Ultrasonic Conductivity Sensor Assembly for Fluid Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor assemblies for measuring fluid properties, such as temperature and conductivity, face challenges including time delays between measurements, limited resolution, and high signal noise, which can lead to inaccurate water purity assessments, especially when processes change quickly.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly combining elongated electrodes for conductivity measurement and ultrasonic transceivers for temperature measurement, where the electrodes and transceivers are strategically positioned across a measurement section to provide real-time, accurate fluid parameter analysis, with the ultrasonic method offering instantaneous temperature measurement without time delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If classical temperature sensors are used for temperature measurement, then the sensor structure is simple and cost-effective, but the measurement resolution is limited and signal noise is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces classical mechanical temperature sensors with ultrasonic transceivers that measure temperature through acoustic wave propagation speed. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact and associated noise, providing higher resolution temperature measurements without significant structural complexity increase, as the ultrasonic components can be integrated into the existing sensor housing.
2Loss of time
If classical temperature sensors are used, then the device is simple to implement, but time delays occur between temperature and conductivity measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature measurement and conductivity measurement functions into a single integrated sensor assembly. Both ultrasonic transceivers and electrodes are positioned within the same measurement section, allowing simultaneous measurement of both parameters in the same fluid volume without time delays, thereby improving correlation accuracy for processes changing rapidly.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic transceivers provide continuous temperature measurement capability with no inherent measurement cycle delays. The system continuously monitors temperature and conductivity simultaneously, ensuring that temperature data is always current and correlated accurately with conductivity measurements even during rapid process transitions.
3Measurement precision
If separate temperature and conductivity sensors are used, then each sensor can be optimized independently, but the overall measurement accuracy deteriorates due to timing mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines temperature measurement (via ultrasonic transceivers) and conductivity measurement (via electrodes) into a single integrated sensor assembly with both measurement functions operating simultaneously in the same measurement section. This merging ensures that temperature and conductivity data are captured at the exact same moment, eliminating timing mismatches and improving the accuracy of real-time fluid purity assessments.
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 enables precise and timely measurement of fluid conductivity and temperature, improving the accuracy of fluid purity assessment and overcoming limitations of classical temperature sensors by providing simultaneous and noise-free data, even during rapid process changes.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of ultrasonic transceivers mounted to the body in spaced relationship across the measurement section
Implementation Method 2
the pair of ultrasonic transceivers are used to determine temperature of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
The sensor body has a plurality of elongated electrodes disposed about the longitudinal axis defining a measurement section
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly is provided for conductivity measurement and ultrasonic temperature measurement. The assembly includes an elongated sensor body aligned along a longitudinal axis extending from an electronics housing. The sensor body has a plurality of elongated electrodes disposed about the longitudinal axis defining a measurement section, and a pair of ultrasonic transceivers mounted to the body in spaced relationship across the measurement section, in which a first transceiver of the pair is attached to a proximal end of the sensor body and a second transceiver of the pair is attached to a distal end of the sensor body across the measurement section. The electronics housing is in operable communication with the plurality of electrodes and to the pair of ultrasonic transceivers to measure fluid parameters within the measurement section.