Systems and methods for optical scanning of fluid transport pipelines
US10254193B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2016 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/479
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for reflectance imaging using visible and/or non-visible light and optical sensors in a probe for use in a fluid transport pipeline are provided. One or more light beams may be emitted towards a bore-defining surface of a pipe wall. One or more first optical sensors may sense first image data based on light scattered by incidence of the light beams on the bore-defining surface. The first image data may be used to determine a first distance value corresponding to a distance of the bore-defining surface from a first reference point. The first image data may be used to determine a plurality of speckle patterns from the first image data, each speckle pattern associated with light scattered from light-scattering particles contained in the fluid at a corresponding time, and to determine a flow direction of the fluid based on the plurality of speckle patterns.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.