Patent Application
20230262851
The present disclosure relates to sensors, and in particular to sensors for measurements of thermophysical properties.
Current instrumentation for measurements of thermophysical properties include sensors with electrically conductive spiral or double spiral patterns. These sensors may in particular be used for transient measurements of thermal conductivity and diffusivity, where electricity is passed through the sensor to heat up a surrounding sample of material, and the sensor is used for recording the time-dependent temperature increase of the sample. The thermophysical properties of the sample are determined from the temperature data using thermal equations, which are a function of time, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity. However, the thermal equations assume that the sensor is a circular solid disk source with a constant sensor radius. Since current sensor designs do not perfectly approximate a circular solid disk source and contain hot spot areas that skew measurements, empirical corrections for the sensors must be developed to achieve analytical expressions that match experimental results.
For example, spiral sensors have one electrical lead at the outer edge and one at the center. The center electrical lead must still reach the outer edge of the sensor and thus causes significant deviation from idealized heat models as well as asymmetry between the upper and lower sides of the sensor. Double spiral sensors have both electrical leads at the edge, but at smaller diameters in particular contain more deviation from a perfect circle and also have a hot spot located at the center of the sensor. For double spiral sensors, the correction factor is chiefly achieved by having a fictional radius. For example, the sensor may be used in a transient measurement of a material with a known thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, the measured temperature curve is fitted to the thermal equation, and a radial correction may be obtained by evaluating the square root of the ratio of the known thermal diffusivity to the measured thermal diffusivity. The corrected radius is then used in place of the nominal radius in the thermal equation when performing calculations. For spiral sensors, the corrections can be more involved.
In the field of measurements of thermophysical properties, calibrations and corrections add to the level of uncertainty of the measurement result. Equipment that requires a smaller correction thus improves the level of certainty. Accordingly, sensors for measurements of thermophysical properties that require smaller empirical corrections between analytical calculations and experimental results remain highly desirable.
Features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a sensor for measuring thermophysical properties of a sample material is disclosed, comprising: a base; and an electrically conductive heating element provided on the base to define a circular shape, the electrically conductive heating element provided on the base in a pattern that maximizes uniformity of heat distribution from the electrically conductive heating element.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element comprises a plurality of adjacent traces, and wherein the uniformity of heat distribution from the electrically conductive heating element is maximized by minimizing a spacing between the plurality of adjacent traces.
In some aspects, a thickness of the electrically conductive heating element is optimized to minimize the thickness while maintaining a pre-defined sensor resistance.
In some aspects, the thickness of the electrically conductive heating element is substantially uniform.
In some aspects, a ratio of the electrically conductive heating element to a surface of the base is substantially uniform across the base.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element comprises a circular striped portion defining a plurality of heating element strips spaced apart in a first direction and extending in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein interior heating element strips are each coupled to respective adjacent heating element strips at respective ends thereof.
In some aspects, the sensor further comprises first and second electrical leads coupled to the electrically conductive heating element, wherein first and second heating element strips at respective sides in the first direction are respectively coupled to the first and second electrical leads at first ends thereof and are each coupled to a respective adjacent heating element strip at second ends thereof.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element further comprises an outer circular portion coupled to the first electrical lead, and wherein the first end of the first heating element strip is coupled to the outer circular portion.
In some aspects, the outer circular portion extends circumferentially around the circular striped portion, and defines a gap in proximity to the second electrical lead.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element further comprises a first inner circular portion coupled between the first end of the first heating element strip and the outer circular portion.
In some aspects, the first inner circular portion has an oscillating shape to fill a space between a first subset of the plurality of heating element strips and the outer circular portion.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element further comprises a second inner circular portion coupled to the second electrical lead, and wherein the first end of the second heating element strip is coupled to the second inner circular portion.
In some aspects, the second inner circular portion has an oscillating shape to fill a space between a second subset of the plurality of heating element strips and the outer circular portion.
In some aspects, the first electrical lead is disposed closer to the second heating element strip and the second electrical lead is disposed closer to the first heating element strip in the first direction.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element is etched onto the base.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element is made of nickel.
In some aspects, the electrically conductive heating element is made of platinum.
In some aspects, the base is made of an electrical insulating material.
In some aspects, the sensor further comprises a cover bonded to the base to secure the electrically conductive heating element in place.
