A method and device for determining the volatile amount of a storage tank and a medium

Abstract

This invention provides a method, apparatus, and medium for determining the volatile matter content of a storage tank, relating to the field of non-destructive testing technology. The method includes: acquiring a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are respectively images taken by a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera targeting the same scene, and the first and second infrared cameras are positioned on the side of the storage tank; determining the location of a leak hole in the storage tank used for volatile matter emission based on the first image and the second image; and determining the volatile matter content of the storage tank based on a third image of the volatile matter source at the leak hole at the current moment and a fourth image at a target time interval. In this way, on the one hand, the volatile matter content of the storage tank is quantitatively determined, improving the accuracy and reliability of volatile matter measurement; on the other hand, it is applicable to large-area, distributed industrial scenarios such as storage areas and factory areas, expanding the scope of application and providing a technical and equipment foundation for safety protection, industrial production, and environmental protection, enabling the construction of digital twins for tank farms.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of non-destructive testing, and more specifically, to a method, device, and medium for determining the evaporation amount of a storage tank. Background Art

[0002] Volatilization is the process by which surface molecules gradually disperse into the air due to movement. This process is a physical phenomenon that can occur at any temperature. Volatilization mainly targets organic substances such as alcohol and gasoline. The intermolecular attraction of these substances is relatively small, making it easier for molecules to escape from the liquid surface into the air. The evaporation rate during the volatilization process is easily affected by various factors, such as the properties of the liquid, temperature, air pressure, tightness, and the surface area of the liquid, thereby affecting the evaporation amount. On the one hand, volatilization has a wide range of applications in the industrial field, such as for purifying, concentrating, or separating components in mixtures; on the other hand, volatilization causes waste and directly affects the purity, stability, and safety of products. Therefore, evaporation amount monitoring is an important quality control and process monitoring link in industries such as chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and food. Thus, determining an accurate evaporation amount is of utmost importance.

[0003] Currently, methods for determining the evaporation amount include the gravimetric method, gas chromatography method, and infrared spectroscopy method. However, the gravimetric method involves measuring the mass change of a liquid over a certain period of time to estimate the evaporation amount. The accuracy determined by this method is easily affected by environmental factors (such as temperature and humidity). The gas chromatography method utilizes a gas chromatograph to analyze the gas components after the liquid has volatilized, and determines the evaporation amount by comparing the gas concentration changes at different time points. The equipment cost of this method is relatively high. The infrared spectroscopy method uses an infrared spectrometer to analyze the vibration changes of chemical bonds during the volatilization process of the liquid, thereby inferring the evaporation amount. This method is only applicable to specific types of liquids and is not suitable for industrial scenarios. At the same time, the above three methods are only applicable to determining the evaporation amount at a point and are not suitable for determining the evaporation amount of large-area, distributed storage tanks.

[0004] In view of the problems of the existing technology, the present invention provides a method, device, and medium for determining the evaporation amount of a storage tank. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the problems of the current existing technology, the present invention provides a method, device, and medium for determining the evaporation amount of a storage tank. The method includes:

[0006] Obtain a first image and a second image, where the first image and the second image are images captured by a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera respectively for the same scene, and the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are arranged at the side position of the storage tank;

[0007] Based on the first image and the second image, determine the location of the leak hole in the storage tank used for discharging volatile sources;

[0008] The amount of evaporation from the storage tank is determined based on the third image at the current moment and the fourth image at a target time interval from the evaporation source at the leak hole.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are binocular or orthogonal structures.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the location of the leakage hole is determined by the following steps:

[0011] The first image and the second image are corrected to obtain a first corrected image and a second corrected image;

[0012] Key points are extracted from the first and second corrected images, and the key points are matched to obtain a disparity map;

[0013] The location of the leakage hole is determined based on the parallax diagram.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the correction includes: distortion correction and epipolar correction.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of evaporation is determined by the following steps:

[0016] Based on the third and fourth images, the evaporation rate of the evaporation source is determined;

[0017] The amount of evaporation is determined based on the evaporation rate.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, before acquiring the first image and the second image, the method further includes:

[0019] Perform internal parameter calibration and external parameter calibration on the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intrinsic parameters include: focal length, principal point coordinates, and distortion coefficient; the extrinsic parameters include: the relative positional relationship between the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, a storage medium is also provided, which includes a series of instructions for performing the steps of the method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, a storage tank evaporation determination apparatus is also provided, which performs the method as described in any of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising:

[0023] The acquisition module is used to acquire a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are respectively images taken by a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera for the same scene, and the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are located on the side of the storage tank.

