Temperature controlling apparatus

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling, with a microprocessor, the temperature of a fluid sample (3) in a liquid bath (8) over a wide temperature range. The device is operative to measure the temperatures of the sample (3) and the bath (8); to determine a desired temperature of the bath (8) according to a first function of the first difference between a desired sample temperature and the measured sample temperature when the absolute value of the first difference is greater than a predetermined value and according to a second function of the first difference when the absolute value is not greater than the predetermined value; and subsequently to limit the desired bath temperature thus determined to the desired sample temperature plus a given value when the second difference between the desired bath temperature and the desired sample temperature is greater than the given value and to the desired sample temperature minus the given value when the second difference is less than the negative of the given value. The device heats or cools the bath (8) as a function of the third difference between the desired bath temperature determined and limited as described above and the measured bath temperature to effect a difference of zero.

Description: The present invention relates to temperature controlling apparatus for a thermostat, and more particularly but not exclusively to temperature controlling means by which, whilst measuring the viscosity of a fluid sample immersed in a bath of the thermostat, the temperatures of the bath and the fluid sample are effectively controlled over a wide temperature range. Whilst measuring the viscosity of a fluid sample, the temperature of the fluid sample is generally controlled by using a thermostat. Water, oil or the like are used as a liquid for heating or cooling the fluid sample, and the temperature of the fluid sample is indirectly controlled through regulation of the temperature of the liquid. Therefore, it requires a lot of time to adjust the fluid sample temperature to a desired set point. In addition, when the viscosity of the fluid sample is sequentially measured over a wide temperature range, it may be difficult to estimate the actual temperature of the sample varying with time after changing the set point of the fluid sample temperature. For example, as described in Kawata, Michio; Viscosity, Revised Edition; Corona Publishing Co., Ltd., Japan; 1983; page 41, in a capillary viscometer, the viscometer is immersed in a liquid bath of a thermostat, and the temperature of the liquid bath is regarded as the temperature of a fluid sample within the viscometer. However, because the temperature of the sample cannot be directly measured in addition to the fact that the heat conductivity of the sample differs with the kind of sample, it takes a long time to correctly determine a relationship between viscosity and temperature of the sample. Also, as described on pages 109 to 110 of the above technical book, in a rotation viscometer, a sample container is surrounded by a water jacket, and water is forcedly circulated between the jacket and a water bath of a thermostat installed outside the jacket to control the temperature of the sample. In this case, temperature controlling is carried out with respect to the water in the thermostat without feedback of the temperature of the sample to the temperature controlling of the thermostat. It is, therefore, not easy to adjust the sample temperature to a desired set point. The present inventors have previously invented a novel tuning fork vibration-type viscometer and have disclosed it in JP-A-107236/1984 and US-A-4,729,237 issued March 8, 1988. Particularly stimulated by a desire to precisely speedily control the temperature of a fluid sample whose viscosity is to be measured in using such a novel viscometer, the inventors have accomplished the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the temperature of the fluid sample can be effectively speedily adjusted to any desired set point in a wide temperature range. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature controlling apparatus for controlling the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath, comprising first means for measuring the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath; second means for determining the difference between a desired sample temperature and the measured sample temperature; third means for determining a desired bath temperature according to a function of the difference determined by said second means; fourth means for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature and the desired sample temperature; fifth means for measuring the actual bath temperature; sixth means for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined by said third means and the actual bath temperature measured by said fifth means; and seventh means for heating or cooling the liquid bath as a function of the difference determined by the sixth means to effect a difference of zero, characterized in that: said third means includes selective means for selectively determining the desired bath temperature according to a first function of the difference determined by said second means when the absolute value of the difference determined by said second means is greater than a predetermined value and according to a second function of the difference determined by said second means when the absolute value of the difference determined by said second means is not greater than the predetermined value; said temperature controlling apparatus further comprises limiting means for limiting the desired bath temperature determined by said selective means to the desired sample temperature plus a given value of temperature when the difference determined by said fourth means is greater than the given value and to the desired sample temperature minus the given value when the difference determined by said fourth means is less than the negative of the given value; and said sixth means includes means for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined by said selective means and said limiting means and the actual bath temperature measured by said fifth means. