METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

A method for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger comprises: applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; analysing the thermographic image; and determining a status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the image.

Claims

1. A method for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger, the method comprising: applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; analysing the thermographic image; and determining a status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the image.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: measuring with one or more accelerometers the vibrations applied to the heat exchanger; and recording the measured vibrations along with the thermographic imaging data, to thereby enable the status of the heat exchanger to be linked with the vibrations that are being applied.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: identifying potentially problematic vibrations that should be avoided or identifying areas of the heat exchanger for redesign in order to reduce the risk of failure and/or to prolong the working life of the heat exchanger.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining a status of the heat exchanger includes comparing at least one feature of the captured thermographic image with a library of defects to classify the at least one feature of the thermographic image based on that comparison.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising updating the library based on the captured thermographic image.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein analysis of the thermographic image includes identification of a region of interest of the image, wherein the region of interest includes an anomalous thermal feature.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein analysis of the thermographic image includes determination of at least one characteristic of at least one anomalous thermal feature of the captured thermographic image.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the captured thermographic image is a first thermographic image, the method further comprising: capturing a second thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger; analysing the second thermographic image; and determining an updated status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the second thermographic image and the determined status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the first image.

9. A system for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger, the system comprising: a source of vibrations for applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; an imaging device for capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; and a data processor for analysing the thermographic image and for determining a status of the heat exchanger based on the thermographic image.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a vibration test rig including the source of vibrations and a support for holding the heat exchanger and for applying vibrations to the heat exchanger.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: one or more accelerometer(s) for measuring the vibrations applied to the heat exchanger, wherein the data processor is arranged to receive data from the accelerometer(s) and record the data, the data representing of the vibrations along with the thermographic imaging data, to thereby enable the status of the heat exchanger to be linked with the vibrations that are being applied.

12. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a database storing a library of defects for comparing against an anomalous thermal feature of a captured thermographic image for classification of that features.

13. A computer program product comprising instructions for execution on a system for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger, the system comprising a source of vibrations for applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; an imaging device for capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; and a data processor, the instructions, wherein when executed on the system causing the system to: capture a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst vibrations are being applied to the heat exchanger, analyse the thermographic image; and determine a status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a system for thermographic imaging during vibration testing; and

[0044] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing analysis of thermographic and vibration data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] A system for conducting thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger 12 during vibration testing is shown in FIG. 1. The system comprises a thermal imaging device 14, and a vibration source in the form of an acceleration test rig 16. These types of test rigs 16 are also referred to as “shakers”. The thermal imaging device 14 is an active infrared camera 14 configured to detect radiation in the infrared (IR) range (i.e. between 700 nanometres to 1 millimetre). The camera 14 is directed at the heat exchanger 12 and is positioned so that its field of view encompasses at least a portion of the heat exchanger 12. Accelerometers 18 are attached to the heat exchanger 12 in order to measure the vibrations experienced by the heat exchanger 12 during the testing. A computer system 20 is coupled to the infrared camera 14, the acceleration test rig 16 and the accelerometers 18. The computer system 20 is arranged to act as a control system and a data processing system and hence controls the acceleration test rig 16 by providing an acceleration input 17 instructing it to perform a required acceleration/vibration test, as well as receiving data from the accelerometers 18 and the infrared camera 14.

[0046] During vibration testing of the heat exchanger 12 on the acceleration test rig 16 the heat exchanger 12 emits energy in the form of infrared radiation 22. Some of the energy applied by the acceleration test rig 16 is dissipated as heat, which is generated by mechanical deformation of the heat exchanger 12 and/or friction. As explained above, the pattern of heat generation is affected by the shape and structure of the heat exchanger 12 as well as by the presence of any defects such as cracks and so on. The camera 14 detects the IR radiation 22 and outputs a thermographic image data 24 to a data processor. The data processor forms part of the computer system 20. The computer system 20 also receives output signals 26 from the accelerometers 18. FIG. 2 includes a schematic representation of the data connections 24, 26 to the computer system 20, as well as the various steps that are carried out by the computer system 20 (for example, by the data processor).

[0047] The computer system 20 is configured to receive the thermographic image data from the camera 14 and the accelerometer output signals 26 from the accelerometers 18 and to analyse them according to desired methods. The analytical methods may be statistical and mathematical, as described before. The data processor may store the image for future reference, for example in a memory of the computer system 20 and/or may display it on a display of the computer system 20. The computer system 20 also has access to a database for storing a library of defects, i.e. a record of thermal patterns corresponding to known defect types. This database may be on the memory of the computer system 20 or it may be remotely located, i.e. at some other point within a computer network to which the computer system is connected.

