System consists of ultraviolet vidicon tube, interference and color filters, ultraviolet telephoto lens, monitor, and waveform analyzer to extract information from video scene, stack plume viewed against sky. System will view SO2 and any other element which absorbs light at wavelength used

Exton, R. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Cursor
Jr 
.
November 1974	 B74-10208 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
S	 Langley Research Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Visualization of Smoke Stack Plume 
UV Vidicon Sensing SO  Absorption Against Sky Background 
(Using 3150-A Filter) 
A system has been developed and tested at LRC 
which has the ability to "see" the plume of a smoke 
stack in its entirety and to properly assess plume 
instabilities. The illustration is an example of sulfur 
dioxide (SO 2 ) sensing applied to a coal burning power 
plant. The smoke stack displayed no sign of effluents 
when viewed by the eye but a plume is visible when 
viewed against the background sky at wavelengths where 
the SO 2 molecule absorbs light. The absorption due to 
SO 2 is easily perceived. The intensity along the cursor 
line shown, is displayed on the waveform analyzer. The 
absorption of SO 2 is quantified, allowing a measurement 
of the SO 2 concentration.
The system consists of an ultraviolet vidicon tube, 
interference and color filters, ultraviolet telephoto lens, 
a monitor, and a waveform analyzer to extract informa-
tion from the video scene, a stack plume viewed against 
the sky. The analyzer permits quantitative measure-
ments to be made at selected points in the field of view, 
which allows the SO 2 concentration to be measured. 
The result is a real time display of the plume coupled 
with a means of measuring the SO 2 concentration at any 
desired time. In this manner, measurements may be 
made at selected times when optimum conditions 
exist (i.e., no downwash and relatively uniform flow). 
It is possible for digital timing and video analyzer 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the Sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740000208 2020-03-17T13:50:59+00:00Z
—20	 +	 4	 +	 4	 4	 i	 I4	 4
fl 
--40	 2% and 4% K Factor .125ZSEC T Pulse 
Intensity Along Cursor Line Displayed on Waveform Analyzer 
information to be superimposed on the monitor screen 
along with the video scene and the composite picture 
to be tape recorded for future analysis. Tests have 
revealed that the recording aspect allows a measure of 
the effluent velocity by. employing slow-motion play-
back techniques. In this mode, a fluctuation in the SO2 
concentration can be tracked through the scene and the 
velocity of the fluctuation (meter/second) can be 
measured. 
This system will view SO 2 and any other_element 
Which absorbs light at the wavelength used, as it is based 
on a standard absorption technique. No interferents, 
however, should be encountered in power plant emissions 
of the coal or oil fired types for which it is intended.
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 139-A 
Hampton, Virginia 23665 
Reference: B74-10208 
Patent status: 
Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of 
this invention should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Langley Research Center 
Mall Stop 456 
Hampton, Virginia 23665 
Source: Reginald J. Exton
Langley Research Center

(LAR-1 1675) 
B74-10208	 Category 04, 03


Visualization of smoke stack plume

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server