Multisensor Scientific, Inc.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Allen M Waxman

Jason M Bylsma

Terrence Keith Jones

Stefan Bokaemper

Allan Vaitses

Alan N Gove

Claude V Robotham

David A Fay

James E Carrick

Barry E Burke

Robert K Reich

Bernard B Kosicki

Eugene D Savoye

James A Gregory

Andrew H Loomis

Joseph P Racamato

William H McGonagle

Robert W Mountain

Michael C Seibert

Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach offering improved detection, localization, and quantification of gas emission. The imaging technology described herein utilizes an optical sensor and broadband illumination in combination with specialized reflector installments mounted about the site. The optical sensor detects light (e.g., reflected) from locations along the reflector installment. Lines-of-sight from the optical sensor to locations along the reflector installment sweep out an 'optical curtain' partially enclosing and/or forming a boundary near various assets to be monitored. Optical absorption signatures from leaking gas crossing the optical curtain can be used to detect, localize, and obtain quantitative measures characterizing the leak. Measurements from reflector installments can be combined with measurements obtained via reflection of ambient light from background materials in a hybrid approach that expands monitoring capabilities and offers improvements in detection.

Systems and methods for leak monitoring via measurement of optical absorption using tailored reflector installments

Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas emission from within a site to be monitored. The imaging technology described herein utilizes an optical sensor and broadband illumination in combination with specialized reflector installments mounted about the site. The optical sensor detects light (e.g., reflected) from a plurality of sampled locations along the reflector installment, for example by imaging multiple sampled locations at a time and/or scanning an instantaneous field of view (ifov) of the optical sensor. Lines-of-sight from the optical sensor to sampled locations along the reflector installment sweep out an 'optical curtain' partially enclosing and/or forming a boundary near various assets to be monitored. Optical absorption signatures from leaking gas crossing the optical curtain can be used to detect, localize, and obtain quantitative measures characterizing the leak.

This invention consists of sensors and algorithms to image, detect, and quantify the presence of hydrocarbon gas (for example from leaks) using a short-wave infrared radiation detector array with multiple spectral filters under natural sunlight or artificial illumination, in combination with the hydrodynamics of turbulent gas jets and buoyant plumes. Multiple embodiments are recited and address detection and quantification of methane gas leaks. Quantification includes gas column densities, gas concentration estimates, total mass, hole size estimates, and estimated emission flux (leak rate) of gas from holes and cracks in pressurized vessels, pipes, components, and general gas infrastructure, and from surface patches (for example due to gas leaks in underground pipes) under the action of buoyancy and wind. These and similar embodiments are applicable more generally to natural gas and other hydrocarbon gases, liquids, emulsions, solids, and particulates, and to emissions monitoring of greenhouse gases methane and carbon dioxide.

Hydrocarbon leak imaging and quantification sensor

Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas leaks. The imaging technology described herein utilizes a scanning optical sensor in combination with structured and scannable illumination to detect and image spectral signatures produced by absorption of light by leaking gas in a quantitative manner over wide areas, at distance, and in the presence of background such as ambient gas and vapor. Moreover, the specifically structured and scannable illumination source of the systems and methods described herein provides a consistent source of illumination for the scanning optical sensor, allowing imaging to be performed even in the absence of sufficient natural light, such as sunlight. The imaging approaches described herein can, accordingly, be used for a variety of gas leak detection, emissions monitoring, and safety applications.

Systems and methods for multispectral imaging and gas detection using a scanning illuminator and optical sensor

Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and/or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

Scanning IR sensor for gas safety and emissions monitoring

An imaging system is provided for imaging a scene to produce a sequence of image frames of the scene at a frame rate, R, of at least about 25 image frames per second. The system includes an optical input port, a charge-coupled imaging device, an analog signal processor, and an analog-to-digital processor (A/D). The A/D digitizes the amplified pixel signal to produce a digital image signal formatted as a sequence of image frames each of a plurality of digital pixel values and having a dynamic range of digital pixel values represented by a number of digital bits, B, where B is greater than 8. A digital image processor is provided for processing digital pixel values in the sequence of image frames to produce an output image frame sequence at the frame rate, R, representative of the imaged scene, with a latency of no more than about 1/R and a dynamic range of image frame pixel values represented by a number of digital bits, D, where D is less than B. The output image frame sequence is characterized by noise-limited resolution of at least a minimum number, N.sub.M, of line pairs per millimeter, referred to the charge-coupled imaging device pixel array, in an imaged scene as a function of illuminance of the input light impinging the charge-coupled imaging device pixels.

Real time adaptive digital image processing for dynamic range remapping

Low-light-level imaging and image processing

A method and system for processing two input digital image signals, each being representative of a different two dimensional view of the same scene, to produce three processed image signals. A center-surround shunt processor transforms each input image signal to produce a respective processed image signal. Another center-surround shunt processor produces the third processed image signal from the first two processed image signals. In the latter processor, one of the first two processed image signals is selected as a center image and the other is selected as a surround image. The processor performs a computation associated with each pixel in the center image with data selected from the center image to form a central element for the computation and data selected from the surround image to form a surround element for the computation. The result of each computation is a pixel of the third processed image signal. The three processed image signals may be applied to the respective RGB inputs of an RGB display device.

Method and apparatus for generating a synthetic image by the fusion of

Growing community of inventors

Newton, MA, United States of America

Allen M Waxman