ITC InfraMation - = July 2005

If you can't see the graphic = version of=20 this message please change your profile to receive text messages = at=20 {{user("unsubaddr")}}
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July=20 2005

Volume 6, Issue=20 7

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

Inspecting Bushings Covered by Squirrel & = Animal=20 Guards

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

Better than Ever

Hi =20 {{user("firstname")}},

Have you ever=20 tried to inspect electrical equipment through an animal guard? Joe = DeMonte=20 tells what works and what doesn't in this month's lead article,=20 Inspecting Bushings Covered by Squirrel & Animal=20 Guards.

I=20 also want to call your attention to some IR News articles we have = this=20 month. I have boldfaced several articles of particular value to = condition=20 monitoring thermographers. You should find Using=20 Thermal Imaging to Solve Lubrication Problems , Oil Analysis, Vibration = Analysis=20 and Thermography Deliver Savings at Manufacturing Plant, and=20 Infrared Camera Spots Bearing Failures=20 of particular interest.

As=20 usual we have our Message board posts, News items, 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 idea, we = will send=20 you a thank you gift.

As with all images in this = newsletter,=20 click an 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.

See you next=20 month,

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and = Publisher

Inspecting=20 Bushings Covered by Squirrel & Animal=20 Guards

By Joe=20 DeMonte
Senior Thermography Course Instructor
Infrared = Training=20 Center (itc)
ASNT/PdM TIR Lvl III

Animal Guards have = nearly=20 eliminated electrical outages caused by interference from wildlife = coming=20 in contact with high voltage bushings in switch yards. These = products have=20 proven their worth time and time again. However, one issue does = exist with=20 these installations: visual and infrared inspections are not = easily=20 performed through the solid poly designs. I would like to point = out the=20 difficulty in performing the necessary inspections in this issue = of the=20 Inframation Newsletter.

Fig=20 1: Vice holding the 40Watt soldering iron

I took two=20 different styles of =93critter guards=94 and put them through some = simple=20 tests using a LW (8-12=B5m) IR camera to find out how difficult = the=20 inspections were. As you can see from the visual image in Figure = 1, the=20 heat source in this initial study (with more to follow), was a 40 = watt=20 soldering iron. The actual temperature of the iron was measured = with a=20 thermocouple (Omegaette HH306 Data Logger Thermometer) during each = of the=20 events.

=
Fig=20 2: Critter guard 1

As we can see = in the=20 thermogram and visual image in this 1st example, we cannot easily = do a=20 visual or infrared inspection. Although the soldering iron appears = through=20 the poly design, the temperatures measured by the thermocouple = inside were=20 actually 870=BAF while the LW infrared camera could only muster a = value of=20 about 120.9=BAF. This equated to a very low transmissivity, and a = warning to=20 those who view the smaller .05=94 thick solid bushing guards: ANY=20 TEMPERATURES TAKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED INDIRECT = IN=20 NATURE. IR TECHNICIANS SHOULD NOTE THIS IN THE INSPECTION AS = ACTUAL=20 INTERNAL TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH HIGHER THAN MEASURED FROM THE = OUTSIDE=20 USING INFRARED CAMERAS.

=
Fig=20 3: Critter guard 2

The actual = temperature=20 taken with the thermocouple in figure 3 was again, 870=BAF. Due to = the lower=20 emissivity of the somewhat new metal of the iron, the IR camera = only=20 measured 513=BAF without the see through guard and 488.6=BAF with = the guard.=20 The first error is, of course, not something that will be covered = in this=20 paper. The second error of about 25=BAF between having the guard = off and=20 then on was due to the fact that the hottest area of the soldering = iron=20 was not seen by the camera with the mesh covering it. It is = clearly plain=20 that the ease of which the infrared and visual inspections can be = made=20 with this style of =93critter guard=94 in place, gives it an = advantage to=20 those who wish to keep unwanted outages from happening and still = perform=20 these types of inspections with greater ease and accuracy.

=
Fig 4: = Critter=20 guard 3

This image is = of the .08=94=20 thick large solid =93critter guard=94. One interesting fact is = shown by=20 analyzing these images and comparing the thinner .05=94 design = with the=20 thicker poly of this larger design. We cannot =93see=94 through it = with the LW=20 IR camera like we could on the thin specimen (although barely), = and we=20 cannot see through it with our own eyes. Be careful when = performing IR=20 tests on this type of guard. It measured at 873=BAF contact = temperature on=20 the inside. The outside shows no rise at all.