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath, comprising the steps of (1) measuring the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath; (2) determining the difference between a desired sample temperature and the measured sample temperature; (3) determining a desired bath temperature according to a function of the difference determined in step (2); (4) determining the difference between the desired bath temperature and the desired sample temperature; (5) measuring the actual bath temperature; (6) determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined in step (3) and the actual bath temperature measured in step (5); and (7) heating or cooling the liquid bath as a function of the difference determined in step (B) to effect a difference of zero, characterized in that: said step (3) includes a selective step of selectively determining the desired bath temperature according to a first function of the difference determined in said step (2) when the absolute value of the difference determined in said step (2) is greater than a predetermined value and according to a second function of the difference determined in step (2) when the absolute value of the difference determined in step (2) is not greater than the predetermined value; said temperature controlling method further comprises a step of limiting the desired bath temperature determined in said selective step (c) to the desired sample temperature plus a given value of temperature when the difference determined in step (4) is greater than the given value and to the desired sample temperature minus the given value when the difference determined in step (4) is less than the negative of the given value; and said step (6) includes a step of determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined in said selective step and said limiting step and the actual bath temperature measured in said step (5). In its preferred embodiments, the present temperature controlling means comprises a cascade control system. The system includes first and second controllers which are operated, with a computer program, to calculate a timely suitable set point (which varies with time) of temperature of the thermostat in response to the detected temperature (which changes with time) of the fluid sample so that the fluid sample may be effectively heated or cooled by the thermostat, according to the detected temperature of the fluid sample, so as to speedily adjust the temperature of the fluid sample to its desired set point without causing any overshoot or undershooting of the liquid bath temperature relative to the set point temperature of the fluid sample. The set point temperature of the thermostat is determined according to one of first and second operation formulas expressed as a function of the difference between the set point temperature of the fluid sample and its detected temperature. Moreover, the heating and cooling of the thermostat are effectively controlled according to a PID action formed in the second controller. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an external view of a thermostat for use in viscosity measurement, which is provided with temperature controlling means according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an instrumentation flow sheet of temperature controlling means according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3(a) is a flow chart of the routine of a preferred software program for temperature controlling means according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3(b) is a flow chart of a preferred subroutine for use in the routine of FIG. 3(a); FIG. 4 is a graph of an experimental result of controlling the temperatures of a liquid bath and a fluid sample according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 5 and 6 are graphs of another two experimental results of controlling the temperatures of a liquid bath and a fluid sample according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 is a graph of an experimental result of heating and cooling the liquid bath under the conditions that the set point and the detected value of temperature of the fluid sample are directly fed back to a second controller in the present temperature controlling means without using a first controller in the present temperature controlling means. Referring to FIG. 1, a fluid sample 3 whose viscosity is to be measured is received in a sample container 4 and immersed in a liquid bath 8 of a thermostat 1. A viscosity sensor of a viscosity detector 2 and a temperature probe of a first thermometer 11 are immersed in the fluid sample 3, where the viscosity detector 2 and the first thermometer 11 are held by a stand 5. The viscosity and temperature of the fluid sample 3 detected by the detector 2 and the thermometer 11, respectively, are counted and displayed by a recorder 7. The recorder 7 makes an output signal corresponding to the detected temperature of the fluid sample 3 and inputs said signal into a temperature control device 6 of the thermostat 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the first thermometer 11 detects the temperature of the fluid sample 3, and a transmitter 12 attached to the first thermometer makes an output signal (hereinafter referred to as a first output signal) corresponding to the detected temperature of the fluid sample 3 and inputs the first output signal into a first controller 13. As the first thermometer 11, a resistance thermometer composed of a platinum resistance wire or a thermistor or a thermocouple thermometer is preferably used. A desired set point of temperature of the fluid sample 3 is inputted in advance into the first controller 13 by an inputting means 14. The first