869results about "Fluid-tightness measurement using light" patented technology

A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform; including at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids. The illumination source is pointed based on a positioning system while in a geometric area along a path two or more target fluids are scanned for using the illumination sources. A signal detector detects the two or more target fluids using quantitative signal processing. Also included are a controller, a path planning and path finding tool for the positioning of the airborne platform, and a communicator for communicating the presence of the detected leak.

PCT No. PCT / US95 / 04262 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 21, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 21, 1995 PCT Filed Apr. 6, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 07088 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 7, 1996A method of introducing a leak detection dye into a closed refrigeration system through circulation of the refrigerant. A predetermined amount of the leak detection dye, which is soluble in the refrigerant and the system lubricant, is installed in a component of the refrigeration system, such as in a desiccant bag placed in a dehydrator. The leak detection dye may come in various forms including as a leak detection additive having the leak detection dye implanted on and absorbed into a host swatch of a substrate material, as a powder, as a solid pellet of powdered dye concentrate and inert ingredients, or as a slurry. The refrigeration system is assembled, charged and operated, by which the refrigerant and system lubricant flowing through the component, such as a desiccant bag in the dehydrator, and mixes the dye with the refrigerant and system lubricant.

A method and apparatus for remote laser-based detection of gas at levels exceeding natural background levels preferably utilizing wavelength modulated tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. In a preferred embodiment, background gas and noise are estimated using statistical moving average and variance calculations. Gas concentration length measurements resulting from the spectroscopy are preferably compared in real-time or near-real-time to the sum of the background and noise estimates and an alarm limit to detect gas presence of concern. Gas levels exceeding this detection threshold are preferably indicated by a prolonged output tone with a pitch indicative of the magnitude of the gas measurement, and gas levels below the detection threshold are preferably indicated by silence.

A system is described that is suitable for use in determining the location of leaks of gases having a background concentration. The system is a point-wise backscatter absorption gas measurement system that measures absorption and distance to each point of an image. The absorption measurement provides an indication of the total amount of a gas of interest, and the distance provides an estimate of the background concentration of gas. The distance is measured from the time-of-flight of laser pulse that is generated along with the absorption measurement light. The measurements are formated into an image of the presence of gas in excess of the background. Alternatively, an image of the scene is superimosed on the image of the gas to aid in locating leaks. By further modeling excess gas as a plume having a known concentration profile, the present system provides an estimate of the maximum concentration of the gas of interest.

Air leaks in a vacuum bag are detected using a leak detection film covering the inside face of the bag. The film includes a gas permeable binder carrying oxygen sensitive material that changes in physical appearance at the location of an air leak. The film may be adhered to the inside face of the bag or may form a separate membrane that is placed over a layup being molded in the bag. The film may be illuminated with light having a wavelength selected to cause the film to luminesce.

An active (laser-illuminated) imaging system is described that is suitable for use in backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI). A BAGI imager operates by imaging a scene as it is illuminated with radiation that is absorbed by the gas to be detected. Gases become "visible" in the image when they attenuate the illumination creating a shadow in the image. This disclosure describes a BAGI imager that operates in a linescanned manner using a high repetition rate pulsed laser as its illumination source. The format of this system allows differential imaging, in which the scene is illuminated with light at least 2 wavelengths-one or more absorbed by the gas and one or more not absorbed. The system is designed to accomplish imaging in a manner that is insensitive to motion of the camera, so that it can be held in the hand of an operator or operated from a moving vehicle.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for scanning and detecting defects in sewer and similar pipelines that eliminate the need to stop and pan-and-tilt areas of concern. In the method of the invention, a pipeline (15) inspection probe (10) of the apparatus of the invention comprising a CCD camera (14) with fish-eye lens (12) travels through the pipeline (15) on a self-propelled tractor automatically collecting data and transmitting it to a computer to provide a real-time display of the pipeline (15) interior with quasi three-dimensional information for effective and quick data analysis and management. The data includes digitized forward views and unfolded 360 degree laid-flat side-san (22) views of the pipeline (15) interior. Additionally, the digitized data may be stored for further analysis, tabulation, and for use with pipeline infrastructure maintenance software.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for scanning and detecting defects in sewer and similar pipelines that eliminate the need to stop and pan-and-tilt areas of concern. In the method of the invention, a pipeline (15) inspection probe (10) of the apparatus of the invention comprising a CCD camera (14) with fish-eye lens (12) travels through the pipeline (15) on a self-propelled tractor automatically collecting data and transmitting it to a computer to provide a real-time display of the pipeline (15) interior with quasi three-dimensional information for effective and quick data analysis and management. The data includes digitized forward views and unfolded 360 degree laid-flat side-san (22) views of the pipeline (15) interior. Additionally, the digitized data may be stored for further analysis, tabulation, and for use with pipeline infrastructure maintenance software.