=
Fig=20 5: Critter guard 4

The large guard = shows the=20 same ease of inspection for both visual and infrared as the = smaller=20 design.

Conclusions

Infrared = friendly design=20 can go a long way in helping the electrical maintenance community. = I have=20 many more tests to conduct on these products and will publish = those tests=20 later on this year. Tests that have been conducted but not = included in=20 this article include the effects of distance on the small mesh = holes in=20 the see through guards, and tests have also been conducted using = MW=20 (3-5=B5m) IR cameras. Other tests on heat transfer effects will = also be=20 addressed. As long as companies recognize the need for safe and = effective=20 product design, I hope that they will continue to think of how to = improve=20 that product for the growing infrared inspection needs.=20

IR News you can Use

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

Using Thermal Imaging to Solve Lubrication=20 Problems
Machinery Lubrication
...Thermography can be used to identify and = analyze=20 thermal anomalies for condition monitoring of machines. These = thermal=20 anomalies are usually caused by such mechanisms as operation, = improper=20 lubrication, misalignment, worn components or mechanical loading = anomalies.
Oil = Analysis,=20 Vibration Analysis and Thermography Deliver Savings at = Manufacturing=20 Plant
Reliability Case Studies World - July 2005
...The preventive maintenance team at American Axle = and=20 Manufacturing (AAM) addressed an issue found during a routine = preventive=20 maintenance work order. Relying on their skills and field = experience,=20 they corrected the issue with minimal effect on productive time. = Catching the issue in a timely manner saved the company an = estimated=20 $50,000.
Infrared Camera Spots Bearing = Failures
Reliability Case=20 Studies World - March 3, 2005
...Initial scans=20 with an infrared camera did not detect the faulty = bearings=20 because the machine speed is slow and the bearings do not have a = significant increase in temperature. However, if the carousel is = operated in "lube" cycle, it allows continuous running and the = bearings=20 will heat up if a binding condition occurs.
Traces of hidden Leonardo sketch = revealed
Guardian Unlimited, UK - = Jun 30,=20 2005
... Under an infrared camera, = layers down,=20 beneath the drawings for the present painting, an entirely = different=20 image shone out: a kneeling woman, one arm folded ... =
Step by=20 Step
TheHorse.com, KY -=20 Jun 28, 2005
... the joint surfaces. = Infrared=20 thermography can be used in = some cases=20 to help diagnose a case of osselets. Your veterinarian will = ...=20
Medical=20 Messengers--British Equine Veterinary = Association
TheHorse.com, KY - Jun = 28,=20 2005
... diagnosing back pain. He said the most = common=20 diagnostic tools are X rays, scintigraphy, thermography,=20 and ultrasound. He agreed ...
Sleep lab at CentraState helps diagnose=20 disorders
Asbury Park=20 Press, NJ - Jun 28, = 2005
... One=20 of the only things that distinguishes the room from a Motel 6 is = an=20 infrared=20 camera mounted by the side of the television set, = so that=20 the technicians on ...
Langley helping send shuttle back to = space
Virginian Pilot, VA - Jun = 27,=20 2005
... damage after launch. They built an = infrared=20 camera that astronauts can use to spot sub-surface = damage=20 on the shuttle. They developed ...
Hot Bother: Ground squirrels taunt in = infrared
Science = News Online -=20 June 26, 2005
Ground squirrels are the = first=20 animals reported to broadcast an infrared signal, and the = message=20 seems to be "Nyah, nyah."
Fireworks Safety
WFMZ-TV=20 Online, PA - Jun 24, = 2005
...=20 UNDER A THERMAL IMAGING = CAMERA EVEN=20 SPARKLERS HAVE THESE PROS CONCERNED. ITS ISSUING ABOUT 600 = DEGREES, THE=20 OTHER ONE WAS IN THE THOUSANDS. ...
Titan may have an ice volcano
Rocky Mountain News, CO - = Jun 20,=20 2005
... Using an infrared camera that = penetrates the haze shrouding Titan's surface, Cassini = scientists=20 spotted a bright circular feature, 19 miles across, that = ...=20
Mercedes=20 releases official photos of next-gen S-Class = flagship
AutoWeek - Jun 19,=20 2005
... Different from the thermal=20 imaging process used by Cadillac on the STS, the = optional=20 system is based around a new infrared sensor that is claimed to = identify=20 ...
Millions of bats take flight each night in Texas - = and that's=20 good ...
Picayune = Item, MS -=20 Jun 18, 2005
... McCracken's study, in = its second=20 year, uses infrared thermal imaging = cameras to get=20 a more accurate count of bats in Central Texas. ... =
Intelligent cars may make driving safer, but they = aren't=20 cheap
The Japan=20 Times, Japan - Jun 16, = 2005
...=20 An infrared=20 camera takes pictures of pedestrians on the road = to help=20 the driver identify people not visible to the naked eye in the = dark.=20 Honda Motor Co. ...
Researchers record coyotes stealing goose = eggs
KWQC-TV, IA - Jun 15,=20 2005
... Researchers at the Max McGraw Wildlife = Foundation in East Dundee near Chicago used silent infrared=20 camera equipment to catch coyotes in the act of = pilfering=20 ...
When Your Horse's Muscles Ache
TheHorse.com, KY - Jun 6, = 2005
... evaluation is more difficult. Other=20 potentially useful imaging modalities include ultrasonography = and=20 thermography. Radiography can = help=20 ... =

