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Leakage detection and estimation using IR thermography

Conference Paper · April 2016

DOI: 10.1109/ICCSP.2016.7754411

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Mohammedhusen Manekiya Arulmozhivarman Pachiyappan

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 International Conference on Communication and Signal Processing, April 6-8, 2016, India

Leakage Detection and Estimation using IR

Thermography
Mohammedhusen H Manekiya, Arulmozhivarman.P

Abstract—Infrared (IR) thermography is used in many fields such
as environment, military, industry, etc. IR thermography has the
ability to detect the problems before they occurs and especially
helpful to detect the overloads, worn and circuit brakes. It is unique
because of it measurement and its accuracy. In this paper we are
proposing this technique in flow detection in pipe-lines and extract
the effected leakage areas in the pipe. Therefore, using the basic
principal of IR thermography distinguish the different types of
leakage in thermal images from the basic concepts of image
processing using MATLAB.
Keywords—Flow detection, Infrared (IR) thermography, Infrared
Image processing, military application, thermography image
I. INTRODUCTION
Passive Thermography: - This type of thermography area of
interest is are focused with the higher or lower temperature
difference with the background.
IR Thermography camera is used on the basis of its spatial
resolution. It comes with the various range of the camera based on
the application.Basic functioning of thermography is that it will
perform only at a particular distance. So object should be at the
particular distance and focus that object. Object should be at the
particular shorter distance in terms of meter. So that it can detect
the infrared rays emitted by the object. Now using the thermal
equipment we can detect the object[2]. The thermal camera can
distinguish the object by cooler area and warm area showing in the
thermal image with a different color of that particular area. The
functioning of that IR camera can be illustrated.

I R thermography is the science of the infrared image techniques.

It detects by the infrared cameras which shows the infrared
range of 900-1400 nanometer. This image is known as
Functioning of the infrared equipment’s is as follows:

thermogram. Infrared radiation is emitted by the all person and

object with a surface temperature difference. Thermal camera can Object
detect object at any angle and area which gives the temperature
difference value that can be differentiate by the color bar. By using Atmosphere
the thermal camera we can easily see in night which is very useful
application for military and other industry level it can use[1].

Thermal camera distinguish the image level using different color

which gives the idea about the object and its shape. It’s a Scanning Condensing Detection Amplification
fundamental principle of thermodynamics that energy will flow
from warm area to cooler area. Thermal energy can transferred
three way i) Conduction ii) Convection iii) Radiation. IR camera Synchronization Display
is available in two range. It perform in two modes
1) Active Thermography Fig. 1. Basic function of IT thermal camera
2) Passive Thermography
Above Fig. 1 also shows the working of the infrared camera.Now
Active Thermography: - In this type of thermography area of as per the paper for the water pipeline different types of leakage is
interest is featured with the background thermal contrast. This available. Like direct leakage in the pipe, leakage at the connector
approach requires the inspected parts are in equilibrium with side, etc. All the leakage can be extracted by the different types of
surrounding. techniques. Which is as follows:

¾ Acoustic Device
¾ Leak Noise Generator
¾ Tracer Gas
¾ Thermography
¾ Smart Ball
Mohammedhusen H Manekiya is student of M.Tech Communication in VIT Every method has different working principle and as per the
University Vellore, Tamilnadu, 632014 (phone: +91-9500343786; e-mail: cost and accuracy.
husenmanekiya@gmail.com).
Arulmozhivarman P is Dean School of Electrical Engineering, VIT University
Vellore, Tamilnadu, 632014 (e-mail: amvarman@gmail.com).

978-1-5090-0396-9/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE

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 II. METHODOLOGY defected leakage point. The development is involved by the steps
The methodology is based on the literature review, flow like.
diagram of the project and different thermal images example of 1) Factors identification of affected thermal contrast
2) Investigation of work analysis of the obtained data
from the IR camera for the detecting and locating leaks
3) Relate the detected area with the original
4) Validating the purposed methodology for the leakage
in pipeline.

