THERMAL IMAGING & VISION SYSTEMS FEATURE SEEKING
HOTSPOTS: What’s new?
With thermal imaging available at the touch of
a button, it is possible to quickly identify gaps in insulation
or electrical faults, and monitor the performance of machinery. Equally, it can check the gas cylinder level on a barbecue or detect the freshest loaf of bread in the supermarket! Thermal imaging has become truly universal, writes Andrew Baker, sales director North Europe, FLIR Systems
O
ver the last decade, the use of thermal imaging has increased
dramatically. And, thanks to television programmes ranging from those reporting on the work of firefighters and the police, to those covering nature – such as the BBC’s Autumn Watch – more and more people are becoming aware of thermal imaging technology. Thermal imaging cameras are capable of producing a clear image at night, in light fog and smoke, and in diverse weather conditions. As such, there is growing interest in using the technology for security applications, driver vision enhancement and unmanned aerial vehicle inspection. The manufacturing industry has also witnessed similar take-up, with thermal imaging becoming increasingly attractive to those seeking to control and monitor processes automatically. Even in the mature maintenance market, the options for measuring temperature and studying thermal performance have never been greater. No longer do engineers have to choose
between a simple spot thermometer or a thermal imaging camera, there is now the option of an imaging thermometer or a smartphone with integral thermal imaging. Indeed, the development of a micro thermal imaging core has allowed the technology to be repackaged to meet the needs of an even wider audience. So what are the options and what’s new?
CHOOSING A DEVICE The choice of device for temperature measurement essentially depends on the job – whether you simply want to
INSTRUMENTATION | NOVEMBER 2016 37
confirm temperature or investigate a wider problem. Consider, however, if you are best served by a basic device or one whose cost can be justified across a variety of tasks. All thermal imaging instruments work according to the same principle: they are non-contact devices that detect infrared radiation and translate it into a temperature reading. Indeed, a spot thermometer can be seen as a thermal camera with just one pixel and it can be very useful for a wide variety of tasks. However, as this is simply a tool that measures temperature in one spot, it may be sufficient for some jobs but does not allow the full potential of thermal measurement to be incorporated into your working life.
MULTIPLE MEASUREMENT POINTS A thermal imaging camera generates an image from multiple pixels, each of which provides a temperature reading. In effect, the camera combines thousands of spot thermometers in one device. So a camera with an image resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, such as the FLIR E40, is therefore able to provide 19,200 temperature readings at once. It puts the hot spot into context, greatly assisting diagnosis. A thermal camera also saves inspection
time as large areas with
Lightweight devices that plug into smartphones to convert them into thermal imaging cameras were introduced a couple of years ago, but recently the first smartphone with fully integrated thermal imaging camera has been introduced
many components can be scanned and, thanks to advanced optics, it can resolve temperatures from further away and with a greater degree of accuracy. When the application involves high
voltage, a model with a minimum resolution of 320 x 240 pixels is the best choice. This provides the optimum number of measurement points to allow detail to be seen and, most importantly, at a safe distance away from the target. Thermal cameras now come in various shapes and sizes, and while the high end cameras remain fairly constant in their design, their functionality continues to develop. Increasing value for money applies at the troubleshooting end of the scale too. These cameras now have a variety of sophisticated features and are available in a choice of styles that now also includes pocket-sized.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS Sitting between a spot thermometer and a thermal imaging camera is an imaging thermometer, a new breed of instrument that combines the two for fast troubleshooting. Needless to say, it doesn’t have the sophistication of a dedicated thermal camera but it allows the user to see heat patterns, measure temperature accurately and store measurement data for reporting. Indeed, the introduction of the micro core is paving the way for a range of combined technologies. Also available are imaging moisture meters and clamp meters, with more in the pipeline. Lightweight devices that plug into
Thermal imaging cameras are capable of producing a clear image at night, in light fog and smoke, and in diverse weather conditions
smartphones to convert them into thermal imaging cameras were introduced a couple of years ago, but recently the technology has moved on again: the first smartphone with fully integrated thermal imaging camera is now available.
FLIR Systems
www.flir.com
T: 01732 220011
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