Articles: Infrared Thermal Imaging

2009 PdM Program of the Year Award Winners

Primetime Programs receive award from Uptime Magazine

Aerial Infrared – An Asset Management Tool for District Heating System Operators

Abstract

The imagery (IR) from aerial infrared thermal surveys of facilities, complexes, campuses, military bases and cities can be used for many purposes. Systems like supply steam and condensate return lines, hot water lines, chilled water lines, supply water mains, distribution piping, storm water drains and sewer lines can be monitored by looking at surface temperatures/patterns. In the case of district heating systems, the distribution system can be flown rapidly and inexpensively to provide thermal data for asset management planning and predictive maintenance (PdM). As a result of finding and repairing leaks in the steam system, energy usage can be reduced with all the related benefits.

After the Switchgear

ABSTRACT
The practical use of infrared thermography is, in a nutshell: looking at the thermal energy emitted from an object, explaining normality, seeing abnormalities and reporting them in a graphic, usable and easy-to-understand fashion, so that someone who is not familiar with the technology, can act to fix whatever is wrong. This works on heat emissions from all types of energy - not just electrical energy. There are many uses for infrared thermography other than inspecting electrical switchgear. In this paper I will discuss two of those other uses for infrared thermography.

 

Arc-Flash Protection - Understanding NFPA 70E

By John C. Klingler, P.E. Lewellyn Technology

Note: John presented a short course on this subject at IMC-2005 December 6-9, 2005 in Tampa

You have decided to conform to the requirements of NFPA 70E, the standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. You already have an electrical program for preventing shock; here is an explanation of how to address the 70E requirements for arc-flash.

Beyond the Usual Applications for Infrared Thermography

Introduction To Infrared Thermography

Think of the world as a radiator...infrared thermographers do. Thermal energy travels at the speed of light in all directions. An infrared (IR) camera detects this [heat] energy and converts it into pictures or thermographs of heat. One can learn a lot about the world by looking through the lens of an infrared camera.

Evaluating Winding Connections With Infrared

Introduction

An area that is often overlooked in the rewinding of an electric motor are the internal connections of the winding. Most coils have multiple wires making up one ‘conductor' (Figure 1). The reason for this is to allow the wire to be more flexible for installation while allowing enough cross section for the amount of current that the conductor must carry. This generates a situation where improper brazing, crimping or other methods of making the connections will generate a hot-spot due to IR losses.

Infrared (IR) Thermography for Building Managers

Think back to the 1990s. How important was building energy efficiency, building moisture or building quality? Now think about the past 6 months....has your boss asked you to study your energy usage? Thinking "green" has become in vogue. Why is that? Is it because your boss recently downloaded "An Inconvenient Truth" and Al Gore convinced him or her that global warming is real and something must be done about it? No "green" thinking is about "green-backs". Building costs and energy costs are on the rise and by inspecting a building with IR and other techniques, the owner can determine what needs to be done to manage the building asset better, use less energy and save money.

Infrared Thermography Web Workshops

Infrared Thermography is an important technology for proactive maintenance and condition monitoring in any reliability program. It is extremely useful in detecting early potential failures in electrical and mechanical systems so orderly planning and scheduling can be completed with lower operational disruption.

Please join expert Infrared instructor Wayne Ruddock for a Basic Level 1 course for Infrared Thermography delivered over 23 weeks in 2009.

These Reliability Roadmap Web Workshops ensure that the students gain confidence in their ability to operate their IR equipment. Upon completion of the course the participants should have mastered the skills necessary to not only operate their infrared system but to perform various inspections and report on their findings.

 

Infrared Windows Open the Door to Savings

A Study of a Positive, and Growing, Return on Investment by Martin Robinson

A paper mill in South Carolina had a very successful infrared inspection program that management wanted to expand. However, the requirements of NFPA 70E were causing them to re-think their strategy since inspections of energized equipment was becoming more restrictive, more time consuming and more costly. Furthermore, 8% of the mill's applications had never been surveyed due to either switched interlocks (which automatically deenergize the equipment upon opening, thereby preventing access to energized components), or to incident energy calculations in excess of 100 cal/cm2 on certain equipment (which exceeds personal protective equipment [PPE] ratings, and would place personnel in extreme danger and open the company to OSHA fines).

 

Inspect Your Inspections

NFPA and Its Implications on Infrared Inspections

by Martin Robinson, I Eng,  MInstD

The NFPA has had far reaching impacts on improving the safety of electrical equipment and safe work-practices, not only in the United States, but throughout the world wherever the standards are adopted.

Interview with an Arc Flash Survivor

0. On August 16th, 2007 Bill Giffen was involved in an Arc Flash incident with a 13,800 Volt Switch. He received 3rd degree burns to his left leg and 2nd degree burns to his arm, back and groin area.

No Outage Inpsections - Which Tools Are Best for Medium Voltage Electrical Inspections

by Don Genutis

Although there are many useful electrical 'on-line' predictive maintenance technologies available to assess equipment condition, this article will outline and discuss the most effective tools for determining the condition of medium and high voltage equipment. A brief application summary is included for each technology in order to enhance your understanding or, if you are already familiar with the technologies, to serve as a review.

Seeing ROI With Infrared, Even In A Down Economy

by David Doerhoff

The sluggish economy is taking its toll on many areas of industry.  Manufacturers are looking for smart, cost-effective ways to help their facilities operate more efficiently and save money without sacrificing product quality and performance.

Tap Into Infrared

Successful Programs Can Be Outsourced or Run In-House

by Jeffrey L. Gadd

Infrared thermography is emphatically embraced by those who have realized the benefits.  Equally, infrared is dismissed by those who aren’t quite sure what it is or whether it has value.  “I’ve been here twenty years and we never needed infrared” are words on the lips of more than one old salt.  Well, things change, and this is an exciting time for those of us who are involved in the IR technology.

The Case For Aerial Infrared

FORWARD

Infrared thermography has become a very popular means of testing electrical and mechanical systems over the past fifteen years. As it relates to predictive/preventive maintenance (P/PM), infrared thermographers look at the thermal energy that is emitted from an object or group of objects, explain what is normal, see abnormalities and report them. In turn, someone can act to fix whatever is wrong as long as they get the information in a usable, graphic and easy-to-understand fashion. This method works well on heat emissions from most objects, including building roofs. A well-prepared, graphic and accurate map of the infrared signatures of a roof can be of significant benefit to the roof consultant at all stages of that roof's service life. This type of testing is commonly referred to as an infrared roof moisture survey. Infrared thermography is not leak management, it is predictive maintenance. No matter how the water got into the substrate, the purpose of this type of survey is simply to find and document where the water is. Performing infrared roof moisture surveys while standing on the roof is not the best method because imagery from a walk-on survey is not as useful as aerial imagery.

 

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