Method and apparatus for detecting irregularities on or in the wall of a vessel

Patent · Tue Sep 12 00:00:00 EDT 2000

OSTI ID:873232

Bowling, Michael Keith ^[1]

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1. Blackborough Cullompton, GB

A method of detecting irregularities on or in the wall of a vessel by detecting localized spatial temperature differentials on the wall surface, comprising scanning the vessel surface with a thermal imaging camera and recording the position of the or each region for which the thermal image from the camera is indicative of such a temperature differential across the region. The spatial temperature differential may be formed by bacterial growth on the vessel surface; alternatively, it may be the result of defects in the vessel wall such as thin regions or pin holes or cracks. The detection of leaks through the vessel wall may be enhanced by applying a pressure differential or a temperature differential across the vessel wall; the testing for leaks may be performed with the vessel full or empty, and from the inside or the outside.

• Assignee: Somerset Technical Laboratories Ltd. (Somerset, GB)
• Patent Number(s): US 6116776
• Application Number: 08/945,974
• OSTI ID: 873232
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
detecting
irregularities
wall
vessel
localized
spatial
temperature
differentials
surface
comprising
scanning
thermal
imaging
camera
recording
position
region
image
indicative
differential
formed
bacterial
growth
alternatively
result
defects
regions
holes
cracks
detection
leaks
enhanced
applying
pressure
testing
performed
empty
inside
outside
wall surface
vessel wall
pressure differential
temperature differential
vessel surface
temperature differentials
thermal imaging
bacterial growth
detecting irregularities
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