controller 13 calculates a set point of temperature of the liquid bath 8 according to one of first and second operation formulas expressed as a function of the difference between the desired set point temperature of the fluid sample and the detected value (which changes with time) of the fluid sample temperature. The first and second operation formulas will be described in detail hereinafter. The first controller 13 generates one of first and second control signals corresponding to the respective bath set point temperatures calculated by each of the two operation circuits and inputs the produced control. signal into a second controller 17. A second thermometer 15 detects the temperature of the liquid bath 8, and a transmitter 16 attached thereto generates an output signal (hereinafter referred to as a second output signal) corresponding to the detected temperature of the liquid bath 8 and inputs the second output signal into the second controller 17. The second controller 17 forms an actuating signal corresponding to the difference in level between the second output signal and the control signal inputted thereto and makes a PID control signal formed on the basis of the actuating signal for a PID control of operation of heating and cooling means 18. The heating and cooling means 18 heats or cools the liquid bath 8 in response to the PID control signal. It has been found to be preferable, as a result of a lot of experiments, that the aforesaid first and second operation formulas are carried out when the absolute value of the difference between the set point temperature of the fluid sample and its detected temperature exceeds a predetermined value of temperature, e.g., 2 degrees Celsius, and when said absolute value is equal to or less than the predetermined value, respectively. Further, the following general expressions (1) and (2) are preferably used as the first operation formula and the second operation formula, respectively: T bS = T S + K p x (T S - M S(i) ) and; where T bS represents the set point temperature of the liquid bath, T S the desired set point temperature of the fluid sample, τ a control period which is defined as the time interval between the successive repetitions of determination of the set point temperature of the liquid bath, M S(i) and M S(j) the respective detected temperatures of the fluid sample in the i -th and j -th repetitions, respectively, of the control period after starting the temperature controlling means to operate, K p a proportional constant, and K I an integral constant. The values of K p and K I are determined from the results of temperature control experiments which have been done upon preselection and preadoption of a thermostat, a bath medium, a fluid sample container and the like to be used. As understood from the above expression, the set point temperature of the liquid bath is changed with variation in the detected temperature of the fluid sample. In the present invention, the functions of the first and second controllers are preferably carried out by one microprocessor programmed to provide these functions. The flow chart of a routine for executing these functions is shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). The program is designed to repeatedly carry out the routine at given equal time intervals. Referring to FIG. 3(a), each iteration of the routine begins at step 50 and ends at step 60. Hereinafter, in order to briefly describe each step of the routine, the wordings "value of temperature", "set point temperature", "temperature error" and the like are used to mean the respective electric signal levels corresponding to them. At step 51, the measured value T bm of temperature of the liquid bath 8 is provided from the second thermometer 15. At step 52, a liquid bath temperature error E b(n) in the current n -th iteration of the routine is determined by subtracting the value T bm just provided in step 51 from the liquid bath set point temperature T bs which has been determined at step 80 or 83, described below, in the last (i - 1)-th control period. At step 53, using the current liquid bath temperature error E b(n) just determined in the step 52 and the last liquid bath temperature error E b(n-1) calculated at step 54 in the previous (n - 1)-th iteration of the routine, a power P is calculated using the PID algorithm. The power P thus obtained is then delivered to the heating and cooling means 18, and the operation of the means 18 is controlled according to the power P. At step 54, the new value of E b(n-1) is set equal to the value E b(n) for use in the next (n + 1)-th iteration. At step 55, the number n of iteration is incremented by one with a counter. At step 56, a control time, defined as the time elapsed until the number of the iteration reaches n from zero, is counted with a timer. At step 57, the control time is checked whether it is equal to the predetermined control period τ, e.g., 10 seconds, or it is less than τ. If the control time is less than τ, the program skips step 58 and a subroutine 59 the flow chart of which is shown in FIG. 3(b) and exits at step 60. The program repeats the iteration between the steps 50 and 57 until the control time reaches the control period τ, e.g., 10 sec. On the other hand, when the control time is equal to τ, the routine is introduced into step 58. At step 58, after the control time reaches the control period τ, the counting of the control time with the timer is cleared, that is, the timer is set again to zero for use in newly counting the control time in the next set of iterations of the routine. And then the subroutine 59 is entered at step 70, as shown in FIG. 3(b). Every time when the timer in step 56 counts the control period τ, e.g., 10 sec., the subroutine is carried out. At step 71, the measured value M s(i) of temperature of the fluid sample 3 is provided from the first thermometer 11. At step 72, a fluid sample temperature error E s(i) in the current i -th control period counted at step 56 is