<title>Database system for managing thermography files of district heating networks</title>

Abstract

Thermography measurement is an essential part in the predictive maintenance system of underground district heating networks. The results of the measurement are processed so that possible locations of damage are clearly discovered from the thermogram. A special image processing method is developed for analyzing the infrared measurements. The images are processed to produce ground temperature distribution curves. The measurements are carried out in different parts of the network every year and the results are compared to those of previous measurements. The measurement system consists of a mobile computer and an infrared thermal scanner to store the data and thermography measurements. The image processing system consists of an office computer and video systems for the analysis of the measurements. The analyzing system can be used for comparing the thermograms from previous measurements and for producing scaled temperature distribution curves of the measurements. The measurement also produces a large amount of other data and comments which are not included in the thermography measurement. The database system is intended for managing the data and for making it possible to use the image processing system as a part in the predictive maintenance system. The maintenance database contains a large amount of data needed for planning the measurements, inspections and renovations. The database is also used for storing the information of the past measurements and analyses. It also makes it possible to manage the large number of tapes and pictures which are produced by the analysis system. The measurement data is stored as an archive in the memory of the computer.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.