[0024] The first determining module is used to determine the location of the leakage hole in the storage tank for discharging volatiles based on the first image and the second image;

[0025] The second determining module is used to determine the amount of evaporation from the storage tank based on a third image at the current time and a fourth image at a target time interval from the evaporation source at the leak hole.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are binocular or orthogonal structures.

[0027] This invention provides a method, apparatus, and medium for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0028] This invention first captures a first image and a second image using a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera. Then, based on the first and second images, the location of the leak hole in the storage tank used to discharge volatiles is determined to locate the leak hole. Subsequently, based on a third image of the volatile source at the leak hole at the current moment and a fourth image at a target time interval, the volatile amount in the storage tank is determined. In this way, on the one hand, the volatile amount in the storage tank is quantitatively determined, improving the accuracy and reliability of the volatile amount measurement. On the other hand, it is applicable to industrial scenarios such as large-area, distributed storage areas and factory areas, expanding the scope of application and providing technical and equipment foundations for safety protection, industrial production, and environmental protection, realizing the construction of digital twins for tank areas. In addition, this method is not affected by environmental factors and can determine the volatile amount in the storage tank without contact, ensuring the safety of operators and reducing costs.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims, and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used in conjunction with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a binocular structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an orthogonal structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 4 A block diagram of a tank evaporation determination apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. Also, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0036] The meanings of the reference numerals in the attached figures are as follows:

[0037] 10 – Storage tank; 11 – First infrared camera; 12 – Second infrared camera

[0038] 13 - Leakage Hole Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Generally, the volatile gases in crude oil or refined oil storage tanks mainly consist of hydrocarbons, such as propane, butane, and pentane. These hydrocarbons are the main components of crude oil and easily evaporate into the air. In addition, the volatile gases may also contain small amounts of hexane, light hydrocarbons, ethane, and cycloalkanes such as benzene. Besides hydrocarbon compounds, the volatile gases may also contain small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

[0041] These volatile substances are generally invisible in the visible light spectrum. The visible light spectrum refers to the range of light waves that the human eye can perceive, approximately 400 to 760 nanometers. Hydrocarbon compounds (such as propane, butane, pentane, etc.) and other volatile substances such as hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide are gaseous at room temperature and pressure, and their absorption and scattering of visible light are very weak, therefore they do not form obvious visual features in the visible light spectrum.

[0042] However, it is important to note that certain volatile substances may form aerosols or mists under specific conditions. These substances can scatter light, making them visible in the visible light spectrum. For example, hydrocarbon compounds may form hydrocarbon mists under certain conditions, which may become visible. However, this is not a universal phenomenon and usually requires specific environmental conditions (such as low temperature and high humidity) to occur. Therefore, monitoring based on such phenomena is not recommended.

[0043] However, the volatiles of crude oil or refined oil in the tanks within the tank farm may have specific absorption or emission characteristics in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral range, which makes it possible to use specific spectroscopic instruments to detect and monitor these volatile substances.

[0044] This invention utilizes infrared cameras to monitor volatiles from crude oil or refined oil storage tanks in tank farms. Hydrocarbon compounds typically exhibit strong absorption characteristics in the mid-infrared band, making it a suitable choice for observing and studying these volatile substances. Furthermore, the near-infrared band may also be sensitive to certain volatile substances, depending on their molecular structure and vibrational modes.

[0045] To address the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and medium for determining the volatile content of a storage tank. Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The method includes:

[0046] S101, acquire the first image and the second image. The first image and the second image are respectively images taken by the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 for the same scene. The first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are set on the side of the storage tank 10.

[0047] S102, Based on the first image and the second image, determine the location of the leakage hole 13 in the storage tank 10 for discharging volatile sources;

[0048] S103, based on the third image of the volatile source at the leak hole 13 at the current time and the fourth image at the target time interval, determine the amount of volatiles emitted from the storage tank 10.

[0049] The storage tank 10 is located within the shooting range of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12. The target time can be determined according to the actual application scenario, and this invention does not limit it. For example, the leakage hole 13 can be set at any location in the storage tank 10.

[0050] This invention first captures a first image and a second image using a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera. Then, based on the first and second images, the location of the leak hole in the storage tank used to discharge volatiles is determined to locate the leak hole. Subsequently, based on a third image of the volatile source at the leak hole at the current moment and a fourth image at a target time interval, the volatile amount in the storage tank is determined. In this way, on the one hand, the volatile amount in the storage tank is quantitatively determined, improving the accuracy and reliability of the volatile amount measurement. On the other hand, it is applicable to industrial scenarios such as large-area, distributed storage areas and factory areas, expanding the scope of application and providing technical and equipment foundations for safety protection, industrial production, and environmental protection, realizing the construction of digital twins for tank areas. In addition, this method is not affected by environmental factors and can determine the volatile amount in the storage tank without contact, ensuring the safety of operators and reducing costs.

