Abstract
We report on the development and testing of a proof of principle water temperature measurement system deployed on an unmanned aerial system (UAS), for field measurements of thermal discharges into water. The primary elements of the system include a quad-copter UAS to which has been integrated, for the first time, both a thermal imaging infrared (IR) camera and an immersible probe that can be dipped below the water surface to obtain vertical water temperature profiles. The IR camera is used to take images of the overall water surface to geo-locate the plume, while the immersible probe provides quantitative temperature depth profiles at specific locations. The full system has been tested including the navigation of the UAS, its ability to safely carry the sensor payload, and the performance of both the IR camera and the temperature probe. Finally, the UAS sensor system was successfully deployed in a pilot field study at a coal burning power plant, and obtained images and temperature profiles of the thermal effluent.
Highlights
Many industrial processes generate waste heat as a byproduct
This process produces a thermal discharge into the water, creating a thermal plume which can be several degrees Kelvin warmer than the original water temperature
In contrast to past published efforts, our simultaneous use of both large field of view (FOV) IR imaging and an immersible temperature probe, both integrated to a higher capacity unmanned aerial system (UAS), allows the geo-location of thermal plumes and the collection of temperature profiles over large spatial scales
Summary
Many industrial processes generate waste heat as a byproduct. A typical method for dissipating the heat is known as once through water-cooling, where water is drawn in from a nearby water source (lake, rive, etc.), passed through a heat exchanger, and discharged back into the water source. Because some of the discharges are near moving water or tidal areas, the plume can change shape, location, and temperature during the measurement period, thereby giving results that may be time dependent. In contrast to past published efforts, our simultaneous use of both large field of view (FOV) IR imaging and an immersible temperature probe, both integrated to a higher capacity UAS, allows the geo-location of thermal plumes and the collection of temperature profiles over large spatial scales.
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