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Methods for performing inspections and detecting chemical leaks using an infrared camera system

  • US 20060091310A1
  • Filed: 12/10/2005
  • Published: 05/04/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of visually detecting a leak of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:

  • aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, wherein at least part of a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion;

    filtering an infrared image with the optical bandpass filter, the infrared image being that of the leak of the chemical emanating from the component;

    after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, receiving the filtered infrared image of the leak with the infrared sensor device;

    electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and

    visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system.

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