Thermal Camera Applications: A Complete Guide to Infrared Inspection Technology

Infrared inspection technology revolutionized the way professionals perform nondestructive evaluations. This technology combines thermography and infrared technology and allows professionals to identify issues that are not visible to the naked eye.

Many mechanical and electrical systems are visually inspected for inconsistencies and potential failures. Thermal imaging can be used to inspect systems for latent issues that may be concealed from traditional means.Thermal Camera Applications can help identify water and moisture issues as well.

Using thermal imaging to evaluate electrical systems can help find electrical issues that may become failures. Breaker and fuse issues are electrical issues that are often found with thermal imaging.

Thermal imaging is a valuable technology that allows users to detect and help diagnose issues that typically are not visible. This technology can help professionals reduce the risk of failures and equipment breakdowns.

Thermal imaging equipment allows users to obtain infrared readings and create thermal images of various objects.

Understanding the Importance of Thermal Imaging

Many problems with buildings and equipment arise from hidden, or not yet apparent, conditions. For example, normal walls can conceal conditions that lead to the development of mold or other moisture problems. Normal, clean looking electrical panels can contain hot, overloaded, and overage Circuits.

Conditions like these can only be discovered with an infrared (IR) inspection.

Some advantages of an IR inspection are:

Ability to discover conditions before they become apparent to the naked eye

Non-contact condition assessment

Swift inspection of large areas

Less destructive condition assessment

May prompt corrective actions prior to equipment failure

Assessment of equipment condition and performance

Document inspection findings

It is important to remember that a thermal camera does not replace a person's engineering judgement.

One of the biggest benefits of an IR inspection is the ability to assess conditions without the need to dismantle or destroy the item being evaluated. The use of infrared scanning has significantly enhanced the way building and equipment inspections are performed. Thermal imaging allows the inspector to assess a large area and reveals numerous conditions that otherwise would be hidden.

Water Leak and Moisture Detection

Moisture can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a building, and is often hidden for long periods of time. Small, slow leaks can cause significant decay and make a building unsafe. Mold can also begin to grow in these areas, and be very difficult to find.

Moisture can often be located using Thermography because of the way it changes the temperature of surrounding areas. Areas that are moisture saturated can lose or gain heat slower than surrounding areas.

This can help to locate the general area where further inspection is necessary.

Thermal imaging can not really locate water. It can just help to locate differences in temperatures that may be caused by the presence of water. Other tests would be necessary to really determine if water is present, and if so, where it is.

Electrical System Inspection

Thermography can also be helpful in identifying differences in temperatures that may be caused by problems with an electrical system.

There are many things that can cause problems with an electrical system that can also create excess heat including loose connections, and an overloaded circuit.

During an electrical system inspection, components of the system that can be accessed (switches and breakers) can also be thermally imaged.

An abnormally high temperature on a component of an electrical system can be an indication of a problem. It may also be helpful in detecting electrical problems that may lead to failure of the system or other issues.

Regular thermography scans can also be used to help maintain other systems of a building and help locate problems.

Industrial Equipment

Because of long, extreme operating conditions, abnormal heat can develop in equipment. Bearings, motors, pumps and other equipment can have problems that, if not corrected, can result in failure.

Thermal imaging can help identify problems during normal operation. Some problems, such as high bearings or motor temperatures, can be identified before equipment failure occurs.

Thermal imaging also can help identify problems related to equipment operation, such as over-heating of equipment, inadequate/poor equipment operation, and other equipment malfunctions.

HVAC and Heating Systems

IR can help in many HVAC and heating system diagnosis and failure analysis. Distribution of heated or cooled air often can help in analysis of duct work or equipment. Often, anomalous temperature distributions can assist a technician in pinpointing malfunctions.

This also can help in analysis of in floor heating systems. Thermal distribution can help with troubleshooting of systems that may not be functioning as designed.

IR can help in analysis of roof systems. Using IR to help with traditional roof inspection can help identify areas where moisture or other issues are retained.

Using IR can help in identification of areas that may require further inspection.