A leak detection and identification system a Fabry-Perot etalon, an imaging lens, a microbolometer camera, and a computer for spectral and image data post-processing, wherein the data peaks are deconvoluted for use thus avoiding the need for bandpass filters.

The present invention provides a system, method and composition for detecting exposure of the contents of a container to one or more gases using a gas sensitive package sensor. The gas sensitive package sensor includes a ruthenium-based luminescence indicator composition having a ruthenium-based luminescence compound having one or more optical properties dispersed within a gas permeable polymer matrix. Exposure to one or more gases modifies the one or more optical properties of the ruthenium-based luminescence compound.

An instrument and method for analyzing a gas leak. The instrument can obtain a time series of spectra from a scene. The instrument can compare spectra from different times to determine a property of a gas cloud within the scene. The instrument can estimate the column density of the gas cloud at one or more locations within the scene. The instrument can estimate the total quantity of gas in the cloud. The instrument can estimate the amount of gas which has left the field of view of the instrument. The instrument can also estimate the amount of gas in the cloud which has dropped below the sensitivity limit of the instrument.

A gas sensor for sensing the presence of a gas includes an IR source, a microphone, a reference gas substantially similar to the gas to be detected, a reference body defining a reference chamber therein, the reference chamber having a pressure port coupled to the microphone, and a broad-band optical window through which at least IR wavelengths corresponding to absorption peaks of the predetermined gas may pass. The window is disposed between the IR source and reference chamber. The reference gas is contained within the reference chamber between the optical window and the microphone. The sensor can be included in a hand-held gas detection instrument having power supply, an outer shell, a circuit board assembly including sensor circuitry, a suction pump, actuation controls and status indicators. A probe defining a lumen therethrough supplies the sample gas.

The location of gases that are not visible to the unaided human eye can be determined using tuned light sources that spectroscopically probe the gases and cameras that can provide images corresponding to the absorption of the gases. The present invention is a light source for a backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) system, and a light source incorporating the light source, that can be used to remotely detect and produce images of “invisible” gases. The inventive light source has a light producing element, an optical amplifier, and an optical parametric oscillator to generate wavelength tunable light in the IR. By using a multi-mode light source and an amplifier that operates using 915 nm pump sources, the power consumption of the light source is reduced to a level that can be operated by batteries for long periods of time. In addition, the light source is tunable over the absorption bands of many hydrocarbons, making it useful for detecting hazardous gases.

The apparatus for detecting the presence of a particular gas within a mixture of gases comprises first and second emitter means for emitting measurement and reference electromagnetic radiation beams respectively, which beams are activated in alternation, a measurement cell, a filter cell, first and second detector means for detecting electromagnetic radiation beams, a beam splitter, and acquisition and processing means for synchronously acquiring and processing the four signals <math-cwu id="MATH-US-00001"> <number>1< / number> U S 1 , U S 2 , U R 1 , U R 2 <mathematica-file id="MATHEMATICA-00001" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00001.NB" / > <image id="EMI-M00001" wi="216.027" he="11.02815" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00001.TIF" imf="TIFF" ti="MF" / > < / math-cwu> delivered by the first and second detector means in succession when the first and second emitter means are respectively activated so as to determine the absolute concentration of the gas to be detected on the basis of the ratio <math-cwu id="MATH-US-00002"> <number>2< / number> R = ( U S 1 x U R 2 ) / ( U S 2 x U R 1 ) <mathematica-file id="MATHEMATICA-00002" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00002.NB" / > <image id="EMI-M00002" wi="216.027" he="11.02815" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00002.TIF" imf="TIFF" ti="MF" / > < / math-cwu> between the four signals, in which <math-cwu id="MATH-US-00003"> <number>3< / number> U S 1 ⁢ ⁢ and ⁢ ⁢ U S 2 <mathematica-file id="MATHEMATICA-00003" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00003.NB" / > <image id="EMI-M00003" wi="216.027" he="11.02815" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00003.TIF" imf="TIFF" ti="MF" / > < / math-cwu> respectively represent the signals delivered by the first and second detector means when the first emitter means is activated, and <math-cwu id="MATH-US-00004"> <number>4< / number> U R 1 ⁢ ⁢ and ⁢ ⁢ U R 2 <mathematica-file id="MATHEMATICA-00004" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00004.NB" / > <image id="EMI-M00004" wi="216.027" he="11.02815" file="US20020050567A1-20020502-M00004.TIF" imf="TIFF" ti="MF" / > < / math-cwu> respectively represent the signals delivered by the first and second detector means when the second emitter means is activated.

