot withstand high temperatures in metallurgical plant applications
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide is integrated directly into the sensor housing as a single high-temperature-resistant component. This merging eliminates the need for separate patch cables and splices that cannot withstand high temperatures, allowing the entire sensor assembly to operate reliably in high-temperature metallurgical environments
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor housing is constructed from high-temperature-resistant materials that can withstand metallurgical plant operating conditions. The integrated optical waveguide structure is designed to maintain its mechanical and optical properties at elevated temperatures, eliminating the temperature limitations of conventional patch cable assemblies
3Strength
If splice connections are used in the optical fiber path, then the temperature sensor arrangement can be assembled, but the spliced connection cannot absorb tensile loads and leads to tearing of the patch cable or optical waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide is permanently integrated into the sensor housing as a single rigid structure. This merging eliminates the flexible patch cable and splice connection that are vulnerable to tensile loads, creating a mechanically robust assembly that can withstand the mechanical stresses of installation and operation without cable tearing or connection failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the vulnerable patch cable and splice connection from the system. By eliminating these flexible, load-sensitive components, the design achieves a rigid, mechanically strong structure where the optical waveguide is permanently fixed in the sensor housing, capable of withstanding tensile loads during installation and operation
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 solution provides improved signal quality, increased robustness against mechanical stress, and temperature resistance, resulting in a more compact, cost-effective, and reliable temperature measurement system for metallurgical plants.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical waveguide with fiber Bragg gratings formed on the optical waveguide at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide
Implementation Method 2
at least one protective tube surrounding the optical waveguide with radial play and consisting of a metal or a metal alloy
Implementation Method 3
The connecting sleeve (4) is passed through an end section of the optical waveguide (5) inserted into the plug (3) and is welded to the protective tube (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a temperature sensor arrangement (1) for measuring the temperature of a component section (7) of a component (6) of a metallurgical plant, comprising at least one optical waveguide (5) with fiber Bragg gratings formed on the optical waveguide (5) spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide (5), at least one protective tube (2) made of a metal or a metal alloy surrounding the optical waveguide (5) with radial clearance, which together with the optical waveguide (5) inserted therein can be inserted into a sensor bore (8) on the component section (7), and at least one connector (3) for connecting the optical waveguide (5) to an optoelectronic sensor electronics.To provide a temperature-resistant, compact and cost-effective temperature sensor assembly (1) with improved signal quality, the connector (3) has a connecting sleeve (4) made of a metal or metal alloy through which an end section of the optical fiber (5) inserted into the connector (3) is passed and which is welded to the protective tube (2).