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Infrared thermography

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02.05.2003

Thermography provides the easy checking of points throughout an electric system where faults may arise, and with sufficient warning in order to correct the fault before things get worse.

Infrared thermography provides the visualisation of temperature differences arising at the surfaces of objects. The tool used is a portable and autonomous camera (similar to a home video camera) which is equipped with a detector which permits the measurement and visualisation of thermal images.

The obtained image (thermogram) shows lighter- or darker-coloured zones which indicate the temperature of the surface being filmed. In this way, anomalies can be detected during the operation of the system can be detected, on evaluating the difference between the temperature registered at the body surface at a particular moment in time and that registered when functioning normally.

As a rough guide, a thermographic inspection of a factory can be carried out in a day. The cost of the inspection depends on the number of elements to be visualised (high/low tension transformer, divider box, machine boxes, battery).

As a result of an inspection carried out, SEMATEC (an offshoot of INASMET specialising in consultancy for environmental matters, industrial security and quality), issues a report in which all the elements examined are recorded. In case of the detection of anomalies (points excessively hot), a photograph of the zone in question is attached to the report, as well as a thermogram indicating the exact hot point and also the solution to correct the fault.

Thermography is today a preventative measure against risks of an electrical origin and against interruptions in production.

Contact :

Cristina Alberdi
Inasmet
calberdi@inasmet.es
(+34) 943 003668

Cristina Alberdi | Source: Basque research
Further information: www.inasmet.es

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