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Infrared Instrument for Detecting Hydrogen FiresThe figure shows an instrument incorporating an infrared camera for detecting small hydrogen fires. The instrument has been developed as an improved replacement for prior infrared and ultraviolet instruments used to detect hydrogen fires. The need for this or any such instrument arises because hydrogen fires (e.g., those associated with leaks from tanks, valves, and ducts) pose a great danger, yet they emit so little visible light that they are mostly undetectable by the unaided human eye. The main performance advantage offered by the present instrument over prior hydrogen-fire-detecting instruments lies in its greater ability to avoid false alarms by discriminating against reflected infrared light, including that originating in (1) the Sun, (2) welding torches, and (3) deliberately ignited hydrogen flames (e.g., ullage-burn-off flames) that are nearby but outside the field of view intended to be monitored by the instrument. Like prior such instruments, this instrument is based mostly on the principle of detecting infrared emission above a threshold level. However, in addition, this instrument utilizes information on the spatial distribution of infrared light from a source that it detects. Because the combination of spatial and threshold information about a flame tends to constitute a unique signature that differs from that of reflected infrared light originating in a source not in the field of view, the incidence of false alarms is reduced substantially below that of related prior threshold- based instruments.
Document ID
20110014131
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
Authors
Youngquist, Robert
(NASA Kennedy Space Center Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Ihlefeld, Curtis
(NASA Kennedy Space Center Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Immer, Christopher
(ASRC Aerospace Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Oostdyk, Rebecca
(ASRC Aerospace Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Cox, Robert
(ASRC Aerospace Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Taylor, John
(ASRC Aerospace Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2006
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, November 2006
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
KSC-12845
Report Number: KSC-12845
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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