determined by subtracting the value M S(i) just provided in step 71 from the sample set point temperature T S which has been determined by an operator of the controlling system. At step 73 determined is a value I s(i) of integration of the sample temperature errors E s(j) until j is incremented from zero to i , wherein j represents the number of the repetition of the control period. At step 74, the absolute value |E s(i) | of the sample temperature error calculated in step 72 is checked whether or not it is more than a predetermined value of temperature, e.g., 2 degrees Celsius. When the value |E s(i) | exceeds 2 degrees Celsius, the subroutine is introduced into step 75. On the other hand, when it is equal to or less than 2 degrees Celsius, the subroutine is introduced into step 78. At step 75, when the value |E s(i) | exceeds 2 degrees Celsius, the integral value I s(i) obtained in step 73 is cleared. Following step 75, a proportional term K p x E s(i) is determined at step 76, wherein the constant K p has been previously determined. At step 77, the bath set point temperature T bs is determined by adding the sample set point temperature T s to the value of the proportional term determined in step 76 when |E s(i) | is more than 2 degrees Celsius. Then the temperature difference between T bs and T s is determined at step 81 and compared to a given value of temperature, e.g., 5 degrees Celsius, at step 82. On the other hand, when the value |E s(i) | has proved to be not more than 2 degrees Celsius in step 74, an integral term τ x K I x I s(i) is determined at step 78, wherein the constant K I has been previously determined. Following the step 78, the proportional term K p x E s(i) is also determined at step 79. At step 80, the bath set point temperature T bs in the current i -th control period is determined by adding the sample set point temperature T s to the values of the terms determined in steps 78 and 79. At step 81, a temperature difference ΔT is determined by subtracting the sample set point temperature T s from the current bath set point temperature T bs . At step 82, the absolute value |ΔT| of said temperature difference is checked whether or not it is more than a predetermined value of temperature, e.g., 5 degrees Celsius. When it exceeds 5 degrees Celsius, the subroutine is introduced into step 82. On the other hand, when it is equal to or less than 5 degrees Celsius, the subroutine is introduced directly into step 84 skipping step 83. At step 83, after the absolute value |ΔT| has proved to be more than 5 degrees Celsius in the step 81, the new value of T bs is set equal to (T s + 5) or (T s - 5) irrespective of the actual result of calculation of T bs in step 79. On the other hand, when the value |ΔT| has proved to be 5 degrees Celsius or less in the step 82, the current bath set point temperature T bs remains as it has the value determined in the step 80. Such selective action is taken for avoiding any undesirable overshoot or undershooting of the liquid bath temperature T bm relative to the sample set point temperature T s in a transient state of the temperature control of the thermostat 1. At step 84, the counter for counting the number n of iteration of the routine is set to zero. Then the subroutine exits at step 85 and the routine now exits at step 60. As shown in FIG. 3(b) and described above, when the sample temperature error determined in step 72 is, for example, more than +2 degrees Celsius or less than -2 degrees Celsius, the program skips the steps 78-80 and instead carries out the steps 75-77 and 81. Such selective procedure is provided for effectively controlling the heating and cooling means 18 through the second controller to heat or cool the liquid bath 8 so that the fluid sample temperature can relatively rapidly approach the sample set point temperature. Next, results of temperature control experiments carried out using the temperature controlling means according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. In FIGS. 4 to 6, A designates the set point temperature of a fluid sample. B denotes the detected temperature of the fluid sample, C the set point temperature of a liquid bath, calculated by the aforementioned first controller, and D the detected temperature of the liquid bath. These temperatures A to D were pursued by a computer. As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature B of the fluid sample which is an oil liquid having a relatively high viscosity is adjusted to its set point A of degrees Celsius after about 35 minutes and then kept constant. FIGS. 5 and 6 show experimental results obtained by using fluid samples which have a low viscosity and a high heat conductivity relative to those of the fluid sample used in the experiment the result of which is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in an initial stage of the respective experiments, the set point temperature C of the liquid bath is adjusted to be higher or lower by 5 degrees Celsius than the corresponding set point temperature of the fluid sample according to the temperature controlling program as shown in FIG. 3(b). FIG. 7 shows an experimental result when the operation of the heating and cooling means 18 is controlled according to a PID controlled signal formed, on the basis of the difference between the set point temperature of a fluid sample and its detected temperature, in the second controller 17. In this experiment, the first controller 13 is not used, and the signals corresponding to the set point temperature of the fluid sample and its detected temperature are directly inputted into the second controller 17, where the detected temperature of a liquid bath is not fed back to the second controller 17. As shown in FIG. 7, the temperature D of the liquid bath repeatedly considerably fluctuates with time, and thereby the temperature B of the fluid sample also waves with a considerable delay of response and does not approach its set point even after a long time.

