Apparatus for evaluating the oil film formed on the surface of a solution

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution contained in a container, comprising: a light source that emits light; an optical element that reflects the emitted light onto the surface of the solution and transmits the light reflected from the surface of the solution; an image sensor that captures a surface image of the solution transmitted through the optical element; and a control unit that evaluates the portion of the surface image of the solution captured by the image sensor in which an oil film has been formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of the filing date of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0038446, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on March 20, 2024, and the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution, and more particularly, to an apparatus that photographs the surface of a solution at once, binaryizes the brightness of pixels, and calculates the ratio of the solution and the oil film formed on the surface of the solution.

Background Art

[0003] When an antifoaming agent is added to suppress the generation of bubbles during an aqueous solution process, an oil film (oil layer) may be formed on the surface of the aqueous solution depending on the mixing conditions of the aqueous solution. In order to optimize the mixing conditions of the aqueous solution, it is necessary to analyze the degree of the oil film formed on the surface of the aqueous solution.

[0004] When visually observing and measuring the degree of an oil film to evaluate it, inaccurate results may be derived.

[0005] In order to reduce such inaccuracies, automation is achieved through various apparatuses and systems that irradiate light onto the surface of a solution on which an oil film is formed, photograph the degree of the oil film, and then evaluate it.

[0006] However, due to the problem that the reflectance changes depending on the thickness of the oil film formed on the surface of the solution, it is difficult to accurately measure the degree of the oil film, and when the angle of the light incident on the surface of the solution is inclined or the surface of the solution moves, there may occur a problem that the distinction between the solution part and the oil film part is not clear.

[0007] The background art described above is technical information that the inventor possessed for deriving embodiments of the present invention or acquired during the derivation process, and is not necessarily prior art publicly disclosed to the general public before the filing of embodiments of the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an apparatus that can differentiate between a solution and an oil film formed on the surface of a solution by binary-processing the brightness of pixels in an image taken of the surface of the solution based on a predetermined reference value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a light source for irradiating light, an optical element that reflects the irradiated light onto the surface of the solution and transmits the light reflected from the surface of the solution, an image sensor that captures a surface image of the solution transmitted through the optical element, and a control unit that evaluates the portion where an oil film has been formed in the surface image of the solution captured by the image sensor.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a collimating lens may be further provided, which is located in the path of light emitted from a light source and converts the light into parallel light, in order to illuminate the entire surface of the solution with sighted light.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the image sensor can be characterized by capturing an image of the entire surface of a solution contained in a container at once.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is characterized by correcting the brightness difference of pixels in the surface image of the solution, which is generated when parallel light forms a predetermined angle with the surface of the solution.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is characterized by binary processing of the brightness of pixels in a surface image of the solution to distinguish between the solution portion and the oil film portion.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit calculates the average value and standard deviation of the brightness of all pixels in the surface image of the solution, sets a reference value that is three times the standard deviation of the average value, and divides pixels that are equal to or greater than the reference value into an oil film portion.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can calculate the ratio of the oil film portion to the entire surface of the solution contained in the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] An apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention can more accurately measure the position and proportion of the oil film formed on the surface of the solution.

[0017] Furthermore, since the oil film formed on the surface of the solution can be evaluated using a simple device and processor, it is more economical.

[0018] The effects that can be obtained from the invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and any further effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains from the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] A perspective view is shown of an apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] The optical path is shown in an apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] The image shows a photograph of the surface of a solution taken through a light source according to one embodiment of the present invention and a light source according to a comparative example. [Figure 4] This image shows a photograph of the surface of a solution taken through a light source according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the oil film portion and the solution portion separated. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The present invention will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below together with the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and will be realized in various different forms. Merely, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can fully know the scope of the invention. The present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. On the other hand, the terms used in this specification are for explaining the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] Throughout this specification, unless otherwise particularly stated in the text, the singular form also includes the plural form.

[0022] As used throughout this specification, "comprises" and / or "comprising" means that the recited components, steps, operations, and / or elements do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or elements, and this means that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other components and can further include other components.

[0023] Also, terms such as "... part" described throughout this specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this can be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0024] Also, when it is stated throughout this specification that a certain part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected" but also the case where it is "connected with another configuration interposed therebetween".

