Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging camera to "see" and measure thermal energy emitted from an object.

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IR Services - FAQ

 

What Can IR Thermography Do For Me?

Using IR Thermography can reduce downtime by avoiding unplanned shutdowns and by assisting in the timing and planning of scheduled maintenance thus allowing production time to be increased by maximizing equipment availability.

What Applications Can Thermography Be Used For?


Electrical Systems:

  • Loose or high resistance connections
  • Overloaded circuits
  • Phase imbalances
  • Blocked or restricted cooling tubes in transformers
  • High resistance in fuses and switchgear

Motors and Rotating Machinery:

  • Motor / generator overload
  • Worn bearings
  • Belt / shaft alignment
  • Conveyors

Mechanical Systems:

  • Refractory lining failure or wear
  • Insulation missing or breakdown
  • Boiler seal leakage
  • Hydraulic, steam and hot water systems
  • Tank levels and insulation
  • Valves
  • Belts and pulleys
  • Turbines
  • Pressure and vacuum leaks

Buildings:

  • Underfloor heating systems surveys
  • Continuity of insulation (Part L2 Building Regs)
  • Leaks in flat roofs
  • Damp ingress
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems
  • Cold storage thermal gain
  • Seals

Veterinary Applications :

  • Detection of medical problems in horses

What Sort of Companies Use Infrared Technology?

The list of businesses that have benefited from the early detection of thermal imaging is extensive, including:

  • Food processing & production
  • Electrical inspection
  • Paper manufacturing
  • Automotive quality control
  • Chemical
  • Glass fabrication
  • Building diagnostics
  • Ceramics
  • Firefighting
  • Iron and steel production
  • Medicine
  • Plastics
  • Rubber production
  • Semiconductor manufacturing
  • Textiles

How Do Cameras Detect Infrared?

Modern cameras in general use uncooled bolometers.A mid range unit will have a bolometer with a matrix of 320 x 240 pixels for a total of 76,800 dots or pixels. Each pixel, which is sensitive to IR, develops a voltage, depending on how much IR reaches it via special lenses. This voltage is then processed via software and color palettes are overlaid. The color represented for each pixel is dependent on the voltage the dot produces. The end result is a picture built up of thousands of pixels. The voltage of each pixel is also calibrated to represent a temperature. An IR camera usually has a selection of color palettes. In principle, digital and video cameras work the same way.

I have a small Infrared spot gun / camera so why should I use a thermographer with higher level equipment?

Would you use a mobile phone camera to take a family photo rather than a high quality camera? Having a relatively small number of pixels, low resolution and small field of view, there would be a higher probability of missing or misinterpreting a fault. These devices are best used for spot checks.

Are Infrared Cameras Expensive?

Relatively - yes. The sophisticated level of technology and the value of use makes them expensive. One really must look at the economics of purchasing an IR camera. There is a lot of economic merit in using an experienced, qualified full time thermographer, delivering a quality service with good equipment at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a camera to be used occasionally by relatively inexperienced operators.

Can Thermography Be Used in Brightly Lit Areas?

Yes. Light as we know it in the visible spectrum has no effect on the infrared images.

Will Thermography Affect the Daily Routine of My Business?

No. Infrared Thermography is a non-invasive tool, so there is no need to switch any plant room equipment off. In fact, thermography produces the best results when the system under review is either fully operational or under load.

What Issues Can Be Found With Infrared Thermography?

Infrared Thermography can be used to locate a number of issues related to buildings ranging from energy loss to leaks in flat roofs and damp location surveys.

All components within a building generate infrared radiation. This heat is invisible to the human eye and can only be detected by infrared thermography.

The camera observes the infrared signals and displays the image electronically on a LCD screen. Professional Thermographers can diagnose which elements are generating heat or losing heat and advise on remedial action.

The following list details some of the types of surveys we routinely carry out:

  • Location of leaks on flat roofs
  • Identification of water leaks or damp
  • Assessment of energy loss from buildings
  • Identify faults or leaks in underfloor heating systems
  • Location of pipes in floors or walls
  • Survey and inspect underfloor heating systems
  • Identify insulation defects in walls
  • Locate drafts or air infiltration in buildings
  • Check window or door seal integrity
  • Check cold store insulation and air integrity


What Types of Equipment and Processes Can Be Surveyed?

The following is just a small selection of the types of equipment and processes which can be surveyed by our fully trained and experienced engineers:

  • Motor winding problems
  • Bearing failures
  • Misalignments in couplings
  • Refractory lining inspections
  • Pipe wall thickness variations
  • Lagging damage
  • Locate Leaks
  • Assessment of sediment build up in vessels or pipe work
  • Damage to tanks, pipe work or ductwork
  • Corrosion under insulation (CUI) inspections

There are many more applications not listed and we are constantly finding more ways in which we can help you reduce costs. By using this predictive maintenance technique we can help you improve the reliability and profitability of your plant.

Thermographic cameras can locate a fault before it leads to catastrophic failure. Predictive maintenance is the key to scheduling your down time as it allows you to prioritize repairs / service intervals to maximize the effectiveness of your plant.

Anything that is in the early or late stages of failure emits heat, whether this is a bearing in a motor, a misaligned coupling or an internal lining failure. Our engineers, with the most sophisticated thermal imaging equipment available can locate the problem and guide you towards a solution.

Infrared Thermography is a Non-Contact, Non-Distractive PdM application used to quickly and efficiently view thermal patterns of electrical and mechanical components. It can be used for many other applications such as buildings, roofs, medical, etc.