Craig O’Neill and Ron Lucier look at how to choose a cooled or uncooled OGI camera.

PWE takes a look at how damage to rotor blades on wind turbines can be identified at an early stage using an infrared camera.

The Fluke TiS20+ and TiS60+handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras are now available from RS Components (RS). Offering easy one-handed fixed-focus image capture, these new infrared imagers are ideal for engineers and technicians new to thermal imaging, allowing accurate non-contact temperature measurement from a safe distance to reveal invisible thermal issues that cannot otherwise be detected.

David Stevens* outlines the benefits of adopting a digital condition monitoring programme, and the important role that ‘smart sensors’ play in improving reliability while delivering cost-efficiency.

Monitoring equipment performance and scheduling maintenance when needed reduces the likelihood of unplanned downtime due to equipment failure. This saves the costs of “reactive maintenance” fees and equipment repair costs, while extending the lifespan of machine assets. Andy Pye reports.

R S Components (RS) has introduced the new Fluke TiS20+ and TiS60+handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras. Offering easy one-handed fixed-focus image capture, these new Fluke infrared imagers are ideal for engineers and technicians new to thermal imaging, allowing accurate non-contact temperature measurement from a safe distance to reveal invisible thermal issues that cannot otherwise be detected.

The number of specifications listed for a thermal camera can be overwhelming when you’re trying to find the right camera for your needs. Jon Willis, ITC manager, North EMEA at FLIR Systems, explains further.

Gubba has invested in thermal imaging to prevent any insulation failures or electrical faults compromising temperature regulation and uniformity or increasing energy consumption. PWE reports.

The latest thermal imaging device from Fluke, the PTi120, is now available from RS Components (RS). It is Fluke’s first pocket-sized unit and targets troubleshooting and predictive maintenance applications for a wide range of industrial market sectors.

Compressed air systems can lose a significant amount of air through leakage. - the average compressed air system loses 30% of its air through leaks. Locating those leaks has been a time-consuming and difficult process. Fluke says its ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager enables maintenance teams to quickly, and visually, pinpoint the location of compressed air, gas, and vacuum system leaks even during peak production periods. Leaks can be detected in a matter of minutes.

Steel breakouts are catastrophic process failures that are both extremely dangerous and costly. Monitoring the health of ladles and torpedoes using thermal imaging can greatly minimise the risk but a handheld infrared camera can only provide a periodic check on the health of these critical transport structures. PWE reports.

A thermal image analysis and reporting software, FLIR Thermal Studio, designed to manage large sets of thermal images and videos has been introduced by FLIR Systems.

Heavy industries such as mining, shipbuilding and materials handling rely on heavy, rugged, industrial cables to ensure continuous power supply or communication. This dependency means the consequences of a cable break are costly both in terms of lost productivity and downtime. So, for the German cable repair specialist Becker and Hüser, its focus is to get its customers back in business in the shortest amount of time and FLIR thermal imaging is playing a vital role in helping to pinpoint the exact location of the problem. PWE reports.

An application at Cambridge Beer Festival demonstrates that no vessel is too small for thermal imaging inspection. Andrew Baker, sales director North Europe, FLIR Systems, reports.

Thermographers need to consider several factors such as resolution, instantaneous field of view, lenses, the size of the object and more. Andrew Baker, sales director North Europe, FLIR Systems Ltd, reports.

RS Components (RS), has introduced two rugged diagnostic videoscopes from Fluke that target maintenance engineers and other professionals needing to undertake equipment inspections and diagnose problems in a wide variety of industrial applications.

In the Northern hemisphere, November through to March is a particularly testing time for any energy supplier. Electrical load is at its highest and the likelihood of a breakdown is far greater so the quick and efficient detection of faulty power lines and connections is vital. PWE reports.

The use of thermal cameras has spread to many professional environments in recent years. They are easy to handle and thermal images are quick to take. Images can also be attached to reports easily, e.g., for an inspection of an electrical installation or building as evidence of work carried out or of any faults or deviations identified. However, people often forget that an image to be used as evidence or even proof before the courts must meet certain requirements: this is not achieved with a quick snapshot. So, what characterises a really good thermal image? 

