Hydrogen Flame Viewing Camera

We will develop low cost cameras to detect hydrogen fires, reducing personnel and equipment risks for rocket engine test stands and hydrogen storage and handling facilities. Our cameras will use two CCD area arrays with a common objective lens. A dichroic beam splitter will direct the near IR spectra containing radiation from water molecules excited during hydrogen combustion to one CCD array. A bandpass filter will remove non-water spectra. The will visible spectra will be transmitted through the beam splitter to a second CCD array. Image processing techniques will overlay hydrogen fire location and magnitude on a conventional camera image. Signal processing will separate hydrogen fire signatures from lightning, arc welding, and other interference sources using event duration and spectral content. The hydrogen fire detection camera will be available in two configurations, a handhold system for use by technicians working near hydrogen and a facility mounted camera that will replace or augment existing surveillance cameras. Our facility mounted hydrogen detection camera will adhere to video standard for ready integration into existing safety monitoring systems. In addition, it will provide alarm and status data for use with automated systems. The handhold camera will have a built-in color LCD display.