[0025] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows the optical path in the apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 100 for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a light source 200, an optical element 300, an image sensor 400, and a control unit (not shown).

[0028] The light source 200 is a device that emits light, and the emitted light is positioned to be directed towards the solution surface, making it easier to observe the oil film formed on the solution surface.

[0029] While there are no particular limitations on the type of light source 200, in this invention, directional surface illumination can be used to maintain a constant reflectivity on the oil film. Lasers that emit short-wavelength light have the problem that interference effects occur depending on the thickness of the oil film, changing the reflectivity, making quantification difficult. In contrast, the light source 200 of this invention can be formed as illumination that emits light from a predetermined area and directs in one direction in order to irradiate the surface of the solution with parallel light incident perpendicularly.

[0030] A collimating lens 210 can be further provided in the optical path to convert the light emitted from the light source 200 into parallel light. That is, a collimating lens 210 can be placed between the light source 200 and the optical element 300 to form parallel light that does not diverge at a single point, allowing the sighted light to be directed onto the surface of the solution.

[0031] The optical element 300 is configured to guide light emitted from the light source 200 to the surface of the solution and to transmit light reflected from the surface of the solution. As shown in Figure 2, instead of directly irradiating the surface of the solution contained in the container 500 from the light source 200, the path of the light can be transformed via the optical element 300, that is, reflected at a predetermined angle and guided to the surface of the solution. Furthermore, the light irradiated to the surface of the solution is reflected and irradiated towards the optical element 300, and such light can be arranged to pass through the optical element 300 and reach the image sensor 400. Therefore, there is an advantage in that it is possible to image the light that is incident perpendicularly on the surface of the solution and reflected, without directly irradiating the surface of the solution.

[0032] Here, the optical element 300 has a configuration that easily reflects and transmits light, and in one embodiment, it can be composed of a mirror, a beam splitter, and the like. In particular, the optical element 300 can be formed to have a predetermined surface so that it can receive all the light irradiated from the light source 200, and the predetermined surface can be positioned at a predetermined angle inclined toward the light source 200. Here, in one embodiment, the predetermined angle is 45°, so that the light irradiated from the light source 200 is reflected by the optical element 300 at an angle of 90°.

[0033] The image sensor 400 is configured to capture a surface image of the solution and collects data for determining the presence and extent of an oil film formed on the surface of the solution contained in the container 500.

[0034] The image sensor 400 is not limited to a configuration that can digitize the surface image of the captured solution, and in one embodiment, it may be a digital camera.

[0035] The control unit (not shown) is configured to evaluate the areas where an oil film has formed on the surface image of the solution captured via the image sensor 400. More specifically, it is configured to divide the surface image of the solution into pixels to distinguish between the presence or absence of a solution or oil film, and to determine whether the oil film occupies a certain proportion of the solution surface.

[0036] However, the captured surface image of the solution can vary depending on the angle at which the light emitted from the light source 200 is incident on the solution surface, the degree of movement of the solution surface contained in the container 500, and the position and number of times the solution surface is imaged. More specifically, when the light is incident on the solution surface at an angle, it can be difficult to distinguish between the solution and the oil film due to light reflection from the oil film, and when the solution surface contained in the container 500 is moving, movement of the oil film occurs, and depending on the position where the solution surface is imaged, there is a problem that the oil film may be captured in overlapping and / or leaking images.

[0037] The apparatus 100 for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention has the following features in order to more clearly distinguish between the solution and the oil film.

[0038] First, in this invention, the image sensor 400 can image the entire surface of the solution contained in the container 500 at once. That is, instead of imaging a portion of the solution surface in two or more separate images, an image of the entire surface of the solution is obtained in a single image. In such a case, even if the position of the oil film on the solution surface changes after imaging, the extent of the oil film can be accurately determined solely from the captured image.

[0039] Furthermore, in the present invention, the control unit can correct the brightness difference of pixels in the captured surface image of the solution. If the parallel light irradiated onto the surface of the solution does not form a perpendicular line with the surface of the solution, or if the surface of the solution is not flat, refraction and diffuse reflection of light occur due to foreign matter such as an oil film, and there is a problem that the solution may be perceived as an oil film, so a separate correction procedure is necessary.

