Solar Sensor Dome Contamination Detection via Total Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar radiation observing sensors face contamination issues on their glass domes due to internal condensation and external dust, which can occur unexpectedly and affect observation quality, requiring real-time monitoring and accurate detection.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that uses a light source to induce total internal reflection in the glass dome, a light-collecting lens to gather diffusely reflected light, and a contamination-detecting sensor to measure and compare natural and artificial light levels to determine contamination position and degree, regardless of the light-collecting lens's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a glass dome is used to protect the solar radiation observing sensor, then the sensor is protected from damage, but contamination occurs on the glass dome surface affecting observation quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing a light source and light-collecting lens system before contamination occurs to enable real-time detection. The light source illuminates the glass dome surface, and the light-collecting lens captures reflected light to detect contamination before it significantly affects solar radiation measurements, allowing preventive maintenance scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a contamination-detecting sensor to continuously monitor the glass dome surface condition. The sensor detects changes in light reflection patterns caused by contamination and provides real-time feedback signals to indicate when cleaning or maintenance is required, creating a closed-loop monitoring system.
2Measurement precision
If cleaning is done periodically to resolve contamination, then observation quality is maintained, but unexpected contamination between scheduled maintenances affects measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time monitoring system provides continuous feedback on contamination levels, enabling dynamic adjustment of maintenance schedules based on actual conditions rather than fixed time intervals. This allows extension of time between maintenances when contamination is minimal while triggering immediate cleaning when contamination thresholds are exceeded.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the contamination detection apparatus autonomously tracks glass dome condition and generates alerts when cleaning is needed, eliminating the need for manual inspection and allowing the system to self-manage its own maintenance requirements based on actual contamination levels.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional drying agents or vacuum methods are used to prevent internal condensation, then condensation is reduced, but the quality of observation is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the condensation problem from the internal environment by focusing detection efforts on the external glass dome surface where contamination primarily occurs. The light source and sensor system is positioned to illuminate and detect surface contamination without requiring internal modification of the glass dome environment, thus avoiding interference with solar radiation measurements while still addressing the contamination issue.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a ventilator is used to blow wind to prevent dust accumulation, then dust accumulation is minimized, but dust tightly stuck by rain or snow is difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ventilator system with an optical detection system. Instead of using mechanical wind to remove dust, the system uses light sources and light-collecting lenses to detect dust and contamination on the glass dome surface, providing reliable detection of contamination regardless of the type or strength of adhesion.
5Measurement precision
If real-time contamination monitoring is implemented, then contamination position and degree are accurately recognized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the light source and light-collecting lens at specific locations on the glass dome surface where contamination is most likely to occur and be detectable. The system focuses illumination and detection on critical areas rather than uniformly covering the entire dome, reducing the number of components needed while maintaining high detection accuracy for contamination position and degree.
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 real-time detection and accurate assessment of contamination on the glass dome, allowing for timely calibration and minimizing the impact on solar radiation measurements.
Implementation Method 1
artificial light emitted from the light source is allowed to be incident on the medium of the glass dome at a predetermined angle and thus the artificial light incident on the medium of the glass dome is allowed to undergo total internal reflection within the medium of the glass dome
Implementation Method 2
a contamination-detecting sensor configured to detect contamination, wherein the contamination-detecting sensor measures the natural light and the artificial light collected by the light-collecting lens
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for detecting the contamination on the glass dome of the solar radiation observing sensor. The apparatus includes: the solar radiation observing sensor; the glass dome; a light source, wherein artificial light emitted from the light source is allowed to be incident on the medium of the glass dome at a predetermined angle and thus the artificial light incident on the medium of the glass dome is allowed to undergo total internal reflection; a light-collecting lens configured to collect natural light and a diffusedly-reflected part of the artificial light; and a contamination-detecting sensor configured to detect contamination, wherein the contamination-detecting sensor measures the natural light and the diffusedly-reflected part of the artificial light collected by the light-collecting lens.