More information about Infrared Thermography
Infrared Thermography is the leading non-intrusive, non-invasive and non-destructive tool available for use in identifying faults within plant, equipment and buildings. The technique is invaluable in being able to identify faults before they actually give rise to an unplanned and costly breakdown.
All objects above -273ºC or 0 Kelvin (absolute zero) emit infrared energy. This energy can be visualised and analysed through the use of infrared camera systems.
All plant and equipment heats up in normal service. Plant and equipment in which a fault is developing exhibits heat gain different from that caused in normal service. This difference in heat enables the professional thermographer to identify sound equipment as well as locating developing faults.
Infrared Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to "see" and "measure" thermal energy emitted from an object.
Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible because it's wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye. This is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits energy. Even very cold objects, like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object's temperature, the greater the infrared energy emitted.
Thermal Imaging cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation and provides precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities.
"Nearly everything gets hot before it fails, making infrared thermography an extremely cost-effective and valuable diagnostic tool for use in many diverse applications."
As industry strives to improve manufacturing efficiencies, manage energy, improve product quality, and enhance worker safety new applications for infrared cameras continually emerge.
Learn More about specific applications....
Why use Infrared Thermography?
Many commercial and industrial enterprises demand a high degree of reliability and availability from their electrical installations. Traditional forms of preventative maintenance are very limited in their effectiveness in identifying substandard electrical contact situations. In addition, preventative maintenance requires the isolation of electrical equipment, which is often inconvenient to processes and production. Infrared Thermography provides a means of condition monitoring live systems and detecting electrical faults during the early stages of development through the generation of heat. Early fault detection provides the time required to plan and carry out the necessary repairs before catastrophic failure.
Typically, the faults most frequently detected are those associated with terminations and connections. The mechanical integrity of electrical connections may be affected in a variety of ways (i.e. looseness, over-tightening, corrosion etc.).
The prime difference between Infrared Thermography and cheaper, more simply applied forms of temperature measurement is that temperatures can be observed and measured without having to make physical contact.
By using thermal imaging cameras the temperature of surfaces within the field of view can be measured, recorded and analysed when convenient. For electrical applications, local maintenance staff can be alerted immediately when potentially dangerous situations are discovered.
Whilst this sounds straightforward, the considerable benefits to be derived from its use depend on selecting the correct equipment and having the skill and knowledge to use it effectively. For this the user will require knowledge of the operating principles of thermographic equipment, have an understanding of the physics and principles involved and also have a sound technical background specific to the intended application.
Our Infrared thermographers will identify a fault and propose remedial actions to rectify the situation before it develops into a costly breakdown.
