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What Are Some Innovative Ways of Using Your Thermal Imaging Camera?

24/4/2018

Human beings can usually see light in a range of colours from red to violet. Each colour corresponds to a specific wavelength or frequency of light. However, on either side of this visible spectrum of colours, exist wavelengths of light that are invisible to the naked eye. The short wavelengths beyond violet are known as ultraviolet rays. Similarly, the long wavelengths of light below red go by the name of infrared rays. Infrared and ultraviolet rays are not visible to the naked eye. But, by using specific devices, you will be able to detect these different frequencies of light and create images that you could share. For instance, an infrared thermal camera could enable you to create images viewed in infrared light.

Warm objects create heat that radiates or disperses infrared frequencies in all directions. Your thermal camera could easily collect these frequencies and convert them into images. Some cameras can produce black-and-white images. Others can produce images in false colours. It is worth mentioning that false colour images typically use software for depicting different levels of heat in different colours. The images might not appear to be as attractive as those taken with regular cameras. But, unlike regular cameras, thermal cameras come into use for specific activities. For instance, security personnel could use these cameras for ensuring that no intruders enter the property. Similarly, guards and soldiers posted at the borders will also use these cameras to ensure that no unlawful intruders cross borders illegally.

However, thermal imaging is not something that only professionals can use in various applications. The technology is easily available for use by the average individual too. For instance, thermal cameras are available in various smartphone models. So, if you have a phone with a thermal camera, you could easily make use of it in a number of ways. You could use your thermal camera to:

 Test the Temperature of Microwaved Food: Many of you might warm up some food items in a microwave. But, in many cases, you might find that the microwave does not heat the item evenly. So, some parts of the food item might be cold or lukewarm, while others might be extremely hot. Use the thermal camera to assess the heat of the food. This would help you eliminate the hassle of eating a cold dish that appeared to be hot. Similarly, it would minimise the occasions when you bite into something hot and burn your tongue.
 Win Games of Hide and Seek: Looking for your friends in a dark house while playing hide and seek can be tough. The maxim ‘the more, the merrier’ is alright when you’re concealing yourself. But, when you need to ferret out dozens of your friends, consider using your thermal camera. Your FLIR camera could easily reveal the heat signatures of your concealed friends.
 Hunt for Ghosts: If you feel uncomfortable in certain parts of the house, you might end up feeling that the house is haunted. Unlike warm creatures, ghosts are cold. So, if you happen to be in the presence of a ghost, you will invariably end up feeling cold. Use your thermal camera to identify cold silhouettes. In many cases, a draft might be responsible for making you shiver. But, in others, you might be able to get some proof that your imagined fears are not merely hallucinations.

Why is the Use of Thermal Image Cameras Becoming Increasingly Common on Construction Sites?

18/4/2018

Thermal imaging cameras denote devices that can convert thermal energy into visible light for producing images known as thermograms. A regular camera can only take pictures in reasonably good visibility conditions. In contrast, thermal imaging cameras can work even in poor visibility conditions. This is because these devices do not rely on the presence of light for producing pictures. Rather, they rely on tracking the infrared (or thermal) heat emitted by an object for producing images. It is worth mentioning that different objects will emit infrared rays at different rates. However, thermal cameras can distinguish the variations in thermal heat of various objects. This trait enables these devices to produce accurate images that highlight these variations in different hues and shades.

Increasingly, a number of commercial and industrial sectors are waking up to the benefits of using thermal imaging devices in their operations. For instance, companies in the construction industry are using these devices for:

 Carrying Out Electrical Inspections: Improper electrical installations will almost always result in highly costly repairs in the long run. But, these improper installations are safety hazards as well. In some cases, these installations could lead to fires that damage property significantly. Even worse, these installations could end up imperilling the lives of several people too. These days, thermal cameras are available on smartphones. So, a building contractor could easily detect potential issues in an electrical panel before it starts causing problems. Thermal imaging devices can highlight hot spots in the panel, which could indicate overloaded circuits and / or loose or damaged wires.
 Identifying Causes of Heat Loss: In the construction sector, energy-efficient buildings are the rage. But, gaps and crevices in a structure could easily lead to the loss of heat or the infiltration of air. This will make a structure energy inefficient. To remedy this, builders can use thermal imagers for detecting areas where workers have not installed or placed insulation and seals. It is worth highlighting that identifying these gaps in a structure without thermal imaging would undoubtedly set these companies back in terms of both time and money.
 Detecting Leakages in the Roof: Finding a roof leak can be extremely difficult. It can also wreak havoc on the quality of the structure. Not only will water and moisture damage the walls and the interiors of the building. Such leaks can also make the building energy inefficient. In such situations, using a thermal imager can be invaluable. Water retains heat much longer than other surfaces. So, the thermal imager will easily be able to indicate areas facilitating the collection of moisture.
 Highlighting Blockages in Plumbing Lines: Problems in the plumbing of a structure can develop with time. Repairing these problems will invariably cost a lot of money. On occasions, workers at a construction site use the drains for getting rid of debris and trash materials. But, this usually ends up creating major blockages in the plumbing line. In such cases, it might be beneficial to use the thermal camera on your Android smartphone. Simply run hot water through the drain pipes and monitor the flow of water with the imager. You will easily be able to figure out where the blockage exists.

