Fluid Identification Device and Fluid Identification Method

• US 20080184775A1
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakamura, Toshimi, Kubota, Akiko, Yanagi, Kiyotaka, Yamagishi, Kiyoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/857,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/25.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/185 using a catharometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2829 mixtures of fuels, e.g. determining the RON-number

Abstract

A fluid identification device includes a fluid detection part which is equipped with a temperature detector for fluid detection and a heating element disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detector and disposed on the identification target fluid side, a fluid detection circuit connected to the fluid detection part and an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on the output of the fluid detection circuit are contained in an identification sensor module main body.

Claims

1. An identification sensor module containing, in an identification sensor module main body,

a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and is disposed on the identification target fluid side,

a fluid detection circuit connected to the fluid detection part, and

an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit.

28. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid detection part is disposed in contact with the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side in such a manner that the fluid detection part is not exposed from the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side.

29. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid detection part is disposed in such a manner that at least a part of the fluid detection part is exposed from the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side.

30. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 29, wherein the exposed portion of the fluid detection part is covered with a hydrophilic film or a filter.

31. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification sensor module main body is a container, and the container is constituted of a container main body located on the identification target fluid side and a cap located on the opposite side to the identification target fluid side.

32. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 31, wherein the container main body is made of a metal.

33. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of the fluid detection circuit and the identification operation part are incorporated into an IC.

34. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid detection part is constructed by embedding a thin film chip for fluid detection, which is obtained by forming a temperature detector for fluid detection made of a thin film on a chip substrate, in a synthetic resin mold so that one surface of the thin film chip may be exposed, and

the thin film chip for fluid detection is disposed so that the one surface thereof may be located on the identification target fluid side of the identification sensor module main body.

35. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the identification sensor module main body, a fluid temperature detection part having a temperature detector for fluid temperature detection is contained,

the fluid detection circuit is connected to the temperature detector for fluid temperature detection, and

the fluid temperature detection part is disposed in the identification target fluid.

36. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 35, wherein the fluid temperature detection part is disposed in contact with the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side in such a manner that the fluid temperature detection part is not exposed from the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side.

37. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 35, wherein the fluid temperature detection part is disposed in such a manner that at least a part of the fluid temperature detection part is exposed from the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side.

38. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 37, wherein the exposed portion of the fluid temperature detection part is covered with a hydrophilic film or a filter.

39. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 38, wherein the fluid temperature detection part is constructed by embedding a thin film chip for fluid temperature detection, which is obtained by forming a temperature detector for fluid temperature detection made of a thin film on a chip substrate, in a synthetic resin mold so that one surface of the thin film chip may be exposed, and

the thin film chip for fluid temperature detection is disposed so that the one surface thereof may be located on the identification target fluid side of the identification sensor module main body.

40. A fluid identification device having the identification sensor module of claim 1.

41. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 40, wherein a measuring target fluid inlet part whose both ends are open is formed through the region close to the fluid detection part and the fluid temperature detection part, and a difference in position in the vertical direction between the fluid detection part and the fluid temperature detection part in a measuring target fluid inlet passage is not more than 2 mm.

42. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the identification sensor module is installed in a waterproof case, and

the identification sensor module is disposed in such a manner that the identification sensor module main body on the fluid detection part side is exposed from the waterproof case on the identification target fluid side.

43. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the identification sensor module is disposed in such a manner that the identification sensor module main body on the fluid detection part side protrudes from the waterproof case on the identification target fluid side.

44. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the identification sensor module main body is a container, the container is constituted of a container main body located on the identification target fluid side and a cap located on the opposite side to the identification target fluid side, and a joint between the container main body and the cap is disposed inside the waterproof case.

45. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the waterproof case has a cover member that covers the identification sensor module main body on the identification target fluid side, and inside the cover member, a passage of the identification target fluid is formed.

46. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein a fluid level sensor module for detecting a fluid level of an identification target fluid is installed in the waterproof case.

47. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein a power circuit part is encased in the waterproof case.

48. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 42, wherein a waterproof wiring extends out of the waterproof case.

49. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the identification of the identification target fluid is at least one of fluid type identification, concentration identification, identification of presence of fluid, identification of fluid temperature, flow rate identification, detection of leak of fluid and fluid level identification.

50. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the identification target fluid is any one of a hydrocarbon type liquid, an alcohol type liquid and a urea aqueous solution.

51. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which is constructed so that detection of a flow rate of the fluid may be performed based on an electrical property value of the temperature detector for fluid detection and an electrical property value of the temperature detector for fluid temperature detection, and identification of a fluid type may be performed by measuring electrical conductivity between the fluid detection part and the fluid temperature detection part.

52. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which is constructed so as to perform identification of a fluid type of the identification target fluid by:

disposing the fluid identification device in a fluid type identification chamber,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element of the fluid detection part for a given period of time to heat the identification target fluid, which is temporarily staying in the fluid type identification chamber, by means of the heating element of the fluid detection part, and

identifying the fluid type of the identification target fluid by a voltage output difference corresponding to the temperature difference between the initial temperature of the temperature detector for fluid detection and the peak temperature thereof.

53. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which has:

a main passage through which the identification target fluid flows,

a sub-passage diverged from the main passage,

the fluid identification device installed in the sub-passage,

a sub-passage on-off valve which is installed in the sub-passage and controls flow of the identification target fluid to the fluid identification device, and

a control device to control the fluid identification device and the sub-passage on-off valve,

wherein the control device is constructed so as to perform control in such a manner that;

in the identification of the identification target fluid, the control device closes the sub-passage on-off valve to allow the identification target fluid to temporarily stay in the fluid identification device and identifies the identification target fluid, and

in the detection of a flow rate of the identification target fluid, the control device opens the sub-passage on-off valve to allow the identification target fluid to flow to the fluid identification device and detects the flow rate of the identification target fluid.

54. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which has:

a fluid identification detection chamber in which the identification target fluid is allowed to temporarily stay,

the identification sensor module of the fluid identification device, which is placed in the fluid identification detection chamber, and

a flow control plate which is placed in the fluid identification detection chamber and surrounds the identification sensor module.

55. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which is constructed so as to perform identification of a concentration of the identification target fluid by:

disposing the fluid identification device in a fluid type identification chamber,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element of the fluid detection part for a given period of time to heat the identification target fluid, which is temporarily staying in the fluid type identification chamber, by means of the heating element of the fluid detection part, and

identifying the concentration of the identification target fluid by a voltage output difference corresponding to the temperature difference between the initial temperature of the temperature detector for fluid detection and the peak temperature thereof.

56. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which is placed in a measuring fine tube at the lower end of which the identification target fluid in a tank is introduced or discharged, and performs detection of leak of the identification target fluid from the tank by:

obtaining an output corresponding to a difference between temperatures detected by the temperature detector for fluid detection in the fluid detection part and the temperature detector for fluid temperature detection in the fluid temperature detection part,

detecting a specific gravity of the identification target fluid in the tank based on a flow rate-corresponding value corresponding to a flow rate of the identification target fluid that is calculated using the above-obtained output,

measuring a fluid level of the identification target fluid by the fluid level sensor module using the resulting specific gravity value, and detecting leak of the identification target fluid from the tank based on the magnitude of a time change rate of the fluid level.

57. The fluid identification device as claimed in claim 49, which is constructed so as to perform detection of a fluid level of the identification target fluid by:

detecting a fluid pressure of the identification target fluid by the fluid level sensor module and calculating a temporary fluid level value based on the fluid pressure on the assumption that the identification target fluid is a fluid of a given density,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element of the fluid detection part for a given period of time to identify a concentration of the identification target fluid by means of the heating element of the fluid detection part,

obtaining a density value of the identification target fluid based on the relationship between the identified concentration and the density of the identification target fluid, and

calculating the fluid level of the identification target fluid based on the temporary fluid level value and the density value.

58. A device for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated, which is a device equipped with the fluid identification device of claim 40 and for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated from an identification target liquid comprising urea water, ammonium formate water or mixed water thereof, wherein the quantity of ammonia generated is measured by:

using a sensor equipped with a heating element and a temperature detector disposed in the vicinity of the heating element,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element for a given period of time to heat the measuring target liquid by means of the heating element,

then, by an electrical output corresponding to electrical resistance of the temperature detector, measuring a thermal conductivity-corresponding output value which is an electrical output of the temperature detector dependent on the thermal conductivity of the measuring target liquid,

measuring a density-corresponding output value which is an electrical output dependent on the density of the measuring target liquid, using a differential pressure sensor,

calculating a urea concentration X % by weight and an ammonium formate concentration Y % by weight of the measuring target liquid, from the relationship between the thermal conductivity-corresponding output value and the density-corresponding output value,

calculating a urea quantity A and an ammonium formate quantity B contained in the measuring target liquid, from the concentration and the quantity of the measuring target liquid, and

determining the quantity of ammonia generated, by the following formula;

