Infrared inspections may be performed for electrical systems, mechanical systems, structural or petrochemical systems. Infrared inspections may be performed for the purpose of Preventive/Predictive Maintenance, Condition Assessment, Quality Assurance, Condition Monitoring, and Forensics.
Listed below are several common infrared applications along with representative thermal images for each application. Also listed are the benefits of each application and the theory on which the subject applications are based.
Electrical Distribution Systems
Theory: As electrical current flows through a conductor, heat is generated. Many electrical defects are accompanied by a rise in temperature for up to several weeks prior to failure. Some defects may be represented as cool components.
What Can Be Detected:
- Loose/deteriorated connections
- Overloads
- Imbalanced Loads
- Open Circuits
- Inductive Heating
- Harmonics
- Defective Equipment
Benefits:
- locate problems quickly, without interrupting service
- drastically reduce costly, unscheduled power outages
- minimize preventive maintenance time and maximize troubleshooting effectiveness
- prevent premature failure and extend equipment life
- identify potentially dangerous and hazardous equipment
- reduce insurance premiums and deductible payments
Mechanical Systems
Theory: As mechanical devices operate, heat is generated. Forces such as friction, misalignment and improper belt tension cause excessive heating.
What Can Be Detected:
- Misalignment of coupled equipment
- Over/under lubrication of bearings
- Over/under tension of belted systems
- Excessive friction
- Defective Equipment
Benefits:
- quickly locate misaligned coupled equipment
- increase equipment reliability and life
- increase production and efficiency while saving energy
- increase quality of product
- minimize downtime by planning the required manpower and materials before shutdown
- improve worker productivity and morale by correcting potential problems proactively
Structural Energy Loss
Theory: Missing or damaged insulation or water infiltration into insulated systems allows excess energy loss at the point of defect. When performed under the correct conditions, thermal imaging is capable of detecting evidence of latent moisture or physical defects due to changes in either the thermal conductivity and/or thermal capacitance of the insulation system.
What Can Be Detected:
- Missing, damaged, or improperly installed insulation
- Energy losses caused by air infiltration and exfiltration
- Water infiltration
- Damaged refractory
Benefits:
- help reduce heating and cooling energy costs
- evaluate thermal performance of retrofits
- identify areas of latent moisture
- detect conditions conducive to mold or insect problems
- provide hardcopy proof of problems
Flat Roofs
Theory: Water infiltration into low slope roofing systems causes changes in the thermal properties of the roofing system. Usually conducted at night, thermal imaging is capable of detecting evidence of latent moisture due to changes in either the thermal conductivity and/or thermal capacitance of the roofing system.
What Can Be Detected:
- Identify latent moisture
- Missing, damaged, or improperly installed insulation
Benefits:
- pinpoint water-damaged roof areas quickly and accurately
- perform quality assurance inspections of new or retrofitted systems
- eliminate unnecessary replacement of good roof
- identify problems early before they become large and costly
- help extend the life of the existing roof
- document problems before the warranty expires
- provide facts for planning accurate budgets
Call us today at 609-239-4788 to learn more about the many applications of thermography. You may also contact us by sending email to support@infraspection.com.