We have a discussion going on in the Reliability forum so I thought I would ask the same question in a technology area like Infrared.

What is new in Infrared that applies to machinery reliability?

Terry O

Infrared windows and viewing ports offer opportunities to more easily view areas that may not have otherwise been easily or safely accessible.

Some areas of interest:
1 - The buswork on the back-side of load centers and motor control centers.
2 - Motor term boxes. It would be nice to be able to do a PMT infrared scan after reterminating.

Not really mechanically related but I've used IR to detect problems with fiber being wound onto take-up machines ie improper string-up, drive roll wraps, traverse guide jumps etc.. Also use it for quick check of bearings on these same machines, of course this is not new.

This_is_from_a_16_end_winder_with_8_spools.doc (154 Kb, 45 downloads)

Terrence,

I believe you can learn something new with IR every day. If you have any free time I suggest walking through your plant at night and scan your machinery, steam systems, cooling water systems and so on. If you find just one steam relief valve or a trap leaking, you may have just saved your plant thousands in water and chemical costs.

There are just to many applications where this technology can be used. Get your operators and management thinking about IR and they'll come up with things that maybe you never thought of.

Is there a book written on use of thermography in industrial plants/facilities? I have seen a comprehensive list of uses of condition-based monitoring in RCMII book. TQ

Greg,
What you say is so true

quote:

Get your operators and management thinking about IR and they'll come up with things that maybe you never thought of

Once Operations and Maintenance found out that I could do Infra Red and Ultra Sonic testing, I have had a never ending stream of requests for help in solving problems/questions using htese technologies.

Scan the car / truck your boss drives. When you show him or her how the alignment is off on the front end after it just got out of the tire & alignment shop you can get a larger infrared budget. Like a new faster, better camera and software on the way. WOO HOO.

Kenny

Vendor.
They get pocket sized:
http://www.vtab.se/./pages/eng/product/thermo.html
Olov

For those with a pocket on this side of the pond: http://www.reliabilitydirect.com/tempproducts/M4.htm

Well, there's the topic of what's new in IR Thermography and then there's the topic of what's new to me. This is part of what makes this technology so dynamic and powerful - there are so many practical uses of it. Often, if you're focused in one area of IR or limited by your own plant's or facility's current needs, you may not think of other existing uses for IR. There are many existing uses for IR technology beyond what you may know or have considered and more are indeed being discovered every year. This may not be a comprehensive list, but FLIR has put together a nice list of various applications for IR and there are some nice PDF links within each category.

Various applications of IR thermography

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Bruce Anderson>,

Thermography is coming of age as a PPM tool with applications reaching well beyond the historical power distribution systems.

IR cameras are being used to evaluate RV's that discharge to common vent headers, heat exchanger performance, refractory linings, and to scope refractory repair work for boilers, furnaces, lined systems, etc. prior to shutdowns and/or turnarounds. It goes without saying that it can be used to evaluate such repairs.

Some claim to use it for evaluating machinery alignment by looking for "hot" bearings but coupling guards and low temperature differentials make this difficult.

Jim Campbell
Resource Optimization Inc.
jcampb3639@aol.com
706 832-1996

This may not seem like an innovation per se - but the use of multiple technologies in crossover, colaborative fashion. That is to say IR may tell you that a motor is hot, or even overheating, but motor circuit testing can tell you what's gone wrong or what's going wrong. IR may catch an overheating fan or pump but ultrasound or vibe analysis will get down to the root cause.

Such cross technology uses can also be seen in a broader way as providing an asset health report card for your plant or facility. In the future, the ability to take the pulse of your plant will become more and more important for world class facilities and will be the heart of the predictive maintenance function.

We all know that IR is a big part of that.

Bruce,

That's what we have been calling "PdM Technology Integration".

Don't just "pass the buck"... ...Interact!!

Dana

quote:

Don't just "pass the buck"... ...Interact!!

Dana,

Yes, this approach will definitely save someone's bacon in the long run and probably lots of bacon in the meantime..

Merry Christmas all,

Bruce

I thought that was what Integrated Condition Monitoring was, using all the tools in the bucket.

ie: vibes,ultrasound,thermo,digital camera, and motor tester. Sure makes for a good report when you can add the different technologies findings in one report.

Dave

I am always amazed each time I take the camera out into the mill. Have to be careful to watch where I am going. One use we are investigating is the condition of the centrifugal cleaners used in pulp stock supplies to the paper machines. A thin cleaner leg will show up hotter and can indicate a failure on the way.

Gary B