An infrared image visually assists the thermographer to detect a ‘hot spot’, a point that appears hotter in relation to the area around it. All surfaces emit energy, the difference between a cold or hot surface is the degree to which energy has been absorbed or emitted. If the surface absorbs more energy than it radiates, it is ‘seen’ as cold and appears as blue and green or black. If however the surface emits more energy than it absorbs, it is ‘seen’ as hot and appears as white, yellow, orange and red depending on chosen palettes.

In the electrical field, it has become the norm to inspect HT and LT switchgear, transformers, distribution boards and busbars on at least an annual basis. As almost everything that draws or generates electricity gets hot before it fails, detecting a hot spot in any application inevitably indicates trouble. In the electrical field it can spell catastrophic failure, downtime, production loss, fires, power outages, or even injury or death.

When it comes to safety, there should be no compromise, and using complimentary technologies ensures potential failures are detected.
Infrared scanning can be used to detect heat generated by arcing and tracking, but it will not detect the corona. This is where ultrasound comes in. Infrared will detect the emitted heat, but ultrasound will detect the high frequency of ionisation associated with potential failure conditions. These emissions will sound like a crackling or buzzing sound.

In South Africa we sell two models of the rbr Messtechnik range (ecom) - the CN and the J2KN. The CN is used for gas fired boilers and the J2KN for coal fired. Typically coal fired boilers produce a lot of soot and can damage a flue gas analyser not designed for such an application.

This really depends on your organisations accreditation requirements. Traditionally these units are returned to us on an annual basis, in order to have valid certification.

The term relates to combining an infrared and digital photo into one. ‘Fusing’ or overlaying the hottest area displayed in the infrared photo, which is usually in the centre of the screen, onto the digital photo.

Infrared thermography is the ability to detect and measure thermal energy emitted from an object - all objects warmer than absolute zero or -275.15°C emit energy. As infrared is the invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum extending from 0.75 to 1000 microns, an infrared camera is required to convert the energy represented as heat into an electronic signal, which is processed to produce a thermal image that is visible on screen.