ITC InfraMation - = January 2005

If you can't see the graphic version = of this=20 message please change your profile to receive text messages at=20 {{user("unsubaddr")}}
To view this message on the web go to http://www.itcnews= letter.com/2005/2005-01.htm

January=20 2005

Volume 6, Issue=20 1

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

Then and Now =96 A look back at IR systems from = 1985 and=20 2005

Meet=20 the Staff - Karen Tedford-Tierney

IR News you can=20 Use

ITC Message Board=20 Posts

Brainteaser of the=20 Month

Last Month's=20 Brainteaser

Past = Issues

Course Calendars

About the=20 ITC

Happy New Year=20 {{user("firstname")}},

I hope=20 everyone had a pleasant holiday season enjoying family and = friends, but I=20 fear that since this is a global newsletter, some of you may have=20 experienced the tsunami disaster in the Indian ocean. See the = message=20 board listing on post tsunami re= construction=20 and how thermographers may be able to help.

Since we are=20 starting a new year, I thought it might be interesting to see how = far we=20 have come and compare a thermography system from 20 years ago = vs. a=20 current system. For those of you who have just started using = thermography,=20 you might be interested in what you missed from the earlier=20 years.

As=20 usual we have our IR News, Message board posts, and our monthly Brainteaser for you to solve.

If you have an idea for a poll you would like to see, = email=20 me your question and response choices. If we use your poll, we = will send=20 you a thank you gift.

As with all images in this newsletter, = click each=20 image to see a larger version.

If you want to=20 save this newsletter for viewing off line in your computer, just = go to the=20 web page = using=20 your browser and select File....Save As or save this email = page as html in=20 your email software.

Until=20 February,

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and = Publisher

Then and Now =96 A look = back at IR=20 systems from 1985 and 2005 = [top]

Gary Orlove, = P.E.
ASNT=20 NDT/PdM Level III
Infrared Training Center

I was = recently=20 digging through some old files and I came upon a quote for an = Inframetrics=20 520 from 1985. In looking at this quote, I suddenly realized just = how far=20 we have come with thermal imaging technology in the past 20 years. = Let=92s=20 take a look at two systems from 1985 and today and compare the = features=20 and pricing.

You could buy=20 4 of today=92s cameras with color for the price of just one black = and white=20 camera of 20 years ago. The 520 also had a very audible 4000 Hz = tone from=20 the scanner that could be irritating; today=92s systems are = totally silent=20 except for the occasional soft click when the non uniformity=20 correction/level offset activates. Click any of the images below = for a=20 larger picture.

FLIR Systems ThermaCAM=20 B2	Inframetrics=20 520
Today's thermographer walks in with a tool not much = larger=20 than a flashlight, but with so much more capability and ease = of use=20 compared to cameras of yesteryear.	Here is what the well equipped thermographer was = wearing 20=20 years ago. The scanner hangs from the shoulder, the control = unit is=20 mounted on the chest with a Polaroid camera to take = thermograms, and=20 of course the battery belt. Lots of cables and lots of = weight. Click=20 the image for a larger picture.
Not only are today's systems smaller, but the = thermograms are=20 bigger, at least in the number of pixels. Note that the 2005 = camera=20 image has more detail, more contrast, and the temperature = scale=20 right next to it. Its also digital, so it is easy to handle = and=20 manipulate back at the office.	Twenty years ago, it was pretty much what you see = is what you=20 get. You could go through a lot of Polaroid film until you = got the=20 knack for setting up the system and monitor brightness and = contrast,=20 and the settings for the camera. Note the poorer image = detail and=20 lack of a temperature scale. Measurements were difficult at = best=20 requiring calibration curves and a calculator, and post = processing=20 almost non existent. =

Specifications and Features

Feature

FLIR=20 Systems
ThermaCAM B2

Inframetrics 520

Price (in = 2004=20 dollars)

About=20 $13,000

$49,680=20

Weight

Less than = 1.5=20 lbs.

~25 lbs = in man portable=20 mode

Shipping=20 Cases

1 case = smaller than a=20 briefcase

Main = system case,=20 Colorizer case, Video accessory case, Liquid nitrogen dewar=20 case

Image=20 resolution

19,200=20 pixels

~5,000=20 pixels

Color

Yes =96 = several=20 palettes

No =96 = only with extra=20 processor box (about $9,000)

Sensitivity

0.1 = C

0.2 = C

Dynamic=20 Range

14 bits = (16,384=20 levels)

6 bits = (64=20 levels)

Field of = View=20 (degs)

25 x = 19

18 x=20 14

Display=20 screen

Color = LCD

4=94 = black and white=20 TV

Detector=20 cooling

None = needed, room=20 temperature detector

LN2 =96 = lasted two hours=20 per fill

Absolute = temperature=20 measurement

Yes, all = formulas and=20 calibration self contained

No =96 = differential=20 measurement only if reference in scene. Reference to = external=20 calibration curves necessary to extract calculate=20 temperatures

Camera = ambient=20 temperature compensation

Yes, = built=20 in

None =96 = camera=20 calibration drifted with ambient temperature change, level=20 compensation $9,000 extra cost

Emissivity=20 compensation

Built = in

No =96 = only through=20 calculator and calibration curves

Temperature=20 Spans

Adjustable=20 spans

6 fixed=20 spans

Image = auto span/level=20 button

Yes

Are you=20 kidding?