[0051] In one possible embodiment, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are binocular or orthogonal structures.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are binocular structures. In the binocular structure, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are positioned close to each other and their axes are basically parallel or intersect at a distance in the field of view. Furthermore, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 satisfy geometric relationships such as parallel optical axes and coplanar imaging planes to obtain accurate stereoscopic visual effects.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are orthogonal. In this orthogonal structure, the positions of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are far apart, and their central axes are perpendicular to each other. Simultaneously, the fields of view of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 each cover the top of the storage tank 10, ensuring effective detection of the volatile source.

[0054] In this way, based on the binocular or orthogonal structure of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12, the storage tank 10 can be covered over a large area, and the tank area can be distributedly detected from left to right and from near to far on the horizontal plane, which improves the accuracy of volatile matter detection.

[0055] In one possible embodiment, the location of the leakage hole 13 is determined by the following steps:

[0056] The first image and the second image are corrected to obtain a first corrected image and a second corrected image;

[0057] Key points are extracted from the first and second corrected images, and the key points are matched to obtain a disparity map;

[0058] The location of leakage hole 13 is determined based on the parallax diagram.

[0059] The correction can include distortion correction and epipolar correction; key points can include corner points, edges, etc.

[0060] The calibration experiment can be used to determine the correction coefficients to correct the first and second images, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of stereo matching.

[0061] Next, key points can be extracted from the first and second corrected images to provide a basis for stereo matching and two-dimensional reconstruction. Then, the key points are matched. After that, the depth (distance) information of the storage tank 10 is calculated based on the difference in the horizontal position of the key points in the first and second corrected images to obtain a disparity map.

[0062] Subsequently, the location of storage tank 10 can be obtained based on the parallax map, and the two-dimensional reconstruction result of the volatile source in storage tank 10 can also be obtained to determine the location of the volatile source in storage tank 10. Among them, determining the location of leakage hole 13 in storage tank 10 based on the parallax map is prior art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] In this way, the first and second images are corrected, key points are extracted, and matched to locate the leakage hole 13 in the storage tank 10, providing data support for determining the amount of volatilization in the storage tank 10.

[0064] In one possible embodiment, the amount of evaporation is determined by the following steps:

[0065] Based on the third and fourth images, determine the evaporation rate of the evaporation source;

[0066] The amount of evaporation is determined based on the evaporation rate.

[0067] In this method, the change in the position of the volatile source can be obtained from the infrared absorption imaging of the volatile source, that is, the absorption of infrared light waves, so as to determine the evaporation rate of the volatile source. Then, the amount of evaporation can be determined based on the evaporation rate and existing formulas.

[0068] In this way, the quantitative relationship between the amount of volatilization and the third and fourth images is determined, thereby improving the accuracy of the amount of volatilization.

[0069] In one possible embodiment, before acquiring the first image and the second image, the method further includes:

[0070] The internal and external parameters of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are calibrated.

[0071] The internal parameters characterize the optical properties inside the infrared camera, while the external parameters characterize the spatial relationship between the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12.

[0072] In this way, based on the internal and external parameter calibration of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12, a mapping relationship from two-dimensional imaging to three-dimensional space is established.

[0073] In one possible embodiment, the intrinsic parameters include: focal length, principal point coordinates, and distortion coefficient; the extrinsic parameters include: the relative positional relationship between the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12.

[0074] One method can be to use a single volatile source to simultaneously calibrate the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 at different locations on the storage tank 10, so as to match the imaging positions of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 with the actual positions of the volatile source for external parameter calibration.

[0075] In this way, the internal and external parameters of the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are calibrated, providing a basis for determining the location and evaporation amount of the storage tank 10.

[0076] The method for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank provided by this invention can also be used in conjunction with a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores a computer program, which is executed to run the method for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank. The computer program is capable of executing computer instructions, which include computer program code. The computer program code can be in the form of source code, object code, executable file, or some intermediate form.

[0077] Computer-readable storage media can include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording media, USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, optical disks, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution media, etc.