In some aspects, the cover is made of an electrical insulating material.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, use of the sensor of any of the above aspects is disclosed for measuring thermophysical properties of a sample material.
The present disclosure provides a sensor for measurements of thermophysical properties having an electrically conductive heating element provided in a circular shape on a base. The electrically conductive heating element is provided on the base in a pattern that is designed to better approximate a perfect circle so that the sensor better represents a circular solid disk source as described in the thermal equations used for measuring thermophysical properties, and thus requires a smaller empirical correction, improving the accuracy and certainty of measurements. The pattern of the electrically conductive heating element on the base is designed to optimize uniformity of heat distribution, thereby avoiding hot spots and, where hot spots are unable to be avoided, evenly distributes such hot spots. In accordance with the present disclosure, the pattern of the electrically conductive heating element can be any pattern that provides an overall circular shape, and which increases the uniformity of heat distribution compared to existing sensor designs, which is achieved in part by: (i) keeping spacing between traces of the electrically conductive heating element as small as possible, as limited by manufacturers’ minimum spacing capabilities, and (ii) optimizing the thickness of the electrically conductive heating element. The thickness of the electrically conductive heating element should be substantially uniform to produce the same amount of heat. By keeping spacing between traces of the electrically conductive heating element as small as possible, more of the electrically conductive heating element can be disposed on the base. Further, the pattern of the electrically conductive heating element should be designed so that a ratio of the electrically conductive heating element to a surface of the base is substantially uniform across the base.
In one particular aspect of the present disclosure, the electrically conductive heating element may define a circular striped portion, which has a striped pattern defining a plurality of heating element strips spaced apart in a first direction and extending in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. First and second heating element strips at respective sides in the first direction are respectively coupled to first and second electrical leads at first ends thereof and are each coupled to a respective adjacent heating element strip at second ends thereof. Interior heating element strips are each coupled to respective adjacent heating element strips at respective ends thereof. The circular striped pattern of the electrically conductive heating element is one example of a pattern that maximizes uniformity of heat distribution from the electrically conductive heating element. Accordingly the sensor requires a smaller correction factor compared to other types of sensor designs in order to match the thermal equations being used in the measurement, and increases the level of certainty of the sensor measurements. The striped pattern of the electrically conductive heating element also helps to evenly distribute any local hotspots to around the edge of the sensor instead of at the center.
The sensor may be used as part of various equipment for performing measurements of thermophysical properties, including but not limited to transient measurements of thermal conductivity and diffusivity, determined for example using a transient plane source method.
Embodiments are described below, by way of example only, with reference to
In use, the sensor 100 is inserted into a sample material for measuring thermophysical properties of the material. The sensor 100 acts as both a heating and a heat-sensing item. The electrically conductive heating element 110 is configured to conduct electricity, which heats up the sensor and the surrounding sample material. The resistance of the electrically conductive heating element 110 is related to the temperature of the surrounding sample material. The electrically conductive heating element 110 may be made of an electrically conductive metal, such as nickel or platinum. The base 102 and the cover 104 may be made of an electrical insulating material such as Kapton®, mica, or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The base 102 and the cover 104 allow for the sample material to be heated by the electrically conductive heating element, while still providing a desired structural support for the electrically conductive heating element 110. Resistance recordings are taken during a measurement period for recording the time dependent temperature increase of the sample material. Electricity through the electrically conductive heating element is provided via electrical leads described in more detail herein below, and is controlled by a controller (not shown).
As described above, the electrically conductive heating element 110 is provided on the base 102 in a pattern that is designed to better approximate a perfect circle. Accordingly, the sensor better represents a circular solid disk source as described in the thermal equations used for measuring thermophysical properties, and the sensor thus requires a smaller empirical correction, improving the accuracy and certainty of measurements. The pattern of the electrically conductive heating element 110 on the base 102 is designed to optimize uniformity of heat distribution, thereby avoiding hot spots and, where hot spots are unable to be avoided, evenly distributes such hot spots. In accordance with the present disclosure, the pattern of the electrically conductive heating element 110 can be any pattern that provides an overall circular shape, and which increases the uniformity of heat distribution, which is achieved in part by: (i) keeping spacing between traces of the electrically conductive heating element as small as possible, as limited by manufacturers’ minimum spacing capabilities, and (ii) optimizing the thickness of the electrically conductive heating element. By keeping spacing between traces as small as possible, the uniformity of heat distribution tends to increase because there are not large gaps or unfilled spaces between adjacent traces. Further, thinner traces of the electrically conductive heating elements allow one to create a more even heat distribution. However, thinner traces result in a higher sensor resistance, and the sensor resistance should generally be kept to within a range of around 1 ohm to 50 ohms for the measurement device to function well in practice.
