Evaluation of thermal behavior of shipping containers using spatial image processing and thermal infrared (TIR) camera
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Date
2019-06
Authors
Brahmayudan A/L Thirunavukarasu
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Abstract
In modern times, creative approaches on how shipping containers could be used
today have been well discussed, with the great excess of empty leftover containers
waiting to be recycled or reused for alternative purposes. The use of shipping containers
as modular blocks for the construction of homes and buildings have been well received.
However, the suitability of converting shipping containers into homes is questionable
due to some of its undesirable properties. Thermal issues is one of them. This study aims
to present the thermal behaviour of a shipping container using a non-destructive
technique (NDT) method, by analysing the temperature difference between the inner and
outer surface of the container, and the thermal radiation exerted from the container
surface to the surrounding environment. In the methodology, a number of infrared images
of shipping container were captured using the thermal infrared (TIR) camera. They were
captured from the front and side view, on the external surface and internal surface of the
container. The infrared images were taken on an hourly basis throughout the day. The
captured images were then spatial digitally analysed using the image processing tool in
the GIS-based software. The results showed that the external surface of the shipping
container recorded the highest and lowest temperature of 49.6℃ and 41.20℃,
respectively, and as for the internal surface, it recorded the highest and lowest
temperature of 43.29℃ and 41.10℃, respectively. The percentage difference of the
resulting temperature between the inner and outer surface of container is 10.06%. For the
thermal radiation analysis, the results showed that the radiation of heat from the container
increased the surrounding temperature by 0.3 metres from its external surface. As a
result, this study provides a feasible technique for NDT applications to analyse the
thermal behaviour of a shipping container.