Efficient Thermal Image Segmentation for Heat Visualization in Solar Panels and Batteries using Watershed Transform

Sun being a non-conventional source of energy produces solar energy which is clean and available in abundance. The power obtained from solar panels is used to charge solar batteries and utilized to get continuous power supply. Solar panels are installed in open atmosphere and when subjected to different weather conditions involve many problems such as damage to different components, loss of power generation and heating. The different deposits on solar panel surface such as cement deposits, bird droppings increase temperature of deposited area and produce heating. The heating in solar panels develop hot spots. Batteries placed in a battery room attain high temperature and produce heat. This overheating affect working and performance of solar panels and batteries. These effects of heat are not visible by naked eye but are visible in thermal images, captured using thermal imaging camera. This paper focus on implementing an efficient visualization technique to segment the desired portion of heat from thermal images of solar panels and batteries using watershed transform.