Isotherm

Yes

Spot = Temperature=20 Tool

Yes,=20 movable

None

Area Max, = Min, Average=20 Temperature

Yes

No = way

Video = out

Yes, NTSC = or PAL=20 (software selected)

Yes, NTSC = only=20 (requires a circuit board change for = PAL)

Image=20 Recording

On board = digital=20 storage for about 200 images

Polaroid=20 Camera

Post=20 processing

Yes, in = camera and in=20 PC. Total adjustment of span and level, and all IR tools are = available.

Only from = data stored=20 on videotape and run through a colorizer system. Limited = adjustment=20 of span and level. Measurement limited to profile and=20 = isotherm.

<= /CENTER>

Meet the Staff - Karen=20 Tedford-Tierney=20 [top]

Karen joins ITC with over 10 years = experience=20 in running a training center for a software company. In addition = to her=20 experience, her enthusiasm for quality training at a fair price = and desire=20 for achieving operational efficiency are qualities that make her a = great=20 fit for this job and a valuable asset for ITC and our=20 students.

IR News you can Use = [top]

Straight from the=20 World wide web, here is what's going on in the world of infrared=20 thermography.

Police eye in sky pays = dividends
Portland = Tribune, OR -=20 Jan 04,2005
... Within 10 minutes of = arriving=20 over the scene, Air Support cops in a Cessna 172 found Rice by = using the=20 new infrared camera mounted on the plane=92s left=20 side.
Thousands of bats dying in=20 turbines
Concord=20 Monitor, NH - Jan 3, = 2005
...=20 Armed with radar and thermal imaging cameras, they = are=20 trying to come up with recommendations for wind power developers = to=20 avoid the problem. ...
Local Company donates IR Camera to = Police=20 Department
Billerica=20 Minuteman, MA - Dec 30, = 2004
FLIR=20 Systems Inc. has donated a ThermoVision Scout = infrared=20 camera to the Billerica Police Department. The camera is = used by=20 police ...
World's Most Powerful Infrared = Camera Opens Its Eyes On The ...
Science Daily (press=20 release) - Dec 28, 2004
... = at the=20 Palomar ... > full story. WFCAM has the largest field of view = of any=20 astronomical infrared camera in the world. In a = single=20 ...
Berry research tries to save deer,=20 motorists
Rome=20 News-Tribune, GA - Dec 24,=20 2004
... of Georgia graduate student Gino = D=92Angelo, is=20 documenting the nocturnal movements of deer near the college=92s = roadways=20 with a thermal imaging camera.=20

ITC Message Board = Posts=20 [top]

Here is a selection = of recent new=20 threads by IR Community members. Feel free to click the links, see = how=20 people have responded, and post your own response if you = like.

Mastitis and other bovine applications
I have been asked to speak at an upcoming = dairyman's'=20 workshop about the use of IRT for dairy operations. My primary = focus=20 will be electrical, pumping, etc., but I'd like to explore the=20 veterinary applications as well. I have about a month to collect = information and decide if I even want to cover it.

In = the=20 meantime, the dairy advisor is trying to arrange for me to meet = with a=20 local vet who owns a couple of small dairies, and we hope to = collect=20 some data.

He's got no experience with IRT though, and = I'm no=20 veterinarian. I did take the equine workshop at InfraMation 2004 = -- but=20 that doesn't qualify me to do this stuff as a pro, but I'm = hoping that=20 working with a vet, we can put together an application that may = have=20 some value.

Any pointers to more information about the = use of=20 IRT with dairy herds would be appreciated.
post-Tsunami reconstruction
I've been=20 wondering about the need for thermographers throughout the = region struck=20 by last week's tsunami once they get into reconstruction mode = and begin=20 trying to get the grid up and running again. Water and waste = water=20 treatment will be the single most important services to restore, = both of=20 which require a lot of power for pumping.

