Moving Strand Temperature Measurement with Thermal Image Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for contactless temperature measurement of moving glass fibers or wires, such as those in drawing towers, are not precise and reliable due to rapid movement, high-frequency vibrations, defocusing, and the similarity in thermal radiation between the strands and background, leading to measurement errors and inefficiencies in cooling and coating processes.
Innovation Solution
A method using a spatially resolving thermal imaging sensor that integrates the entire measured value range, including both the strand and background radiator, to determine the temperature by comparing this integral with a reference value, allowing for accurate temperature measurement independent of focusing, movement, and position deviations, even for thin strands with small diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If thermal imaging camera is used to measure strand temperature, then non-contact temperature measurement is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to rapid movement and vibrations of the strand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant thermal signal from the strand by using a narrowband filter that selectively passes wavelengths where the strand has high emissivity. This filters out background radiation and focuses measurement on the strand's thermal emission, enabling accurate temperature measurement despite movement and vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameter by selecting a specific wavelength range (narrowband) where the strand material has characteristic high emissivity. This parameter selection optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio and allows accurate temperature measurement even when the strand moves rapidly through the measurement field.
2Loss of information
If thermal imaging camera measures strand temperature, then temperature data is obtained, but reliability deteriorates due to defocusing and non-orthogonal orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from broadband to narrowband spectral measurement, selecting wavelengths where the strand has high and stable emissivity. This spectral parameter change makes the measurement less sensitive to geometric variations, defocusing, and orientation issues, thereby improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the strand's thermal radiation and uses feedback control to adjust measurement parameters, ensuring consistent temperature data acquisition despite variations in strand position, focus, or orientation during the drawing process.
3Device complexity
If thermal imaging camera with standard resolution is used, then measurement device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates for thin strands smaller than optical resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameter to narrowband measurement at wavelengths where the thin strand has high emissivity. This allows accurate temperature measurement of sub-resolution strands because the thermal signal is integrated over the narrow spectral band, enhancing the detectability of thin objects without requiring higher spatial resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for high spatial resolution (mechanical/optical complexity) with spectral resolution. By measuring in a narrow wavelength band where the strand has characteristic emission properties, the system achieves accurate temperature measurement of thin strands without requiring complex high-resolution optics.
4Temperature
If cooling section operates with helium to cool glass fiber, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but operating costs increase due to expensive helium consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring the glass fiber temperature during the drawing process and using this information to optimize cooling section operation. This allows precise temperature control that minimizes helium consumption while maintaining effective cooling, thereby reducing operating costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement system provides advance information about the glass fiber temperature before it reaches the cooling section, allowing the cooling system to be pre-adjusted to optimal settings. This preliminary action ensures efficient cooling with minimal helium consumption from the start.
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
This approach provides precise and reliable temperature measurement of moving strands, minimizing measurement errors and enabling efficient cooling and coating processes by maintaining consistent temperature, even under conditions of defocusing, vibration, and varying distances between the strand and thermal imaging sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a spatially resolving thermal imaging sensor is used to image the strand in front of the background light source
Implementation Method 2
an integral is formed over the measurement range of the thermal imaging sensor that completely captures the strand section located in front of the background light source at all times, and the temperature of the strand is determined by comparing the formed integral with a reference value
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the temperature of a strand (10), characterized by the steps: - the strand (10) is conveyed in the direction of its longitudinal axis along a background radiator (16) of known temperature, - the strand (10) is conveyed during conveyance recorded with a spatially resolving thermal image sensor (12) in front of the background radiator (16), - the integral is formed over a measured value range of the thermal image sensor (12) that completely detects the strand section located in front of the background radiator (16) at all times, - from a comparison of the formed integral with a reference value is used to determine the temperature of the strand (10).