The invention is a method of measuring oxygen concentration in a package having an oxygen sensitive product disposed therein. The method includes exposing a luminescent compound that is disposed in an interior of the package to light having a wavelength that is absorbed by the luminescent compound so that the luminescent compound is promoted into an excited state. When the exposure of the light is terminated, the excited luminescent compound emits light that is detectable by a detector positioned outside of the package. The intensity of the emitted light is inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration and is used in conjunction with mathematical function that describes the luminescent intensity of the luminescent compound as a function of oxygen concentration and temperature to calculate the oxygen concentration. The method may be used to verify and track the oxygen concentration of a package as it moves through a distribution system.

Measurement approaches and data analysis methods are disclosed for combining 3D topographic data with spatially-registered gas concentration data to increase the efficiency of gas monitoring and leak detection tasks. Here, the metric for efficiency is defined as reducing the measurement time required to achieve the detection, or non-detection, of a gas leak with a desired confidence level. Methods are presented for localizing and quantifying detected gas leaks. Particular attention is paid to the combination of 3D spatial data with path-integrated gas concentration measurements acquired using remote gas sensing technologies, as this data can be used to determine the path-averaged gas concentration between the sensor and points in the measurement scene. Path-averaged gas concentration data is useful for finding and quantifying localized regions of elevated (or anomalous) gas concentration making it ideal for a variety of applications including: oil and gas pipeline monitoring, facility leak and emissions monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

An apparatus and non-invasive method of measuring oxygen by exciting a luminescent compound disposed in a container and then measuring the intensity of the light emitted by the excited luminescent compound as it relaxes to the ground state. A plot of emission intensity as a function of time results in an exponential decay curve the area of which is inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentration can be determined over a wide temperature range by measuring the temperature of the container and the emission intensity and then applying the following equation:[O2]=(ATa(T)2+BTa(T)+CTa)(tau)2+(ATb(T)2+BTb(T)+CTb)(tau)+(ATc(T)2+BTc(T)+CTc)T is the measured temperature;tau is the area of the exponential decay curve; andATa, BTa, CTa, ATb, BTb, CTb, ATc, BTc, and CTc are coefficients that are specific to the luminescent compound being examined.

Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include an unstablized laser and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of gas that absorbs at least some of the wavelength of operation of the unstablized laser. The devices can be operated at a low-power density for safety and / or may be configured to mitigate wavelength hopping associated with unstablized laser light sources.

This invention uses an interferometric fiber optic sensor, particularly a Sagnac or Michelson interferometer, in a first fiber to monitor a sensing length of the first fiber and to detect disturbances. Signals indicating disturbances are classified as being of interest or not of interest, depending on predetermined criteria. Disturbances of interest can be, for example, the breaking of reinforcement wires in concrete pipe, the breaking of wires in suspension cables, a fire, a pipeline leak, or an intrusion. A location sensor system is used to determine the location of disturbances of interest, and to confirm the interferometer signal to reduce noise. The location sensor system is a fiber optic sensor, such as a phase OTDR sensor or a Brillouin effect sensor, which can detect the location of events it senses. It is present either in the first fiber or in a separate fiber laid adjacent the first fiber along its sensing length, as for example in the same optical cable.

An apparatus and non-invasive method of measuring oxygen by exciting a luminescent compound disposed in a container and then measuring the intensity of the light emitted by the excited luminescent compound as it relaxes to the ground state. A plot of emission intensity as a function of time results in an exponential decay curve the area of which is inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentration can be determined over a wide temperature range by measuring the temperature of the container and the emission intensity and then applying the following equation: [O2]=(ATa(T)2+BTa(T)+CTa)(tau)2+(ATb(T)2+BTb(T)+CTb)(tau)+(ATc(T)2+BTc(T)+CTc) T is the measured temperature; tau is the area of the exponential decay curve; and ATa, BTa, CTa, ATb, BTb, CTb, ATc, BTc, and CTc are coefficients that are specific to the luminescent compound being examined.

The invention discloses a plane fuel tank inspecting robot based on a connector structure and a control method thereof. The robot comprises a moving platform, a lifting movement unit, a snake-arm movement unit, a system control unit and a power module. The robot is a bionic robot, can enter a plane fuel tank under the monitoring of working staffs to carry out internal-leaking-point determination and corrosion inspection, has excellent bending performance which does not exist in the traditional discrete type robot, can change the self shape flexibly according to the condition of environmental obstacles, and has unique adaptability to the environment with narrow working space and the non-structured environment. The robot can replace a person for operation in the fuel tank, the working intensity of air crew is reduced, the personal safety is ensured, the maintenance efficiency is increased, and the potential safety hazard of the fuel tank is reduced, therefore, the robot has the important significance in shortening the field stopping time of the plane and reducing economic loss. In addition, almost no electric equipment is arranged on the parts of the robot, extending into the plane fuel tank, so that the anti-explosion precondition is good.