[0048] When the heat exchanger 12 includes a defect then this affects the distribution and spectrum of the emitted IR radiation 22 during the vibration testing, which hence differs compared to a healthy heat exchanger i.e. a heat exchanger without a defect. For example, in some cases the defect will increase local friction and/or deformation during vibration and hence the IR radiation 22 has a higher intensity than expected in the region near the defect. Other defects may prevent thermal energy concentrating in their proximity by directing it elsewhere in the heat exchanger 12 or by reducing local deformations (for example, by acting as a stress reliever). In that case the IR radiation 22 has a lower intensity than expected. The relationship between the defect and the thermal patterns on the heat exchanger 12 surface can depend on multiple factors, such as for example the internal/external geometry of the heat exchanger 12, its constituent materials, and the characteristics of the vibrations applied by the acceleration test rig 16. For example, different amplitudes and/or different frequencies of vibration will create different responses at the heat exchanger 12.

[0049] The data processor is arranged to perform a number of image pre-processing steps. For example, the data processor reduces noise in the image or enhances contrast and/or intensity differences. The data processor then partitions the image into regions of interest using statistical methods, thereby highlighting any e.g. hot spots, cold spot, or other thermal anomalies. For example, the data processor might identify a statistically significant hot spot in a particular region of the heat exchanger.

[0050] In the next stage, the data processor isolates the region of interest and the relevant features therein (e.g. hot spots, cold spots, anomalies etc.). The data processor has already been provided with information concerning the type of heat exchanger 12 and hence already has information about what a correctly functioning (i.e. healthy) heat exchanger 12 should look like. The data processor then performs an analysis upon the thermal features to determine relevant characteristics thereof. The characteristics include the location of the region in the image and with relation to the heat exchanger, the shape of the region, and the intensity of the thermal features. The data processor may be supplied with information about the heat exchanger 12 being tested before it receives the raw thermographic image from the camera 14 so as to better assess the presence of anomalies. The data processor may instead check for thermal features within (or outside) predetermined parameters.

[0051] The data processor is configured to then compare the determined characteristics to the library of known characteristics stored in the database. This comparison includes the use of statistical methods as described above to compare the features to known characteristics. The data processor then judges the nature of the defect based on the results of the comparison. For example, when the analysis of the image determines a hot spot located in the centre of the heat exchanger 12 of a given intensity and approximately circular distribution, the data processor compares these characteristics to find similar thermal patterns for known defects in the database and then determines the type of the defect.

[0052] Having made this determination, the data processor may provide estimates of the evolution of the defect based on the data read from the database. The defect may be of a type that is known to evolve into a critical fault e.g. within several more weeks of use. Alternatively, the defect can be of a sort that will not develop further, or will not significantly affect the operation of the heat exchanger 12.

[0053] FIG. 2 also includes the main steps in a method of analysis of the thermographic data 24 and vibration data 26. As already discussed above the acceleration input 17 provided via the acceleration test rig 16 results in vibrations at the heat exchanger 12, which are measured by accelerometers 18 with the resulting output signals 26 being passed to the computer system 20. The thermographic images from the cameras 14 are also passed to the computer system 20 as thermographic image data 24. The computer system 20 includes one or more image processing module(s) 28, which pre-process the image data 24, for example to remove noise and/or enhance the image characteristics. If necessary then the image processing module(s) 28 can process the image data 24 to combine data from multiple images, which might be multiple images from different cameras 14 at different positions and/or multiple images from the same camera at different times. This produces a combined thermal map 30 that is passed to a feature extraction module 32 of the computer system 20. In the feature extraction module 32 the regions of interest of the image are determined, and the thermal features of those regions are extracted from the image and analysed. The features are classified and identified, which can include comparing characteristics of the extracted features to a database of known defect characteristics.

[0054] The extracted/identified features together with the combined thermal map 30 together form an enhanced thermal map 34 that is combined with the accelerometer output signals 26 to provide combined thermal and vibration data 36. This is then used together with input from a stress model 38 to allow for wide-ranging further steps, for example correlation of defects with vibration inputs, identification of potential weak areas in the design of the heat exchanger 12, cross-checking of predictions from the stress model 38, identification of areas where the stress model 38 is inaccurate and so on. The final output data 40 can be used for further manual or automated analysis of the heat exchanger 12 and/or the stress model 38. The final output data 40 might include recommendations for further action and/or proposed decisions concerning any of the steps discussed above.

[0055] By use of the above described method and system, inspectors and heat exchanger designers can be aided in analysis of in-service failures of heat exchangers. Automatic classification of thermal features removes human error based upon subjective decision making and allows for fully continual monitoring of the image data without the inconsistencies that would arise with continuous monitoring via a human operator. The thermographic analysis coupled with the vibration testing process may be used to help validate and/or improve stress models and simulations of the heat exchanger. Data regarding defects gathered during the vibration testing may be used to compile a library of defects, which may inform analysis of heat exchangers during in-service testing. Further, analysis of heat exchangers during in-service testing can be used to improve and update the library of defects, thereby constantly improving accuracy and usefulness of the system. Thermography analysis according to the present method allows the rate of degradation of a part to be accurately estimated. Further, little training is required for the technology and thermal images and classification results are intuitive.

[0056] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the skilled reader will appreciate that modifications may be made that fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.