Quantity of ammonia generated=X×

A+Y×

B

59. A device for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated, which is a device equipped with the fluid identification device of claim 40 and for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated from an identification target liquid comprising urea water, ammonium formate water or mixed water thereof, wherein the quantity of ammonia generated is measured by:

using a sensor equipped with a heating element and a temperature detector disposed in the vicinity of the heating element,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element for a given period of time to heat the measuring target liquid by means of the heating element,

then, by an electrical output corresponding to electrical resistance of the temperature detector, measuring a thermal conductivity-corresponding output value which is an electrical output of the temperature detector dependent on the thermal conductivity of the measuring target liquid,

measuring a density-corresponding output value which is an electrical output dependent on the density of the measuring target liquid, using a differential pressure sensor,

calculating a urea concentration X % by weight and an ammonium formate concentration Y % by weight of the measuring target liquid, from the relationship between the thermal conductivity-corresponding output value and the density-corresponding output value,

calculating a urea quantity A and an ammonium formate quantity B contained in the measuring target liquid, from the concentration and the quantity of the measuring target liquid, and

determining the quantity of ammonia generated, by the following formula;

Quantity of ammonia generated=X×

A+Y×

B

60. A method for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated, which is a method for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated from an identification target liquid comprising urea water, ammonium formate water or mixed water thereof, using the fluid identification device of claim 40, and comprises:

using a sensor equipped with a heating element and a temperature detector disposed in the vicinity of the heating element,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element for a given period of time to heat the measuring target liquid by means of the heating element,

then, by an electrical output corresponding to electrical resistance of the temperature detector, measuring a thermal conductivity-corresponding output value which is an electrical output of the temperature detector dependent on the thermal conductivity of the measuring target liquid, and measuring a kinematic viscosity-corresponding output value which is an electrical output of the temperature detector dependent on the kinematic viscosity of the measuring target liquid,

calculating a urea concentration X % by weight and an ammonium formate concentration Y % by weight of the measuring target liquid, from the relationship between the thermal conductivity-corresponding output value and the kinematic viscosity-corresponding output value,

calculating a urea quantity A and an ammonium formate quantity B contained in the measuring target liquid, from the concentration and the quantity of the measuring target liquid, and

determining the quantity of ammonia generated, by the following formula;

Quantity of ammonia generated=X×

A+Y×

B

61. A method for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated, which is a method for measuring a quantity of ammonia generated from a measuring target liquid comprising urea water, ammonium formate water or mixed water thereof, using the fluid identification device of claim 40, and comprises:

using a sensor equipped with a heating element and a temperature detector disposed in the vicinity of the heating element,

applying a pulse voltage to the heating element for a given period of time to heat the measuring target liquid by means of the heating element,

then, by an electrical output corresponding to electrical resistance of the temperature detector, measuring a thermal conductivity-corresponding output value which is an electrical output of the temperature detector dependent on the thermal conductivity of the measuring target liquid,

measuring a density-corresponding output value which is an electrical output dependent on the density of the measuring target liquid, using a differential pressure sensor,

calculating a urea concentration X % by weight and an ammonium formate concentration Y % by weight of the measuring target liquid, from the relationship between the thermal conductivity-corresponding output value and the density-corresponding output value,

calculating a urea quantity A and an ammonium formate quantity B contained in the measuring target liquid, from the concentration and the quantity of the measuring target liquid, and

determining the quantity of ammonia generated, by the following formula;

Quantity of ammonia generated=X×

A+Y×

B

62. A fluid identification method comprising performing identification of an identification target fluid using the fluid identification device of claim 40.

2. An identification sensor module containing, in an identification sensor module main body,

a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and a heating element disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detector for fluid detection and which is disposed on the identification target fluid side,

a fluid detection circuit connected to the fluid detection part, and

an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit.

3. An identification sensor module containing, in all identification sensor module main body,

a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and is disposed on the identification target fluid side,

a fluid detection circuit connected to the fluid detection part, and

an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit,

wherein the fluid detection part has a chip for fluid detection comprising the temperature detector for fluid detection and a lead one end of which is electrically connected to the chip for fluid detection and the other end of which is connected to a substrate of the fluid detection circuit, and

the lead has a spring structure.

5. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the other end of the lead connected to a substrate of the fluid detection circuit is constructed so as to penetrate the substrate from the front surface to the back surface and so as to project from the back surface.

6. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the fluid detection part, the chip for fluid detection is embedded in a synthetic resin mold, and one end of the lead is connected to the synthetic resin mold.

7. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spring structure of the lead is constructed so as to bias the synthetic resin mold toward the inner surface of the identification sensor module main body.

8. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring structure of the lead comprises a plate spring.

9. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lead has a first linear portion close to the one end, a second linear portion located on the extension of the first linear portion and close to the other end, and a bent portion located between the first linear portion and the second linear portion.

4. An identification sensor module containing, in an identification sensor module main body,

a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and a heating element disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detector for fluid detection and which is disposed on the identification target fluid side,

a fluid detection circuit connected to the fluid detection part, and

an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit,

wherein the fluid detection part has a chip for fluid detection comprising the temperature detector for fluid detection and a lead one end of which is electrically connected to the chip for fluid detection and the other end of which is connected to a substrate of the fluid detection circuit, and

the lead has a spring structure.

10. An identification sensor module containing, in an identification sensor module main body,

a fluid detection part having a temperature detector for fluid detection,

a fluid detection circuit comprising the temperature detector for fluid detection, and

an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit,

wherein the identification sensor module main body is provided with a protruded portion which protrudes toward the outside of the identification sensor module main body correspondingly to the position at which the fluid detection part is disposed.

11. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shape of the protruded portion is any one of circular, elliptical, elongated circular and rectangular shapes.

12. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 10, wherein a depressed portion is formed on the interior side of the identification sensor module main body correspondingly to the protruded portion.

13. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the shape of the depressed portion is any one of circular, elliptical, elongated circular and rectangular shapes.

14. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fluid detection part is disposed in contact with the inner surface of the depressed portion.

15. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the depth of the depressed portion is larger than a smaller dimension between dimensions of the depressed portion in the direction crossing the depth direction at right angles.

16. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fluid detection part has a chip for fluid detection comprising the temperature detector for fluid detection, a synthetic resin mold in which the chip for fluid detection is embedded, and a lead one end of which is connected to the synthetic resin mold and is electrically connected to the chip for fluid detection, and

the synthetic resin mold is disposed in the depressed portion.

17. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fluid detection part is disposed in such a manner that the chip for fluid detection is in contact with the inner surface of the depressed portion.

18. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 17, wherein the chip for fluid detection is in contact with the side surface of the depressed portion.

19. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the other end of the lead is connected to a substrate of the fluid detection circuit, and the lead has a spring structure which biases the synthetic resin mold toward the bottom surface of the depressed portion.

20. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 19, wherein the spring structure of the lead is constructed so as to bias the synthetic resin mold toward the bottom surface of the depressed portion.

21. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 19, wherein the spring structure comprises a plate spring.

22. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lead has:

a first linear portion close to the one end,

a second linear portion located on the extension of the first linear portion and close to the other end, and

a bent portion located between the first linear portion and the second linear portion.

23. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fluid detection part has a temperature detector for fluid detection and a beating element disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detector for fluid detection.

24. An identification sensor module comprising a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and is disposed on the identification target fluid side and a fluid temperature detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid temperature detection, said fluid detection part and said fluid temperature detection part being disposed so as to be side by side apart from each other at a given distance in the horizontal direction to the fluid level of an identification target fluid.

26. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 24, wherein to the fluid detection part is connected a fluid detection circuit, and an identification operation part which performs identification of an identification target fluid based on an output of the fluid detection circuit is installed.

27. The identification sensor module as claimed in claim 24, wherein a difference in position in the vertical direction between the fluid detection part and the fluid temperature detection part which are disposed so as to be side by side apart from each other at a given distance in the horizontal direction is not more than 2 mm.

25. An identification sensor module comprising a fluid detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid detection and a heating element disposed in the vicinity of the temperature detector for fluid detection and which is disposed on the identification target fluid side and a fluid temperature detection part which has a temperature detector for fluid temperature detection, said fluid detection part and said fluid temperature detection part being disposed so as to be side by side apart from each other at a given distance in the horizontal direction to the fluid level of an identification target fluid.