The calibration / verification system and method for gas imaging infrared cameras standardizes the procedures to objectively and consistently check performance of gas imaging infrared cameras. This system includes a background board maintaining a uniform temperature, a target cell filled with a target compound and disposed in front of the background board, a reference cell filled with a reference compound and disposed in front of the background board, and an analyzer coupled to the camera that captures images of the gas cell and the reference cell. The analyzer compares the intensity difference and the temperature difference of rays passing through the target cell and reference cell to a reference relationship data of a quality control chart to determine whether the camera is in a working condition. The method is further extended to provide a quantitative measurement of a hydrocarbon plume from a gas imaging infrared camera.

A machine for detecting sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) leaks using the mid-infrared differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique with a commercically available, air-cooled, compact, pulsed transversely-excited-atmospheric (TEA) carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser, a Cassegranian optical telescope for focusing both the laser emission and returning reflected signal, a user-operated focusing mechanism, a two-dimensional, thermoelectrically-cooled focal plane array (FPA) sensitive in the mid-infrared wavelength range (10.2-10.6 micrometers), a charge-coupled device (CCD) for 2-D imaging, a computer-based control system to rapidly switch the laser wavelength between 10.2470 micrometers, 10.7415 micrometers, and 10.5518 micrometers to utilize the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) chemical detection technique, a rechargeable battery pack and power supply, and an image and data storage device using a solid-state memory stick.

An open natural gas leakage multiplex inspecting method and optical channel configuration, based on semiconductor laser absorbing spectrum method, relates to master case and open long optical channel system. The master case sets with electrical source socket, switch, fan, optical fiber linker and data transmission interface. The master case owns closed infrared semiconductor laser, semiconductor laser controller, phase-locked amplifier,signal generator,data collection disposal and control module, light switch, light switch driving circuit and infrared detector and connects with the locale optics system by optical fiber. Open optical system relates to integral optics telescope and more component angle reflector array and the former owns import optical fiber coupling implement and output optical fiber coupling implement. It achieves the time-sharing inspect of more gas component and more multiplex based on optical fiber distributing configuration of the light switch technology.

The invention is directed to improved systems, methods, and computer readable media for detecting gas leaks. More particularly, the invention detects gas leaks or discharges, such as methane or any other suitable gases, by analyzing reflected or direct light that passes through a region of enhanced target gas concentration. The invention collects light and processes spectral data of the light. All molecules are subject to rotational motions, vibrational motions, and / or combinations thereof (rovibrational motions), in which the atoms in the molecule are vibrating with respect to each other and / or rotating around each other. When the light passes through the region of the target gas, a portion of the light with certain wavelengths will be absorbed by the target gas due to the rovibrational motions of the target gas molecules. By analyzing the magnitude of absorption at certain wavelengths, one can determine the concentration of certain target gas or gases.

A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform; including at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids. The illumination source is pointed based on a positioning system while in a geometric area along a path two or more target fluids are scanned for using the illumination sources. A signal detector detects the two or more target fluids using quantitative signal processing. Also included are a controller, a path planning and path finding tool for the positioning of the airborne platform, and a communicator for communicating the presence of the detected leak.

A system is described that is suitable for use in determining the location of leaks of gases having a background concentration. The system is a point-wise backscatter absorption gas measurement system that measures absorption and distance to each point of an image. The absorption measurement provides an indication of the total amount of a gas of interest, and the distance provides an estimate of the background concentration of gas. The distance is measured from the time-of-flight of laser pulse that is generated along with the absorption measurement light. The measurements are formatted into an image of the presence of gas in excess of the background. Alternatively, an image of the scene is superimposed on the image of the gas to aid in locating leaks. By further modeling excess gas as a plume having a known concentration profile, the present system provides an estimate of the maximum concentration of the gas of interest.

An imaging system (10) for imaging an emitting gas (12) includes an imager (16) and a laser source (20). The imager (16) captures an image (18) of light in the mid-infrared (MIR) range. The laser source (20) includes a semiconductor laser (334) that directly emits an output beam (26) that is in the MIR range. The output beam (26) may be adapted to backscatter near and / or be absorbed by the emitting gas (12). Thus, when an emitting gas (12) is present, the gas (12) may absorb and attenuate the backscattered light. As a result thereof, a shadow or contrast (18A) corresponding to the emitting gas (12) may be visible in the image (18) that is captured by the imager (16).