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Infrared Imaging
Infrared thermography is a non-destructive, predictive maintenance technique that can be used to monitor the thermal signatures of plant machinery and electrical apparatus while running at full load.
It uses imagers designed to monitor the emissions of infrared energy. Infrared thermography detects electromagnetic energy from an object in the form of heat and converts it into a video signal that produces a color image that can be stored for further detailed analysis.
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Thermography can be applied to any situation in which an anomaly or condition can display itself by means of a thermal variance. This predictive technique can be used to inspect substations, utility line distribution, roof moisture, refractory systems, mechanical systems and building envelopes, to name a few. We perform our inspections with the "FLIR Systems" ThermaCAM P65, high performance, handheld thermal and digital thermal imaging systems. This imagers use a third generation uncooled micro bolometer detector—the most advanced infrared technology available today.
An infrared thermography program using appropriate equipment and properly trained thermographers can be an extremely effective tool to optimize equipment and system efficiencies and help diagnose existing or potential failures of electrical, mechanical, refractory and building envelope related systems.
Unless gathering of data and report generation is carried out by certified level II & III thermographers using state-of-the-art equipment, misinterpretation can occur, leading to incorrect and harmful information being documented. These various technologies can be used as very important predictive maintenance tools that can lead to significant improvements in the overall health of your plant apparatus.
We know that infrared radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and travels at the speed of light. It can be reflected, refracted and focused. Infrared radiation can be emitted by an object with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.16 centigrade.) The basis of infrared thermography is quite simple; all objects emit heat or electromagnetic energy but only a fraction of this energy is visible to the naked eye.
Radiation of the Electromagnetic Spectrum is often categorized by wavelength or discrete packets known as photons. Short wavelength is the highest energy and can be quite destructive. Ultraviolet, gamma and x-ray are types of short wavelength radiation. Longer wavelength radiation, such as infrared, radio and microwave, is of lower energy and is less destructive.
Although infrared radiation is not visible, we can sense its characteristics from the heat generated. A fine example of this is when you turn on your stove element to high and place your hand above the element, you can feel heat rising from the element yet there is no visible changes to the element. Seconds later the element emits a reddish glow. What's happening is that the electromagnetic spectrum is moving from infrared to visible wavelength.
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