Industrial Thermography
Portable thermal imagers scan equipment or buildings, and transform infrared radiation into visible thermal images with which a qualitative and quantitive analysis of temperature can be conducted. The use of portable infrared measuring instruments offers great potential for assistance in many areas. Thermal imagers are of great significance in preventive service and maintenance, but also in building and production monitoring, as well as in technical diagnostics.
Industrial Thermography looks at the surface of products without contact, with fast imaging generated on the spot in real time, making it possible to do image analysis and draw conclusions about
the properties and condition of the target objects.
In Quality Control Industrial thermography makes it possible to measure extremely hot, extremely cold, voltage-carrying and inaccessible objects. Very slight temperature differences on the
surface can be measured with a sensitive thermal camera and the size and number of fault locations are determined. Faulty products are sorted out at an early stage. No products with cracks, joint
flaws, inclusions or different layer thicknesses will leave production. Taking an outside view, the product passes the quality inspection without any problems.
In maintenance thermal imaging is a recognised technique for detecting loose or corroded connections. A poor electrical connection under load will rise in temperature. Arcing may occur and
eventually the connection will fail, or at worst, cause a fire resulting in an expensive shut-down of the associated equipment or machinery. Temperature rise and thermal spread is usually
associated with specific faults and are to be assessed. Poor connections, load imbalances and overloads are some reasons for a temperature rise. Harmonics, often generated by switching computer
supplies can cause hot neutrals.
Preventative maintenance surveys can save on-line breakdowns, delivery schedules and in the long term significant costs
Condition monitoring is a major component of predictive maintenance. A deviation from a reference value (e.g. temperature behavior) can identify impeding damages. CM systems can only measure the
deterioration of the condition. It is typically much more cost effective than allowing the machinery to fail. Serviceable machinery include rotating equipment and stationary plant such as boilers
and heat exchangers.
As mechanical devices operate, heat is generated. Forces such as friction, misalignment and improper belt tension cause excessive heating.
Thermal Inspections
An important advantage of thermography is its non-contact, non-invasive function that allows equipment or processes to be monitored or inspected without being stopped. Moreover, inspection is
fast and the instantaneous image allows potential areas of concern to be identified immediately unlike other condition monitoring and NDT techniques.