Computer vision-based valve control system and method
AssigneeKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
InventorsSAMI EL FERIK, MUSTAFA EL-SHAFEI, MOHAMMAD SHAQURA, ATEF BOUCHRIT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The computer vision-based valve control system and method includes a camera mounted on a pneumatic control valve in such a way that the camera periodically observes positioning of the valve stem. An image processor is applied to the output of the camera to determine percentage opening of the valve. The valve opening percentage of the image processor is fed to a PID controller that uses the valve opening percentage in its process control calculations.
Claims17
A computer vision-based valve control system, comprising:
- a camera having a lens, the camera producing a video output;
- a valve having an actuator stem, the camera being mounted on a stationary portion of the valve with the lens oriented to observe positioning of the valve actuator stem;
- an image processor including a controller, the video output of the camera being connected to the image processor, the image processor having means for processing the video output to determine percentage opening of the valve from images of the valve actuator stem and means for communicating the percentage opening of the valve to the controller, the controller having means for generating a control signal for opening and closing the valve in response to the percentage opening of the valve;
- and
- means for receiving the control signal and for opening and closing the valve in response to the control signal;
- whereby the camera functions as a feedback element in a closed loop control circuit for opening and closing the valve.
A computer implemented computer vision-based valve control method, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting video frames from a camera positioned to make observations of a valve stem position;
- receiving the video frames for image processing of the camera observations;
- image processing the video frames to determine percentage opening of the valve based on the valve stem position;
- outputting the percentage opening to a process controller input;
- and
- sending a process controller signal control opening and closing the valve based on the percentage opening of the valve determined in the image processing step.
A computer software product, comprising a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for computer vision-based valve control in a process control system, the set of instructions including:
- (a) a first sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes said processor to initiate transmission of video frames from a camera positioned to make observations of a valve stem position;
- (b) a second sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes said processor to receive said video frames for image processing of said camera observations;
- (c) a third sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes said processor to perform image processing on said video frames to determine % open information of said valve based on said valve stem position;
- (d) a fourth sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes said processor to output said % open information to a process controller input;
- and
- wherein said process controller utilizes said % open information to output control signals to said valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.