Has anybody = else been=20 looking into this or considering going over? I gather Bechtel is = the=20 primary contractor doing a lot of the work, so subbing to them = would be=20 the path. Other than PG&E, I've not yet worked for any such = big=20 companies out of my area, nor have I traveled abroad, so there = will be a=20 lot of details to work out -- not the least of which is the = export=20 restrictions on FPA technology.
EPDM Roofing
My company = has been=20 contacted to perform an IR inspection on large flat roof that = has a=20 black EPDM membrane over 4 to 6 inches of POLY ISCO Insulation, = with=20 much of the insulation has OSB wood sheeting on top of the = insulation.=20 The internal building temp. is maintained at 27 to 34 degrees F. = Has any=20 one done an inspection under these conditions ? This project is = in=20 Florida.
nondestructive testing
I = read=20 somewhere that pulse phase thermography can be employed for = detection=20 and measurement of defects within coatings . We develop & = apply=20 thermally sprayed coatings for demanding industrial applications = such as=20 in turbines & boilers . We have a FLIR thermal imaging = camera with=20 which we carry out hot spot detection in static electrical = equipment and=20 transformers . But coating QC control is another thing .We wish = to=20 detect defect in coatings .
Can anyone please provide info = in this=20 area ?
Thermography in Computer Server Rooms
looking for information on Thermography in server = rooms in=20 particular Blade servers and recommended operating temps for=20 these.
IR on PC boards
I recently = saw an=20 article or posting by a gentleman on troubleshooting a bad batch = of PC=20 boards. It involved some components that were rated differently = and were=20 causing failures. The thermographer "digitally subtracted" the = thermal=20 signatures of the two images to develop an IR image with a scale = of +/-=20 values. How did he do this? Where is this article? They stopped = using=20 the history button on our tool bars at work
formula for energy loss
is = there=20 simple formula for calculating the cost of a over heated = bearing, motor=20 or anything causing resistance?
Industrial Air leakage Control
As you=20 know, the air leakage is the most important problem for a plant. = How=20 can-I control the air leakage on the air- pipeline or on the = machines.?=20
If it could being cool air ,we can see the leak on the = thermal=20 screen(????)
Imaging Sarnifil roofing membrane
Has=20 anyone here any experience imaging Sarnifil membrane roofing=20 systems?

And of course=20 if YOU have a question or want to start a discussion on a = topic, we=20 would love to hear from you. Just post a new thread on a mes= sage=20 board.

Brainteaser of the=20 Month =20 [top]

Here is this month's = brainteaser.=20 Readers who email us the correct identification and explanation of = the=20 object(s) in the thermograms are entered into a drawing to win a = prize=20 from ITC. Please put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the=20 message.

Click here to email your = guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would = stump other=20 thermographers? If so please email me your image (preferably in = native .img,=20 .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or .tmw format) with an accompanying visible = photo and=20 explanation. If your image is used, you receive a gift as=20 well.

Last = Month's=20 Brainteaser [top]

Our=20 December "Christmas tree" actually turns out to be a small puddle = of water=20 caught in a tarp.

We received over 60 correct guesses on = this one, I=20 think that's a new record! Congratulations to our winner, Buster = Norris=20 from TECO Power Services in Arkansas and a thank you to A.J. = LeClercq for=20 the thermogram. Both Buster and A.J. receive an ITC low emissivity = traveling=20 coffee = mug.

<= /TR>

Past=20 Issues =20 [top]

Click the links = below to view=20 past issues of this newsletter:

All past issues from February = 2000=20 through December 2003

December=20 2004

November=20 2004

October=20 2004

September = 2004

August=20 2004

July=20 2004

June=20 2004

May=20 2004

April 2004

March 2004

February 2004

January=20 = 2004

Course Calendars =20 [top]

Click the links = below to see our=20 latest course calendars (in local language).

Americas - Level I

Americas - Level II

Americas - Level III

Americas - Intro or IR

Americas - Building Science

Americas - Electrical

Americas - Roof

Americas - R&D

Eurasia

Deutschland

France

Italia

United=20 = Kingdom

About the Infrared Training=20 Center =20 [top]

The Infrared Training Center offers training and = certification in=20 all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training = headquarters are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and = Stockholm,=20 Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories = for=20 infrared applications. In addition, we have training centers = around the=20 world. Please join us in exploring the fascinating world of the = infrared!=20

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are = welcomed=20 and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case = study to=20 share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published = articles earn credit towards IR = recertification.

Please e-mail Gary = Orlove or=20 send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, BOSTON

16 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, = USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free:=20 = +1-866-TRAINIR
&= nbsp; =20 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978.901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com

ITC Eurasia, SWEDEN

Rinkebyv=E4gen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, = Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 = 01
E-mail:=20 mailto:itc@flir.se

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL = PURPOSES ONLY.=20 INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT = WARRANTY=20 OF ANY KIND. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy = and the=20 use of this document. The Infrared Training Center newsletter may = be=20 copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All = text=20 and images must be copied without modification and all pages must = be=20 included; 2. All copies must contain the Infrared Training Center=20 copyright notice and any other notices provided therein;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

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