Detection and Location water Leaks using

thermal camera

Fig. 3. comparing the normal view image with the thermal image which shows
the leakage in the celling
Identification of Factors that are affected at pavement
surface

Field Investigation and Data Collection

Data Analysis Fig. 4. Shows the leakage in the floor in thermal image and also show that
normal image of floor

Checking suitable Condition for using IR Camera
Detecting the Leakage area and approximate leak
being tested
Process the detected image and configure it with
simulation processing
Distinguish the affected are by simulation
These all images gives the idea about the leakage area and by
processing it in using MATLAB by applying the basic concept
of the segmentation feature extraction or binary thresholding
we can differentiate the defect are in the image. If we see the
first Fig. 4 we can elaborate the temperature difference in cooler
are which has a defect[3]. Also see the color bar which gives
the idea of minimum temperature and maximum temperature.
After getting the image we can simulate it in the MATLAB and
simulate it. Which gives the output as differentiate the leakage
are in the image.
III. RESULT
Now to articulate the work with ideas gathered in above steps
by adopting the below approaches:

No A. Use of Simulation software

Acceptable? In this approach combine all images and applying the binary
thresholding and extract the cooler area in the image by
Yes changing the different threshold in the program. Here, it is
given that the input and output image as a result. This approach
Result (detect the leakage) will work for all the leakage shown in the household and other
industrial work where this type of leakage is present.

Fig. 2. proposed Methodology

As per the above Fig. 2 we can understand the working of our

flow detection in the pipeline. In this technique we can collect
the more number of images from the IR camera and simulate in
the MATLAB.Here some of the example images is given which
shows both normal view and defected pipeline in the thermal
view.

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 Fig. 5. Input image of defected floor Fig. 9. Output Image of defected ceiling structure

Fig. 10. Area of Defected Ceiling Structure

In this give output image show the extracted part is leakage

area and we can calculate area in the image.
B. Technique as compared to convectional
Fig. 6. Output image as an extract the defected area from the image
Fig. 7. Output Dialogue Box which gives the area of leakage
1. Since the system is capable of taking two dimensional
surface measurement, it has a high efficiency, and it is
easy to carry out the test on the whole surface.
2. The technique is non-contact, pipe can be diagnosed at
high temperatures.
3. Overlooking a serious defect is avoided since the
larger the thickness reduction area and the deeper the
thickness reduction, the easier it is to detect.
4. Special qualifications are not required for handling
Infrared equipment as, for instance, X-ray. The work
is safer in any type of environment.
5. It is not necessary to have a high knowledge and
experience to evaluate the results.
6. The technique is not limited to a particular pipe size or
the type of fluid flowing through the pipe.
7. The overall diagnosis can be carried out in a short
period of time. Therefore, the time to evaluate pipes
is shortened.

IV. LIMITATION
x Camera Quality depends on the cheaper resolution image
and high price range for the high resolution.
x The loss of this information without a correct calibration
for distance, emissivity, ambient temperature and
relative humidity implies that the resultant images are
Fig. 8. Input Image of defected ceiling inherently incorrect measurements of temperature.
x Most cameras have ±2% accuracy or worse in
measurement of temperature and are not as high accurate
as contact methods.
x Condition of work, depending of the case, can be drastic:
10°C of difference between internal/external, 10km/h of
wind maximum, no direct sun, no recent rain etc.

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 V. CONCLUSION
The active technique using an Infrared Camera can be used
for a broad range of applications such as diagnosis of fouling
and clogging piping, detection of cavitation erosion, inspection
of inner surface of side walls and bottom plates of steel tanks,
cracks developing under coated films of structures, plus others.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and company
for their contribution for providing the thermal images that
helped improve work. I would like to thank to FLIR and
infrasisionllc for the images in Fig.5& 8.

REFERENCE

[1] Mohamed Fahmy and Osama Moselhi, “Detecting and locating leaks in
Underground Water Mains Using Thermography” published at
International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction
(ISARC), 2009.
[2] U. Schael and H. Rothe, "Advanced system model for 1574-nm imaging,
scannerless, eye-safe laser radar," presented at SPIE Aerosense
Conference, 2002.
[3] FLIR Systems AB. (2004). ThermaCAM S60 Operator’s Manual.

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