Based on the foregoing, the electrically conductive heating element 110 can be provided to define a circular shape on the base 102 in various patterns or designs that maximizes uniformity of heat distribution from the electrically conductive heating element.
As seen in
The electrically conductive heating element 110 is a single continuous element, and the plurality of heating element strips in the circular striped portion 114 are defined by the electrically conductive heating element 110 and formed by 180 degree turns of the heating element at ends of each heating element strip. The striped portion 114 defines a plurality of interior heating element strips, e.g. interior heating element strip 114n. Each of the interior heating element strips are coupled to respective adjacent heating element strips at respective ends thereof. For example, interior heating element strip 114n is coupled to heating element strip 114n-1 at a first end 114n′ thereof, and is coupled to heating element strip 114n+1 at a second end 114n″ thereof.
Further, the heating element strips 114a and 114z at respective sides of the striped portion 114 in the first direction (i.e. the “x” direction in
The heating element strips 114a and 114z may be coupled directly or indirectly to the respective first and second electrical leads 112a and 112b. In the example shown in
The outer circular portion 118 may be coupled to the first electrical lead 112a at connection 120, and the first end 114a′ of the heating element strip 114a is coupled to the outer circular portion 118. The outer circular portion 118 may extend circumferentially around the circular striped portion 114 and define a gap 122 that is in proximity to the second electrical lead 112b.
Note that in this design the first and second electrical leads 112a and 112b are disposed at opposite sides of the first and second heating element strips 114a and 114z in the first direction, with the first electrical lead 112a being disposed closer to the second heating element strip 114z, and the second electrical lead 112b being disposed closer to the first heating element strip 114a. That is, the first electrical lead 112a is disposed at the right-hand side in the x-direction, while the first heating element strip 114a coupled thereto is disposed at the left-hand side in the x-direction. Therefore, the outer circular portion 118, coupled to the first electrical lead 112a, is able to extend circumferentially around the circular striped portion 114 toward the first heating element strip 114a.
A first inner circular portion 116a may be coupled between the first end of the first heating element strip 114a and the outer circular portion 118. The first inner circular portion 116a is used to fill a space between a first subset of the plurality of heating element strips and the outer circular portion 118, and may have an oscillating shape to fill the empty space.
A second inner circular portion 116b may be coupled to the second electrical lead 112b at connection 124, and the first end of the second heating element strip 114z is coupled to the second electrical lead 112b. The second inner circular portion 116b may be disposed between the outer circular portion 118 and the circular striped portion 114, and extend through the gap 122 to connect to the second electrical lead 112b at connection 124. The second inner circular portion 116b may also have an oscillating shape to fill empty space between the outer circular portion 118 and a second subset of the plurality of heating element strips in the circular striped portion 114.
The sensor 100 as shown in
As can be seen from
Table 1 shows correction factors and idealness for measuring thermal diffusivity of conventional double spiral sensors vs. a striped sensor as described with reference to
The closer the correction factor is to 1.0 means the magnitude of correction is less, implying that the sensor performs well. The idealness percentage is a measurement of how close the effective sensor shape corresponds to an ideal circle in practice. As can be seen from Table 1, the striped sensor is more ideal and requires less correction than the double spiral sensor at the various radii. For example, a 3.2 mm radius sensor has a double spiral correction factor of ~1.8%, while the striped sensor has a ~0.03% correction factor for measuring thermal diffusivity. In the field of thermophysical properties, calibrations and corrections add to the level of uncertainty, and therefore a reduction of the required correction improves the certainty of the measurement method.
It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the system and components shown in the Figures may include components not shown in the drawings. For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, are only schematic and are non-limiting of the elements structures. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/310,634, filed on Feb. 16, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63310634 | Feb 2022 | US |
