Thermal Infrared Cloud Detection Atmospheric Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying and tracking clouds from the ground lack precision due to the contribution of the atmosphere between the detector and the clouds, which affects the accuracy of temperature and humidity measurements, and are not optimized for predicting photovoltaic electricity generation, leading to inefficiencies in grid stability and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A detecting method and assembly that collects thermal infrared flux, measures ground-level temperature and humidity, simulates a reference sky dataset, and subtracts atmospheric contribution to determine cloud presence, optical thickness, and altitude, using thermal infrared detectors and a radiative transfer model inversion to improve precision and reliability, allowing for day-night operation and autonomous use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared video cameras are used to record infrared emission of clouds, then cloud temperature and altitude can be determined, but the measurements are inaccurate because they do not account for atmospheric contribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the atmospheric contribution from the total infrared signal by measuring it independently through a radiative transfer model that uses ground-level temperature and humidity data. This allows the atmospheric component to be removed from the cloud measurement, resolving the contradiction between obtaining cloud temperature data and maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary radiative transfer model that acts as a mediator between the raw infrared measurements and the final cloud temperature calculation. This model uses ground-based meteorological measurements as intermediate data to compute and subtract atmospheric effects, thereby improving both precision and reliability.
2Device complexity
If cloud detection is performed without atmospheric correction, then the detection system is simpler, but the precision of cloud identification and tracking is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of ground-level temperature and humidity before conducting cloud detection. These preliminary measurements are used to establish the atmospheric profile through a radiative transfer model, which then serves as the basis for accurate cloud identification and tracking, thereby improving precision without significantly increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical atmospheric correction systems with a computational approach using a radiative transfer model. This model processes ground-based meteorological data to calculate atmospheric infrared emission, substituting physical measurement instruments with mathematical modeling to achieve accurate cloud detection.
3Ease of operation
If traditional sky cover evaluation by human observers is used, then the method is simple, but it does not meet the strict reliability and precision requirements of modern applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated detection system that performs self-service by automatically measuring ground-level atmospheric parameters, computing atmospheric correction factors through radiative transfer modeling, and generating cloud detection results without human intervention. This maintains operational simplicity while dramatically improving reliability and precision for modern applications.
4Productivity
If atmospheric contribution is not subtracted from infrared measurements, then the detection process is faster, but the accuracy of determining cloud properties is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs atmospheric profile calculations in advance using ground-based temperature and humidity measurements, storing these pre-computed atmospheric correction factors for rapid application during cloud detection. This preliminary action allows fast processing during actual cloud monitoring while maintaining high accuracy through pre-established atmospheric models.
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
The method provides precise identification and tracking of clouds, enabling accurate short-term predictions of photovoltaic electricity generation, enhancing grid stability and reducing costs by improving the reliability of cloud-related data for grid management.
Implementation Method 1
at least some of the thermal infrared flux emitted by said observed zone of the sky is collected and transmitted to at least one thermal infrared detector, said at least one thermal infrared detector including at least one sensor that is sensitive to said flux in a set band of wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by said at least one sensor so as to determine whether or not one or more clouds are present in said zone of observation of the sky
Data Source
AI summary
A detecting assembly and method for identifying and tracking clouds in a zone of the sky being observed where some thermal-infrared flux emitted by the zone is collected and transmitted to a thermal-infrared detector, the detector including a sensor sensitive to the flux in a set band of wavelengths, a measurement of the actual temperature and actual relative humidity of the air at ground level is carried out and the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is deduced therefrom, the dataset relating to the thermal-infrared signal emitted by a reference sky for the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is stimulated or obtained, the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by the sensor to determine if clouds are present in the zone, and the dataset thus obtained is processed in order to compute the optical thickness and/or altitude of each cloud in the observation area.