Claims: Temperature controlling apparatus for controlling the temperature of a fluid sample (3) in a liquid bath (8), comprising first means (11) for measuring the temperature of a fluid sample (3) in a liquid bath (8); second means for determining the difference between a desired sample temperature (14) and the measured sample temperature; third means (13) for determining a desired bath temperature according to a function of the difference determined by said second means; fourth means for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature and the desired sample temperature; fifth means (15) for measuring the actual bath temperature; sixth means (17) for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined by said third means and the actual bath temperature measured by said fifth means; and seventh means (18) for heating or cooling the liquid bath as a function of the difference determined by the sixth means to effect a difference of zero, characterized in that: said third means (13) includes selective means for selectively determining the desired bath temperature according to a first function of the difference determined by said second means when the absolute value of the difference determined by said second means is greater than a predetermined value and according to a second function of the difference determined by said second means when the absolute value of the difference determined by said second means is not greater than the predetermined value; said temperature controlling apparatus further comprises limiting means for limiting the desired bath temperature determined by said selective means to the desired sample temperature plus a given value of temperature when the difference determined by said fourth means is greater than the given value and to the desired sample temperature minus the given value when the difference determined by said fourth means is less than the negative of the given value; and said sixth means (17) includes means for determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined by said selective means and said limiting means and the actual bath temperature measured by said fifth means (15). A method of controlling the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath, comprising the steps of (1) measuring the temperature of a fluid sample in a liquid bath; (2) determining the difference between a desired sample temperature and the measured sample temperature; (3) determining a desired bath temperature according to a function of the difference determined in step (2); (4) determining the difference between the desired bath temperature and the desired sample temperature; (5) measuring the actual bath temperature; (6) determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined in step (3) and the actual bath temperature measured in step (5); and (7) heating or cooling the liquid bath as a function of the difference determined in step (6) to effect a difference of zero, characterized in that: said step (3) includes a selective step of selectively determining the desired bath temperature according to a first function of the difference determined in said step (2) when the absolute value of the difference determined in said step (2) is greater than a predetermined value and according to a second function of the difference determined in step (2) when the absolute value of the difference determined in step (2) is not greater than the predetermined value; said temperature controlling method further comprises a step of limiting the desired bath temperature determined in said selective step to the desired sample temperature plus a given value of temperature when the difference determined in step (4) is greater than the given value and to the desired sample temperature minus the given value when the difference determined in step (4) is less than the negative of the given value; and said step (6) includes a step of determining the difference between the desired bath temperature determined in said selective step and said limiting step and the actual bath temperature measured in said step (5). The method according to claim 2 characterized in that said first function is defined by T bS = T S + K p x (T S - M S(i) ) wherein: T bS = the desired temperature of the liquid bath; T S = the desired temperature of the fluid sample; M S(i) = the measured temperature of the fluid sample in the i -th repetition; and K p = proportional constant. The method according to claim 2 characterized in that the second function is defined by: wherein: T bS = the desired temperature of the liquid bath; T s = the desired temperature of the fluid sample; τ = a control period defined as the time interval between the successive repetitions of determination of T bS ; M S(i) and M S(j) are the measured temperatures of the fluid sample in the i -th repetition and in the j -th repetition, respectively, of the control period τ; K p = proportional constant; and K I = integral constant. The method according to claim 2 characterized in that said predetermined value in said selective step is equal to 2 degrees Celsius. The method according to claim 2 characterized in that said given value of temperature in said limiting step is equal to 5 degrees Celsius. The method according to claim 2 characterized in that said control period is equal to 10 seconds.

Inventors: HAYASHI MITSUROH C O CHICHIBU, ISHIWATA SYOUSUKE C O CHICHIBU, OSHIMA HIDEAKI C O CHICHIBU CE, SUZUKI OSAMU C O CHICHIBU CEME, HAYASHI, MITSUROH C/O CHICHIBU CEMENT KK, ISHIWATA, SYOUSUKE C/O CHICHIBU CEMENT KK, OSHIMA, HIDEAKI C/O CHICHIBU CEMENT KK, SUZUKI, OSAMU, C/O CHICHIBU CEMENT KK
Applicants: CHICHIBU CEMENT KK, CHICHIBU CEMENT KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B01L7
IPC codes: G01N11, G05D23