Oil spill detection sensor using aritificial illumination with blue LEDs

In this study, a new optical method for oil detection using the analysis of a light-absorption image of separate oil-water mixtures with artificial illumination is described. To obtain information about the presence of oil on water and the thickness of oil, the intensity of light-absorption images acquired through a CCD is analyzed. To select the optimal wavelength of the light source, an experiment is conducted using several LEDs with four different wavelengths. Using a blue LED with 465-nm wavelength, the tendency for intensity decreasing of the light absorption image is clear. Through this research, new optical oil detection methodology is proposed using the absorption difference between water and oil with a light source of specific wavelength and a CCD sensor.