There’s no universal solution for all infrared inspections using a thermal camera or thermal imager. Fluke, as a leading provider of electrical testing tools, and locally represented by Comtest, advises that it’s best to match the method used to the type of equipment being inspected and the level of detail needed.
Thermal imaging cameras can be used to monitor plant and equipment and detect anomalies.
However, it outlines three basic methods which can be used to cover most situations: Baseline thermography, Thermal trending thermography, and Comparative thermography.
Baseline thermography
Baseline thermography is a good place to start for most applications. The maintenance team should scan the equipment when it is first commissioned, or later in the lifecycle when it is working the way it should be, and use that ‘baseline’ as a reference point for future inspections. With Fluke’s portable thermal cameras, technicians can use the thermal images on the camera in the field or on a PC at the office, using software tools provided. This baseline approach paves the way to help maintenance technicians spot anomalies down the road.
Trending thermography
Once the baseline is set, teams can conduct thermal trending inspections to compare how temperature is distributed in the same components over time. This can help to detect declining performance so that maintenance downtime can be scheduled before the equipment schedules it.
Comparative thermography
As would be expected, in this comparative approach, similar components are scanned using the thermal camera under similar conditions, and the results can then be compared. This method relies on the idea that similar or identical components under similar loads will be expected to have similar temperature profiles. Once three or more components are compared, picking up an anomaly is relatively easy. This is usually straightforward, but it is important to keep in mind that in some installations, depending on the components being compared, the actual temperature difference that can be viewed as an anomaly will vary.
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