Determination of thermal resistance using infrared thermography
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining thermal resistance associated with a wall, the method comprising:
- capturing an infrared image comprising a surface of the wall and a surface of at least one target using an infrared camera, wherein the wall surface and the target are in a first environment on a first side of the wall, and wherein the target surface is a substantially reflective surface;
determining a temperature of the wall surface from the infrared image;
determining a temperature of the target surface from the infrared image, wherein the target surface temperature corresponds to a reflected apparent temperature of the first environment;
determining a temperature of a second environment on a second side of the wall; and
calculating a thermal resistance value of the wall based on the wall surface temperature, the target surface temperature, and the temperature of the second environment.
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Abstract
Various techniques are provided for determining thermal resistance values of building materials through the use of infrared cameras. In one example, an infrared camera may be used to capture one or more infrared images of a wall. Using temperatures obtained from the images, a thermal resistance value such as an R-Value associated with the wall may be determined. Potential cost savings associated with adjusting the thermal resistance value may also be determined.
29 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of determining thermal resistance associated with a wall, the method comprising:
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capturing an infrared image comprising a surface of the wall and a surface of at least one target using an infrared camera, wherein the wall surface and the target are in a first environment on a first side of the wall, and wherein the target surface is a substantially reflective surface; determining a temperature of the wall surface from the infrared image; determining a temperature of the target surface from the infrared image, wherein the target surface temperature corresponds to a reflected apparent temperature of the first environment; determining a temperature of a second environment on a second side of the wall; and calculating a thermal resistance value of the wall based on the wall surface temperature, the target surface temperature, and the temperature of the second environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for determining thermal resistance associated with a wall, the system comprising:
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an infrared camera adapted to; capture an infrared image comprising a surface of the wall and a surface of at least one target, wherein the wall surface and the target are in a first environment on a first side of the wall, and wherein the target surface is a substantially reflective surface, determine a temperature of the wall surface from the infrared image, and determine a temperature of the target surface from the infrared image, wherein the target surface temperature corresponds to a reflected apparent temperature of the first environment; and a processor configured to calculate a thermal resistance value of the wall based on the wall surface temperature, the target surface temperature, and a temperature of a second environment on a second side of the wall. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by a device are adapted to cause the device to perform a method of determining thermal resistance associated with a wall, the method comprising:
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instructing a user to operate an infrared camera to capture an infrared image comprising a surface of the wall and a surface of at least one target, wherein the wall surface and the target are in a first environment on a first side of the wall, and wherein the target surface is a substantially reflective surface; instructing a user to measure a temperature of a second environment on a second side of the wall; determining a temperature of the wall surface from the infrared image; determining a temperature of the target surface from the infrared image, wherein the target surface temperature corresponds to a reflected apparent temperature of the first environment; and calculating a thermal resistance value of the wall based on the wall surface temperature, the target surface temperature, and the temperature of the second environment. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification