Thermographic Inspection Services

Infrared technology has been applied to electrical inspection applications since the early 1960's, when electric utility companies originally embraced this concept. Since that time, many useful applications have been discovered.

Equipment that conducts, generates, or consumes power will emit heat as a result of energy loss. When these devices become less efficient, the heat emitted tends to increase. Imaging systems called radiometers incorporate electronic sensors that respond to infrared radiation. Using a radiometer to view your electrical equipment displays a graphic profile of thermal conditions present at the time of the survey, which can then be used to determine trouble spots.

Benefits of Using Thermal Imaging

• Non-obtrusive Surveys
• Early detection of problems will eliminate catastrophic failures and shutdowns
• Reduce the number of costly and catastrophic equipment failures
• Uncover potentially dangerous situations

Where To Use Thermal Imaging

• Build-Up Roofing Systems — Leaks in the roof allow moisture to become trapped in the insulation below. Solar loading of the trapped moisture causes the temperature to rise, and the area will retain heat for longer periods than spots with dry insulation. During the inspection areas are marked using cans of spray paint, and often reveal that only small portions of the roof need to be repaired.

• Building Envelope — These inspections are best performed during the time of year when the inside temperature is quite different from the outside temperature. This creates a greater delta (change) between the inside and outside to maximize the results of the inspection. This inspection can reveal energy loss around window and door seals, insulation voids, construction defects, moisture penetrated walls and ceilings.

• Electrical Applications — In the case of a poor connection or other high resistance problem, electrical energy is transformed into thermal energy, which increases the temperature at the point of higher resistance. As the resistance goes up, the severity of the problem increases, as does the need for attention. With no intervention, a component can reach a state of catastrophic failure, which can result in an electrical fire or a total shutdown of the system involved.

• Mechanical Applications — Mechanical systems are composed of assemblies of moving parts. As mechanical equipment begins to fail or operate in an undesirable fashion, there will usually be a change in the normal thermal pattern of the equipment as compared to the thermal pattern of a properly operating system. Over time, bearing wear, belt tension, and coupling misalignment will generate friction. Infrared thermal imaging provides valuable guidance for preventive/predictive maintenance teams servicing mechanical systems. The information provided by this type of imaging directs technicians where to focus during maintenance periods. There is a wide variety of equipment that can be included in an infrared mechanical inspection program, such as: motors, pumps, fans, bearings, shafts, drives, pulleys, gearboxes, generators, compressors, conveyer systems and robotic equipment.

• Electric Motors — Thermal imaging can also help you track the temperature at which your electrical motor is operating, which is crucial to the longevity of the motor. For example, for every 10°C above allowable maximum operating temperature, the life of the motor is reduced by half. This damage is irreversible. In many industries, this can amount to thousands of dollars a year in lost profit.

• Aircraft — composite repairs, structural problems

• Law Enforcement — search and rescue, fire survey

• Manufacturing Process Controls — paper mills, data cards

• Mechanical — pumps, bearing wear, coupling alignment

• Plumbing — fluid transfer systems, steam traps

Optimize Your Inspection
In order to optimize your inspection, plan to have your thermal imaging inspection two or three weeks prior to a scheduled shutdown. This allows time for reports to be generated to identify the focus of your maintenance downtime. Your equipment needs to be under load for an inspection to be performed.

Perform visual inspections prior to service, with the intent to identify any detectable problems and schedule repairs/corrections. Also prior to service, meet with everyone involved and discuss safety and operation issues. During this time, decide what protective equipment will be required to perform the task safely. Assign an electrician to remove electrical panels as required for the thermographer to save time. Give some thought to the route that you want the thermographer to take throughout your facility. If you want a check-off list of items to be inspected, put them in the order of inspection and be sure to provide it to the thermographer. If possible, provide it on paper and on a floppy disk. Plan to have any identified problems repaired and then reviewed for verification that abnormal conditions have subsided.

For More Information, Please contact:

• In North America:
  1-800-637-1738 or
  773-299-6600

GEDEUPSOrders@ge.com
• International:
  41(0)-91-850-51-51