METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEDIMENT OR SLUDGE DETECTION, MONITORING, AND INSPECTION IN OIL STORAGE AND OTHER FACILITIES

• US 20100086172A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enraf B. V.
• Original Assignee: Enraf B. V.
• Inventors: Venkoparao, Vijendran Gopalan, Sai, Bin
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2928 using light reflected on the material surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation

Abstract

A method includes receiving an image of a storage tank at a processing system, where the storage tank is capable of storing one or more materials. The method also includes processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank. Processing the image could include segmenting the image into multiple segments and using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image. The image could be segmented into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge. The identified level or amount of sludge or sediment could be used to automatically schedule maintenance for the storage tank.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image of a storage tank at a processing system, the storage tank capable of storing one or more materials; and

processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically scheduling maintenance for the storage tank based on the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

displaying the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment;

transmitting the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment to a user; and

storing the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing the image of the storage tank using a thermal sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the image comprises:

segmenting the image into multiple segments; and

using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the image is segmented into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the image is segmented into the segments using at least one of:

one or more intensities of the image; and

one or more gradients associated with the one or more intensities of the image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the image comprises processing the image and data from one or more sensors within the storage tank to identify the level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of:

a level sensor configured to measure an overall level of material in the storage tank;

a water probe configured to detect water in the storage tank; and

a multi-spot temperature sensor configured to measure temperatures at multiple locations within the storage tank.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to receive an image of a storage tank, the storage tank capable of storing one or more materials; and

a processing device configured to process the image and to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to interact with a maintenance system to automatically schedule maintenance for the storage tank based on the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to at least one of:

display the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment;

transmit the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment to a user; and

store the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the interface is configured to receive the image from a thermal sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to process the image by:

segmenting the image into multiple segments; and

using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing device is configured to segment the image into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing device is configured to segment the image into the segments using at least one of:

one or more intensities of the image; and

one or more gradients associated with the one or more intensities of the image.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to process the image and data from one or more sensors within the storage tank to identify the level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank, the one or more sensors comprising at least one of:

a level sensor configured to measure a level of material in the storage tank;

a water probe configured to detect water in the storage tank; and

a multi-spot temperature sensor configured to measure temperatures at multiple locations within the storage tank.

18. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising:

computer readable program code for receiving an image of a storage tank, the storage tank capable of storing one or more materials; and

computer readable program code for processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

computer readable program code for automatically scheduling maintenance for the storage tank based on the identified level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the computer readable program code for processing the image comprises:

computer readable program code for segmenting the image into multiple segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge; and

computer readable program code for using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image.