Tube Wall Temperature Sensing With Compliant Heat-Transfer Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature-sensing devices for tubes or pipes suffer from low clamping force, poor heat transfer, and inaccurate temperature measurement due to thermal losses and large size, making them inefficient for measuring the temperature of fluid within the tube.
Innovation Solution
A clamp assembly with first and second bodies, featuring a heat transfer element and electrical connections, securely fastens over a tube to establish effective heat transfer between the tube wall and a thermal device, ensuring accurate temperature sensing or control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a clip-on device is used to measure tube wall temperature, then the device is easy to install, but the clamping force is low and temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates due to poor heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is divided into first and second clamp bodies that can be separately positioned and fastened around the tube, allowing for distributed clamping force application and better thermal contact without requiring a single large clamp structure
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer element is pre-configured within the clamp assembly before installation, ensuring optimal thermal contact geometry is established in advance, which improves heat transfer efficiency when the clamp is fastened to the tube
2Measurement precision
If a heat sensitive element is clamped to a tube, then temperature sensing is enabled, but thermal losses occur due to poor heat transfer and large size of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer element is designed with locally optimized thermal conductivity properties, using high thermal conductivity materials specifically at the contact interface with the tube while other parts of the clamp assembly use different materials for structural support, minimizing thermal losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical thermal contact (relying on clamp pressure alone) with a dedicated heat transfer element that provides both mechanical contact and optimized thermal conduction path, reducing thermal losses through improved heat transfer mechanics
3Ease of operation
If a traditional clamp assembly is used, then the device can be installed on the tube, but the device size is large which causes thermal losses to the fluid or element being measured
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer element is nested within the clamp assembly structure, with the thermal sensing element positioned inside the cavity formed by the first and second clamp bodies, allowing the sensing element to be protected while maintaining close thermal contact with the tube and reducing overall device footprint
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 clamp assembly provides high thermal conductivity and accurate temperature measurement by minimizing thermal losses and ensuring consistent contact with the tube wall, allowing for precise temperature monitoring or control of fluid temperature.
Implementation Method 1
the heat transfer element configured to contact an outer surface of a clamped element therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is an apparatus and method for sensing the temperature of a tubing wall, and inferentially the temperature of a fluid within the tubing. The apparatus includes first and second clamp bodies, the first clamp body comprising a heat transfer element and a first and a second electrical connection connected thereto, the second clamp body connectable to the first clamp body to form a clamping cavity therebetween within which a clamped element having a wall is securable, the heat transfer element configured to contact an outer surface of a clamped element therebetween. The heat transfer element may include a thermally conductive compliant element extending through one of the clamp bodies and inwardly of the clamping cavity.