Advantages of Thermal Imaging for Electrical Testing

The Concept of Infra-red radiation and Thermography

According to physical science, every object emits infra-red radiation, which is invisible to the naked eye. The amount of these infra-red radiations increases with temperature. Thermal imaging or thermal video uses certain techniques to capture the images of these otherwise invisible radiation and at the same time it also indicates the variations in the temperature. The best part is, thermal cameras detect any sort of irregularities or anomalies in a particular environment and make them visible, whether it is day or night. Thermography plays an impressive role in the field of electrical testing as the technique proves to be superior in detecting any sort of irregularities in temperature, poor connections and leakage of energy.

What makes electrical equipment malfunction?

Let us delve a little deeper into how thermal imaging facilitates electrical testing process. Law of thermodynamics says that power is never destroyed and is just transformed from one form of energy to another. Now, when a situation of poor connections and higher resistance takes place in an electrical appliance or plant, the electrical energy takes the shape of thermal energy which increases the temperature. This increase in temperature due to irregularity in flow of energy leads to higher resistance scenario. Eventually, the raise in resistance calls for attention which often goes unnoticed due to lack of detection of the problem. As a result, this trouble is often overlooked and ultimately leads to alarmingly catastrophic failure, in the form of complete shutdown or electrical fire.

How thermal imaging is benefiting electrical testing

Thermal imaging thus saves industries, electrical plants and buildings from facing such expensive and dangerous situations. Infra-red thermography as a non-invasive measurement tool identifies high resistance fields in electrical framework by detecting areas of higher temperature, in an efficient, accurate and secure manner. By diagnosing these unnoticed and threatening electrical anomalies and inconsistencies, thermal imaging prevents electrical damage or severity of conditions. Thermography has also proved to be helpful in detecting irregularity in temperature in electrical motors.

Applications of Thermal Imaging

A balanced temperature ensures longevity and efficient operation of motors, whereas the life of motor is reduced to half when it is allowed to operate above the maximum temperature. The following electrical devices and appliances can be inspected with the help of infra-red mechanical inspection system:

• Motors
• Bearings
• Pumps
• Drives
• Pulleys
• Shafts
• Fans
• Generators
• Conveyor systems
• Gearboxes
• Robotic equipment
• Compressors

To sum up, thermography follows the theory that every seen or unseen object emits infra red rays which are invisible to the naked eye and has its individual temperature. Thermal imaging simply captures the ‘heat picture’ of the object and detects the anomalies by identifying the deviation in the temperature.