초록 ▼

A device and a method for detecting deposits (9) on walls (2) that are covered by a medium, in which as sensor (1) is integrated in the wall (2). A component (3) of the sensor (1) locally heats the medium in a region (4), and the temperature of the medium around the component (3) is detected. The se

A device and a method for detecting deposits (9) on walls (2) that are covered by a medium, in which as sensor (1) is integrated in the wall (2). A component (3) of the sensor (1) locally heats the medium in a region (4), and the temperature of the medium around the component (3) is detected. The sensor (1) relays temperature measurement signals to an analysis unit (8), where the degree of deposit formation is determined, e.g., by comparison with stored reference data.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for detecting the presence of deposits on a wall which is covered by a medium, said device comprising: a sensor integrated in or placed on the wall, said sensor including a heating element for heating the medium in an area surrounding the heating element, and said sensor detecting a temp

1. A device for detecting the presence of deposits on a wall which is covered by a medium, said device comprising: a sensor integrated in or placed on the wall, said sensor including a heating element for heating the medium in an area surrounding the heating element, and said sensor detecting a temperature of said medium in the heated area or a temperature of the heating element; andan evaluation unit operatively connected to said sensor for receiving detected temperature signals from said sensor; said evaluation unit determining a degree of deposit formation on the wall by comparing received temperature signals with predetermined reference temperature data,wherein the heating element of the sensor locally heats the medium during a test measurement in which the detected temperature signals are generated to a temperature corresponding to a temperature generated in a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation based on a difference in heating intensity required to attain the temperature in the test measurement and the temperature generated in the reference measurement. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a test measurement in which the detected temperature signals are generated corresponds to a heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation from a difference between a period, obtained from the test measurement, for a predetermined temperature response during at least one of heating by the heating element and cooling after heating by the heating element, and a period, obtained from the reference measurement, for the predetermined temperature response during at least one of heating by the heating element and cooling after heating by the heating element. 3. A device for detecting the presence of deposits on a wall which is covered by a medium, said device comprising: a sensor integrated in or placed on the wall, said sensor including a heating element for heating the medium in an area surrounding the heating element, and said sensor detecting a temperature of said medium in the heated area or a temperature of the heating element; andan evaluation unit operatively connected to said sensor for receiving detected temperature signals from said sensor; said evaluation unit determining a degree of deposit formation on the wall by comparing received temperature signals with predetermined reference temperature data, whereina heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a test measurement in which the detected temperature signals are generated corresponds to a heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation from a difference between a temperature established during the test measurement and a temperature established during the reference measurement. 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single component is used both to locally heat the medium and to detect the temperature in the heated area. 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said single component comprises a temperature-dependent resistor. 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second sensor for sensing a temperature of the medium at a location not heated by the heating element of the sensor. 7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second sensor for sensing the temperature at a location not heated by the heating element comprises a temperature-dependent resistor. 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit emits a detectable signal when a limit value for the degree of deposit formation is exceeded. 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the emitted detectable signal initiates a process which cleans the wall. 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in addition to determining the degree of deposit formation, the sensor senses at least one additional parameter selected from the group consisting of flow of a medium flowing along the wall, the temperature of a medium flowing along the wall, and the flow velocity of a medium flowing along the wall. 11. A method for detecting the presence of a deposit on a wall which is covered by a medium, said method comprising: locally heating an area of the medium;sensing a temperature of the medium in the heated area or of a heating element used to heat the medium in the heated area; anddetermining a degree of deposit formation by comparing sensed temperature data from the heated area to predetermined reference temperature data;wherein the heating of the medium and the sensing of the temperature are effected by a sensor integrated in or placed on the wall in the area which is heated;the determination of the degree of deposit formation is effected by an evaluation unit operatively connected to receive signals from said sensor,the medium is heated during a test measurement in which the temperature of the medium is sensed to a temperature which corresponds to a temperature generated in a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation based on a difference in heating intensity required to attain the temperature in the test measurement and the temperature generated in the reference measurement. 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: a heating intensity with which the medium is heated during a test measurement in which the temperature of the medium is sensed corresponds a heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation from a difference between a period, obtained from the test measurement, for a predetermined temperature response during at least one of heating by the heating element and cooling after heating by the heating element, and a period, obtained from the reference measurement, for the predetermined temperature response during at least one of heating by the heating element and cooling after heating by the heating element. 13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a single component is used both to locally heat the medium and to detect the temperature in the heated area. 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said single component comprises a temperature-dependent resistor. 15. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising sensing the temperature of the medium at a location outside the heated area. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the temperature of the medium at said location outside the heated area is sensed by a component comprising a temperature-dependent resistor. 17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation unit emits a detectable signal when a limit value for the degree of deposit formation is exceeded. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emitted detectable signal initiates a process which cleans the wall. 19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in addition to determining the degree of deposit formation of deposits, the sensor senses at least one additional parameter selected from the group consisting of flow of a medium flowing along the wall, the temperature of a medium flowing along the wall, and the flow velocity of a medium flowing along the wall. 20. A method for detecting the presence of a deposit on a wall which is covered by a medium, said method comprising: locally heating an area of the medium;sensing a temperature of the medium in the heated area or of a heating element used to heat the medium in the heated area; anddetermining a degree of deposit formation by comparing sensed temperature data from the heated area to predetermined reference temperature data;wherein the heating of the medium and the sensing of the temperature are effected by a sensor integrated in or placed on the wall in the area which is heated,the determination of the degree of deposit formation is effected by an evaluation unit operatively connected to receive signals from said sensor,a heating intensity with which the medium is heated during a test measurement in which the temperature of the medium is sensed corresponds a heating intensity with which the heating element is heated during a reference measurement in which the predetermined reference temperature data is generated, andthe evaluation unit determines the degree of deposit formation from difference between a temperature established during the test measurement and a temperature established during the reference measurement.