Instrumentation
New book demonstrates the scope of thermal imaging in automation
F
LIR thermal imaging cameras for automation enable manufacturers to validate and increase product
quality and throughput, minimise waste and improve profitability. These fixed mounted models are sufficiently discrete to be easily accommodated into any production line allowing complete, uncomplicated and highly cost effective monitoring systems to be created with third party control software. The wide
application scope of the FLIR Systems A-Series cameras is celebrated in a newly published e-book. It demonstrates how the technology can work in the most hostile environments
with no need for additional lighting, providing round-the-clock temperature measurement, even in the presence of dust, steam and smoke.
Fire prevention is the perfect application
for fixed mounted thermal imaging. Its use in coal plants, natural gas production and solid waste bunkers is detailed in the book. The technology is also
ideal for monitoring the status of gas flares and
the health of refractories. Warehouse and asset protection is another growth area where FLIR cameras are used to detect hotspots that could lead to fire. Process quality is
also an important area of application. Examples in the book include plywood
Measuring trace water in argon
R
olls-Royce in Barnoldswick, manufactures the Wide–Chord fan blade. The blade design is
used on the RB211-535 and RB211-524 and all Trent engines. The latest being Trent 900 for the super jumbo AIRBUS A380
The wide-chord blade is made from
three layers of titanium which are bonded together after being heat treated to a superplastic state, the metal ‘sandwich’ then being inflated with a gas (in this case argon). This produces a girder structure at the centre of the blade. This makes the blade exceptionally strong, lightweight and durable. While the blade is in the heat treatment
unit, the pipe work to the fused titanium blade is under vacuum to remove air. The argon is supplied into the blade at 0.4 barA and then increased to 0.5 barg. At this
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pressure a MCM moisture meter is looking for water content below 200ppm to ensure integrity of the process. After this phase, the pressure is greatly
increased to 35 BAR to create the balloon shape at the top edge of the blade. There has to be no contamination of air during the fusion and the increased pressure process. Due to the high cost of these blades, destructive testing should be minimised.
Hence Rolls-Royce needed the accurate analysis from the MCM moisture meter to ensure the integrity of the superplastic forming process. ■
For more information ✔ at
www.engineerlive.com/epe
Moisture Control & Measurement Ltd is based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England.
www.mcm-moisture.com
manufacture and inspection of composite panels at FIAT. Additionally, thermal imaging is proving
popular for checking product performance such as electronic resistors and car windscreen heating elements. And the food industry is enthusiastically adopting the technology for a variety of applications. They span the life of the food product
from its preparation and transportation to its storage and sale. Entitled Thermal imaging for automation/
process control – Discover a wide variety of applications; this publication is available as a PDF download or pre-order in hard copy format from:
http://www.flirfeed.com/ applicationguidebook/automation ■
For more information ✔ at
www.engineerlive.com/epe
FLIR is based in Breda, The Netherlands.
www.FLIR.com
Spray system measures droplet sizes
M
alvern’s Spraytec system measures across a wide range of particle sizes (0.1–2000
microns) during real-time spray actuation The Aerosol Dispensers Directive 75/324/ EEC and Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 require manufacturers to assess the potential risk to humans of product use for ‘normal and reasonably foreseeable exposure routes’. For aerosols this includes the risk of
inhalation, a factor that is overridingly influenced by particle and droplet size. Malvern’s Spraytec system measures
across a wide range of particle sizes (0.1–2000 microns) during real-time spray actuation. ■
For more information, visit
www.malvern.com
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