[0040] This can be corrected by first deriving the average brightness of all pixels in the solution surface image, and then adjusting the brightness values ​​within a predetermined range centered on the average value. In other words, the tendency of pixels by position can be determined from the solution surface image, and values ​​that fall outside the predetermined range in that tendency can be lowered or raised to adjust the image to conform to that tendency.

[0041] Based on this corrected data, the control unit can binary-encode the brightness of the pixels to distinguish between the solution portion and the oil film portion. That is, by inputting a predetermined reference value, it can determine that it is an oil film if it is above the reference value, and determine that it is a solution otherwise.

[0042] Such reference values ​​can be adjusted based on factors such as the brightness of the light emitted from the light source 200, the degree of tilt of the optical element 300, and the type of image sensor 400.

[0043] In particular, the apparatus 100 for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention calculates the average value and standard deviation of the brightness of all pixels in the surface image of the solution, and based on this, a predetermined reference value can be set to classify the oil film.

[0044] More specifically, the brightness value and standard deviation of pixels can be calculated from the corrected data and / or captured image, and a reference value can be set where the average value is three times the standard deviation. Based on this, pixels above the reference value can be determined to be in the oil film area, and pixels below the reference value can be determined to be in the solution area.

[0045] After separating the oil film portion from the solution portion, the control unit can calculate the proportion of the oil film that has formed. Specifically, the control unit can calculate the proportion of the oil film that has formed by separating the number of pixels in the portion where the oil film has formed from the total number of pixels on the surface of the solution contained in container 500.

[0046] Figure 3 shows a photograph of the surface of a solution taken via a light source 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a light source according to a comparative example, and Figure 4 shows a photograph of the surface of a solution taken via a light source 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the oil film portion and the solution portion separated.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3(a), when using the light source 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention, i.e., directional surface illumination, it is possible to clearly distinguish between the solution portion S (sky blue) and the oil film portion O (pale sky blue) formed on the surface of the solution. However, as shown in Figure 3(b), when using a general light source (indirect illumination), it can be confirmed that it is difficult to visually distinguish between the solution portion and the oil film portion.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3(a), in a surface image of a solution captured via an apparatus 100 for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can differentiate between the solution portion S and the oil film portion O by binary conversion of the brightness of pixels. As shown in Figure 4, after calculating the average value and standard deviation of the brightness of all pixels in the surface image of the solution, the control unit sets a reference value that is three times the standard deviation of the average value, and divides pixels that are equal to or greater than the reference value into the oil film portion O (red portion in Figure 4).

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit can also calculate the proportion of the oil film portion using pixels across the entire surface of the solution contained in the container 500.

[0050] From the above, although the present invention has been described by limited embodiments, it is understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that various modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the claims described below by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 100 Apparatus for evaluating oil film 200 light source 300 optical elements 400 Image Sensors 500 containers

Claims

1. An apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution contained in a container, A light source that emits light, An optical element that reflects the irradiated light onto the surface of the solution and transmits the light reflected from the surface of the solution, An image sensor that captures a surface image of the solution transmitted through the optical element, A control unit that evaluates the portion where an oil film has formed in the surface image of the solution captured by the image sensor, An apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution comprising the following features.

2. The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 1, further comprising a collimating lens positioned in the path of light emitted from the light source and converting the light into parallel light, for irradiating the entire surface of the solution with light aimed at it.

3. The aforementioned image sensor is The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 2, characterized in that it images the entire surface of the solution contained in the container at once.

4. The control unit, The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 3, characterized in that it corrects the brightness difference of pixels with a surface image of the solution generated when the parallel light forms a predetermined angle with the surface of the solution.

5. The control unit, The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 1, characterized in that it distinguishes between a solution portion and an oil film portion by binary evolution of the brightness of pixels in a surface image of the solution.

6. The control unit, The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 5, characterized in that, after calculating the average value and standard deviation of the brightness of all pixels from the surface image of the solution, a value that is three times the standard deviation of the average value is set as the reference value, and pixels that are equal to or greater than the reference value are classified as an oil film portion.

7. The control unit, The apparatus for evaluating an oil film formed on the surface of a solution according to claim 6, characterized by calculating the ratio of the oil film portion to the entire surface of the solution contained in the container.

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