Battery Flame Dimension Analysis via Digital Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery testing methods rely on expensive thermal cameras to capture the heat released by flames, which are limited by their inability to capture images through glass or clear materials and risk damaging equipment, and do not automate the extraction of flame dimensions, velocity, and duration effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method using a digital camera that captures images of the battery flame with visible light, allowing for automated analysis of the flame's dimensions, velocity, and duration, including the buoyant plume, without additional sensors, by producing a quiver plot from the digital image to determine the flame's dimensions and generate a report.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thermal camera is used to capture the heat released by the flame, then the heat released by the flame can be captured, but the equipment cost increases and the equipment may be damaged or interfere with the experiment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a digital camera to capture visible light images of the flame, creating a visual copy of the flame's appearance and motion. This replaces the need for expensive thermal cameras while still enabling flame analysis through image processing and computer vision techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive digital cameras instead of expensive thermal imaging equipment. These standard digital cameras are widely available, cost-effective, and eliminate the risks associated with placing expensive equipment in hazardous test environments.
2Measurement precision
If a thermal camera is placed in the test environment or close proximity to the battery, then the heat released by the flame can be captured, but the equipment may be damaged or negatively influence the experiment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces glass or clear materials as intermediaries between the digital camera and the flame. These materials allow visible light to pass through while providing physical isolation, enabling the camera to capture flame images without being exposed to heat damage or interfering with the experiment.
Solution Approach 2:
By capturing visible light images through glass or clear materials, the system creates a safe remote copy of the flame's visual characteristics, eliminating the need to place equipment in the hazardous test environment while maintaining measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If manual extraction of flame dimensions, velocity and duration is performed, then the visible flame can be captured, but the analysis is incomplete and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual extraction methods with automated computer vision and image processing algorithms. These computational systems automatically analyze flame images to extract dimensions, velocity, and duration, eliminating time-consuming manual measurement while improving consistency and completeness of analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated image processing system continuously analyzes flame characteristics throughout the entire combustion process, providing uninterrupted measurement of flame evolution. This replaces discrete manual measurements with continuous automated analysis, capturing the complete flame lifecycle without time loss.
4Measurement precision
If current techniques are used to capture the visible flame, then the flame dimensions can be extracted, but the heat released by the flame (buoyant plume) cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent analyzes visible light images to infer thermal characteristics of the flame. By examining the spatial distribution, motion patterns, and intensity variations of the visible flame through image processing, the system derives information about the underlying heat release and buoyant plume structure without directly measuring temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct thermal measurement with optical measurement and computational analysis. By using computer vision algorithms to analyze visible flame behavior, the system indirectly captures heat release information that would otherwise require thermal imaging equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables comprehensive analysis of the flame with reduced user input and no additional sensors, capturing the entire flame plume, including heat, in a cost-effective manner, suitable for various battery tests, and reduces the risk of equipment interference.
Implementation Method 1
a digital camera that forms images or video using visible light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~4
AI summary
A method of testing a battery (102) includes causing a battery (102) in a test environment (104) to produce a fire having a flame (114) that extends out from the battery (102), and capturing a digital image (116) of a scene that includes at least a portion of a test environment (104) and the flame (114), the digital image being formed using visible light. The method includes uploading the digital image (116) to a computer (108) configured to produce a quiver plot (118) and identify points on the quiver plot (118) that define a polygon (120) that is an approximate outline of the flame (114). The computer (108) is configured to determine dimensions of the polygon (120), and translate the dimensions from the quiver plot (118) to the digital image (116), and from the digital image (116) to dimensions of the flame (114) in the scene. And the computer (108) is configured to generate a displayable report that includes at least the dimensions of the flame (114).