Some suggest it can take years to become an expert in infrared (IR) imaging. However, to get there a bit quicker, FLIR has identified 10 critical (and common) thermography pitfalls that are well worth avoiding in order to ensure the capture of successful thermograms: over-emphasising temperature measurements; ignoring temperature measurements; not assessing the risk; misidentifying parts; not being open-minded; not understanding the science; not understanding the limitations of IR; not understanding the capabilities of IR; over-reaching; and complacency. PWE reports.

Thermography can help detect anomalies promptly as well as being able to carry out inspections more efficiently and increase availability. Jon Bawden (pictured above), product manager, HVACR & General Instrumentation, Testo Limited, reports.

Infrared measurement adds important and often revealing data to certain types of R&D analysis, but it hasn’t always been easy to incorporate these measurements into experiments and reports.

FLIR Systems has introduced the T530 and T540 professional thermal imaging cameras, designed for thermographers who operate in a variety of environments including power generation, electrical distribution, and research laboratories. PWE reports.

Joss Dixon looks at key developments in the world of thermal imaging over the past few months.

The use of thermal imaging and industry’s awareness of its capabilities has increased dramatically in the last decade and the technology is increasingly percolating through to many areas of our daily lives. The options for measuring temperature and studying thermal performance have never been greater. Not only is there a huge range of models available to suit all application needs but the technology is now eminently affordable and very easy to use. PWE reports.

Martin Robinson, CEO of IRISS, guides you through which certifications apply to infrared windows.

The storage of large quantities of organic material always carry the risk of spontaneous combustion and fire. With Europe’s commitment to bioenergy through initiatives, like the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, this is a growing problem. For energy producers in this sector, such an outbreak is not only a major health and safety issue but also one that involves loss of raw material and production downtime. PWE reports.

Predictive maintenance and RCM (reliability-centred maintenance) programmes at manufacturing facilities regularly use thermal imaging cameras for inspecting a countless number of mechanical components. FLIR tells PWE how to get started.

Some suggest it can take years to become an expert in infrared (IR) imaging. However, to get there a bit quicker, FLIR has identified 10 critical (and common) thermography pitfalls that are well worth avoiding in order to ensure the capture of successful thermograms: over-emphasising temperature measurements; ignoring temperature measurements; not assessing the risk; misidentifying parts; not being open-minded; not understanding the science; not understanding the limitations of IR; not understanding the capabilities of IR; over-reaching; and complacency. PWE reports.

PWE recently attended an event in Essex which saw the world launch of the IRISS* asset tagging system, and the European launch of its Delta T Alert - a self-contained, wireless temperature monitoring system. In addition the company made the first public appearance of its IRISS CAP-ENV – a tough infrared window for the safe, thermal inspection of energised equipment.

If you want to conduct a live thermal inspection of electrical equipment the most effective and certainly safest way is via an infrared window. It’s a data collection point which is IR transmissible that allows meaningful data to be obtained without the thermographer encountering the dangers of arc flash. Martin Robinson, CEO – IRISS Inc reports.

Mick Broughton, UKAS calibration manager at AMETEK Land Instruments, looks at how periodic calibration of infrared thermometers by a UKAS-accredited laboratory is essential for maintaining quality, efficiency and safety within the production process.

PWE looks at how the inclusion of thermal imaging windows reduces inspection costs and makes maintenance smarter, without increasing health and safety risks. PWE reports.

A thermal imaging camera only reads the electromagnetic radiation it receives in a specific range of wavelengths. To display this reading the camera makes several calculations to convert data into actual temperature and one that is vitally important is emissivity.

Thermal imaging has now become widely adopted for preventative inspection but, although the technology is exceptionally easy to apply, the need for training is more important than ever. It is vital that the camera user understands the science behind thermal imaging. Without it, thermal images are virtually meaningless and findings are at risk of serious misinterpretation. PWE reports.

Manpower analysis, based on the experience of a power generation company, shows a powerful case for infrared windows. PWE reports.