[0078] It should be noted that the contents of computer-readable storage media may be appropriately added to or subtracted from the contents according to the requirements of legislation and patent practice in a jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable storage media may not include electrical carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0079] According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining the evaporation amount of a storage tank is also provided, which performs a method for determining the evaporation amount of a storage tank. Figure 4A block diagram of a storage tank evaporation determination apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The apparatus includes:

[0080] The acquisition module 510 is used to acquire a first image and a second image. The first image and the second image are respectively images taken by the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 for the same scene. The first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are located on the side of the storage tank 10.

[0081] The first determining module 520 is used to determine the location of the leakage hole 13 in the storage tank 10 for discharging volatiles based on the first image and the second image;

[0082] The second determining module 530 is used to determine the amount of volatilization from the storage tank 10 based on the third image at the current moment of the volatilization source at the leakage hole 13 and the fourth image at a target time interval.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first infrared camera 11 and the second infrared camera 12 are binocular or orthogonal structures.

[0084] In summary, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and medium for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0085] This invention first captures a first image and a second image using a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera. Then, based on the first and second images, the location of the leak hole in the storage tank used to discharge volatiles is determined to locate the leak hole. Subsequently, based on a third image of the volatile source at the leak hole at the current moment and a fourth image at a target time interval, the volatile amount in the storage tank is determined. In this way, on the one hand, the volatile amount in the storage tank is quantitatively determined, improving the accuracy and reliability of the volatile amount measurement. On the other hand, it is applicable to industrial scenarios such as large-area, distributed storage areas and factory areas, expanding the scope of application and providing technical and equipment foundations for safety protection, industrial production, and environmental protection, realizing the construction of digital twins for tank areas. In addition, this method is not affected by environmental factors and can determine the volatile amount in the storage tank without contact, ensuring the safety of operators and reducing costs.

[0086] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific structures, processing steps, or materials disclosed herein, but should be extended to equivalent substitutions of these features as understood by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0087] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0088] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0089] Certain terms are used throughout this application to refer to specific system components. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the same components may often be referred to by different names, and therefore this application is not intended to distinguish those components that differ only in name and not in function. In this application, the terms “comprise,” “include,” and “have” are used in an open-ended manner and should therefore be interpreted as meaning “including, but not limited to…”. Furthermore, the terms “substantially,” “materially,” or “approximately” as used herein refer to industry-accepted tolerances for the corresponding terms. The term “coupling,” as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via additional components, elements, circuits, or modules, wherein, for indirect coupling, the intermediate component, element, circuit, or module does not alter the information of the signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and / or power level. Inferred coupling (e.g., one element is inferredly coupled to another element) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “coupling.”

[0090] The phrase "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" used in this specification means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the phrase "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" appearing in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0091] The embodiments of the present invention are given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to better illustrate the principles and practical application of the invention, and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention and to design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for a particular purpose.

[0092] While the embodiments disclosed in this invention are as described above, the content is merely for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make any modifications and variations in form and detail of the implementation without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein; however, the scope of patent protection for this invention shall still be determined by the scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank, characterized in that, The method includes: Acquire a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are respectively images taken by the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera for the same scene, and the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are located on the side of the storage tank; Based on the first image and the second image, determine the location of the leak hole in the storage tank used for discharging volatiles; The amount of evaporation from the storage tank is determined based on the third image at the current moment and the fourth image at a target time interval from the evaporation source at the leak hole.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are binocular or orthogonal structures.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The location of the leak hole is determined by the following steps: The first image and the second image are corrected to obtain a first corrected image and a second corrected image; Key points are extracted from the first and second corrected images, and the key points are matched to obtain a disparity map; The location of the leakage hole is determined based on the parallax diagram.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The corrections include: distortion correction and epipolar correction.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The amount of evaporation is determined by the following steps: Based on the third and fourth images, the evaporation rate of the evaporation source is determined; The amount of evaporation is determined based on the evaporation rate.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Before acquiring the first image and the second image, the method further includes: Perform internal parameter calibration and external parameter calibration on the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The intrinsic parameters include: focal length, principal point coordinates, and distortion coefficient; the extrinsic parameters include: the relative positional relationship between the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera.

8. A storage medium, characterized in that, It includes a series of instructions for performing the method steps as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. A device for determining the evaporation rate of a storage tank, characterized in that, The apparatus for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-7 comprises: The acquisition module is used to acquire a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are respectively images taken by a first infrared camera and a second infrared camera for the same scene, and the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are located on the side of the storage tank. The first determining module is used to determine the location of the leakage hole in the storage tank for discharging volatiles based on the first image and the second image; The second determining module is used to determine the amount of evaporation from the storage tank based on a third image at the current time and a fourth image at a target time interval from the evaporation source at the leak hole.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are binocular or orthogonal structures.

Images