How is Thermal Imaging Playing a Vital Role in Industrial Facilities in Terms of Predictive Maintenance?

12/4/2018

Any industrial facility or plant will typically feature an assortment of machines and equipment. In many cases, these machines will be vital for churning out various products that the factory or plant produces. It goes without saying that these machines need to function in rough environments. In addition, repeated use can often hasten the onset of various wear and tear issues. As a result, the machine or equipment could well break down without any prior indication. Naturally, the malfunctioning of a machine will lead to some amounts of downtime. But, this has its repercussions on the industrial facility too. On the one hand, the breakdown of the machine leads to the loss of productive time. Consequently, this also affects the bottom line of the entity. At the same time, the repair or replacement costs for the machine will likely be exorbitant in some cases. Infrared cameras are increasingly coming into use for dealing with such issues in facilities throughout Australia.

In many cases, maintenance costs are among the largest factors that affect the budget of an industrial plant or facility. On many occasions, the facility owners will have tried (in vain) to reduce these expenses. But, ignoring the maintenance of the machines will be counterproductive. This has led to many facility owners considering the merits of adopting predictive maintenance strategies. Predictive maintenance is a defect inspection strategy. It involves using various indicators for preparing to deal with future problems. Many people confuse predictive maintenance with preventive maintenance. However, both terms denote different strategies. Preventive maintenance strategies will feature pre-planned and routine measures to prevent the occurrences of major issues. Thus, it involves regular and pre-scheduled service. In contrast, predictive maintenance usually involves observation. Facility inspectors will typically take notes of indicators that could signal major problems. For instance, signs of abnormal fluid leakage or moisture accumulation taking place, could indicate bigger problems in the machine.

In a predictive maintenance program, infrared thermal imagers will usually be the first line of defence. Signs of changes in temperature levels are key parameters when it comes to equipment monitoring procedures. Thermal imaging devices enable workers to measure the equipment temperature easily, without causing any disruption in operations. This is especially so because these devices are non-contact devices. Some industrial units commonly use infrared thermometers to identify faults or problems in their machines. But, these devices only capture temperature at a single point. In contrast, thermal image cameras can capture the entire temperature of the object and produce a two-dimensional image. This makes it easier for the technician to review the critical components and the surface heat of the entire unit to determine the area that requires investigation.

Increasingly, owners of industrial facilities are using thermal imaging devices for:

Monitoring temperature levels in large motors and rotating machines
Identifying hot spots in electronic equipment
Identifying leaks in sealed vessels
Finding faulty insulation in process pipes and other insulated processes
Finding faulty terminations in high-power electrical circuits
Identifying fuses at or near their current rated capacity levels
Locating overloaded circuit breakers in power panels and,
Identifying issues in electrical switch gear

The use of these devices is not only minimising breakdowns in industrial units. It is saving downtime as well. In addition, thermal imaging devices enhance safety levels too. Not surprisingly, they are becoming vital tools when it comes to predictive maintenance strategies in industrial facilities across the country.

How Do Various Maritime Agencies Utilise Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras in their Day-to-Day Operations?

4/4/2018

Thermography (or thermal imaging) is the process by which human beings are able to view things in the infrared portion of the spectrum. As mentioned previously, each object has a unique heat signature. Thus, each object emits some amount of thermal radiation at any given point in time. However, this energy or infrared radiation is not visible to naked eye. Therefore, human beings need to use devices that can capture images in the infrared portion of the spectrum. Infrared thermal imaging cameras render this possible. Many people feel that thermal cameras are synonymous with their night vision counterparts. But, this is not the case. Unlike night-vision cameras, thermal cameras can reveal objects in the darkest of nights. This aspect makes it ideal for viewing objects even if these objects remain obscured because of rain, snow, fog or smoke.

People in the military often use infrared thermal imaging cameras. These cameras usually come into deployment in the border areas. However, many maritime agencies use these devices as well. These devices are ideal for various purposes such as:

Maintaining Surveillance and Security Levels: Thermal cameras provide exceptional night vision. Thus, the security personnel in various maritime agencies use these devices for keeping a watch on the presence of intruders. In some cases, these agencies use these cameras for keeping an eye on the anchored boats and ships as well.
Conducting Search and Rescue Missions: Locating people who have fallen overboard can be difficult in some cases. In this scenario, using thermal IP cameras can be useful. These cameras produce images based on heat, not light. Thus, they can easily pick up variations in temperature levels. This makes it easier for the rescue personnel to rescue the unfortunate individuals easily.
Navigating the Waters on Night-Time Missions: On occasions, some maritime agencies (such as the coast guard), need to conduct surveillance missions at night. It is worth highlighting that not all parts of the coast will have sufficient levels of illumination. In this scenario, having thermal imaging devices could make it easier to identify the presence of unlawful elements. In addition, these devices could make it easier to navigate the waters by highlighting the presence of other vessels, structures, debris etc.

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