ITC Message=20 Board Posts

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.

Roof Survey - Large Stone Ballast
I=20 recently looked a leaky flat rubber membrane roof having large = river=20 stone ballast. The ballast is spread 2"-4" in thickness across = the=20 membrane. I was on the roof about 2 hours after sundown and the = roof=20 appeared uniform in temperature. Conditions seemed right for a = good=20 scan: sunny all day, low wind and clear at night. My question is = should=20 I have stayed on the roof longer or will the large ballast mask = the=20 moisture below?
Putting holes in our lexan covers to allow IR scan=20
We are looking at putting holes in = our lexan=20 covers to allow a IR scan without having to power down the tool = to=20 remove them. What is the smallest hole size required by the IR = gun.=20 Allowable IR Scan hole distances Here is what is in the current = EEW=20 Guideline. So if the lexan guard is 2" from the electrical=20 circuit/terminal, then the max opening is 3/8". This is to = ensure the=20 lexan cover is finger safe. Can you guys give some feedback = about the=20 advantages and disadvantages of using holes of this size to = scan, also=20 has anybody used slots in place of holes.
Motor Temperatures ?
Is = there a chart=20 or graph for ideal running tempreatures for motors(Frame, HP, = Speed)? I=20 need something to have a refrance point? I know that every motor = maybe=20 diffrent do to age and operating condition, but I would like to = have=20 something. Can anyone help?
infrared and ultrasound
Does anybody=20 use ultrasound along with their infrared?? What kind of results = and=20 tests do you do? Been doing a little research and seems they go=20 hand-in-hand.
345kv Disconnect - 64C Rise
Attached=20 is an image of a 345KV manual disconnect. This is one of two = parallel=20 paths through which flows a total of 1250MW. First reading was = 64c rise=20 in a 7.5 mph wind. Second reading two days later approx 10C rise = in a=20 2.5 mph wind. The total loading has not changed. Division of = load=20 between the two parallel paths is unknown (I assume it splits = based on=20 impedance of the two paths). How serious would you view=20 this?...

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=20 of the Month =20

Here is this month's = brainteaser.=20 Readers who email us the correct identification and explanation of = the=20 thermal pattern in the thermogram are entered into a drawing to = win a=20 prize from ITC. Hint: If you were at the InfraMation conference = last=20 year you should know what this is.

Please put=20 "Brainteaser" as the subject of the = message.

Click here to email your = guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would = challenge=20 other 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.

=20 Last Month's=20 Brainteaser

It's not a hairbrush or a curling iron, so what is it? Our = thermogram contributor Ken Leonard explains his = thermogram:

"I was scanning a plant that mills drill bits, this is a = rack of=20 bits that have been titanium coated and were = drying."

No one was even close on this one, so = Ken gets the=20 only coffee mug this = month.

Past = Issues =20

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

All past issues from February 2000 through June 2004, = click here.

June=20 2005

May=20 2005

April=20 2005

March=20 2005

February=20 2005

January=20 2005

December=20 2004

November=20 2004

October=20 2004

September = 2004

August=20 2004

July=20 = 2004

Course=20 Calendars =20

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

Americas - All Courses (pdf)

Americas - Level I

Americas - Level II

Americas - Level III

Americas - Intro to 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

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;
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