Examples of when a thermal roof inspection would be beneficial include the following:

 1. Assessing suspicions of moisture

 2. Assessing the performance of roof insulation

 3. Evaluating large roof areas

 4. Developing roof maintenance strategies

 5. Recognizing the need for more comprehensive investigations

Thermal patterns are affected by many variables, including the aforementioned, as well as other factors, such as the weather. For these reasons, the interpretation of thermal patterns should be done by an individual trained in these methods.

 6. Evaluating Energy Efficiency and Heat Loss

Energy loss and heat gain are additional concerns for which the use of a thermal imaging camera is beneficial. Thermal energy can be lost through components of a building, such as the roof and walls.

Thermal energy loss may be occurring, even though it may not be noticeable to the average occupant. Where thermal energy loss is suspected, thermal imaging may be used to assess the building.

Much like the use of thermal imaging to evaluate the condition of electrical components, much can be determined about the building envelope, including insulation and construction materials, based upon thermal patterns.

 7. Preventive Maintenance

Traditionally, the focus for maintenance of building components has been time-based. However, with the use of infrared cameras, the focus may shift to a condition-based maintenance strategy.

Often, thermal images may be all that is needed to determine the maintenance requirement for an electrical component.

Frequent thermal images may be useful for identifying components that are failing, and may aid in determining maintenance strategies.

9. What Makes Professional Thermal Inspections Different?

 There are many considerations beyond aiming an infrared camera at a surface to perform a thermal inspection. The adept thermal inspector will consider the effects of environmental conditions and heat transfer, as well as the operating conditions of the equipment under inspection.

There are many limitations to the technology, and the inspector must understand emissivity and how it affects a surface’s ability to radiate energy.

Thermo Elite Inc. offers infrared inspection services to aid in identifying irregular thermal patterns.

A thermal pattern may indicate an issue requiring additional investigation, however, it may be a normal temperature variation.

Prior to Thermal Imaging Inspections

Inspections of buildings may require the home or building owner to provide access to various rooms and areas.

Inspections of industrial equipment may require the equipment to be operated in normal modes to assist in identifying normal thermal patterns.

Inspections may be more beneficial if the personnel being inspected provide a description of the equipment’s history and prior issues.

Ultimately, an adequately prepared equipment or building owner should benefit from the inspection because normal, functional equipment may be operating inefficiently.

Infrared Inspection Technology Trends

It is likely that thermal imaging will become more affordable and available to the general public like other consumer electronics and software.

Eventually, systems may provide automated reports, and simplify data analysis.

In the areas of building and equipment maintenance, there will always be a need for infrared inspection. This is especially true as employers begin to place a greater emphasis on accident prevention and the overall performance of their buildings and equipment.

 The use of an infrared camera to gather thermal data is fairly simple. The difficulty and true value of this technology comes from the reliability of the data and the interpretation of the data.

Conclusion

The uses for an infrared camera continue to expand. Infrared cameras are now being routinely used to perform building inspections to find water leaks and other hard to find problems. Electrical system and other equipment inspections, and HVAC system inspections to find energy losses are just a few of the many uses for this exciting new technology.

Thermal imaging can be a valuable tool for an inspector, but the equipment is useless without the proper knowledge. Training and experience are critical to interpreting the data and drawing the correct conclusion.

Thermographic inspections can be especially helpful to determine why equipment may be operating inefficiently. Thermo Elite Inc. specializes in infrared inspections and has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to perform inspections for clients in industry and the building market.

FAQ

1. What do thermal cameras do?

Thermal cameras capture infrared (heat) energy. With thermal cameras, we can inspect building envelopes and electrical systems, and perform component and equipment condition monitoring.

2. Do thermal cameras find water leaks?

Thermal patterns are associated with water and moisture. However, other diagnostic tests may be necessary to diagnose the location and cause of the leak.

3. Can thermal cameras diagnose electrical issues?

Infrared inspections can help technicians identify overheating electrical issues.

4. Is thermal imaging a NDT method?

Yes, thermal imaging is a NDT (non destructive testing) method.

5. Who can do professional thermal inspections?

Thermal imaging is a skill that can be learned, so professional thermal inspections can be performed by a number of people.