ITC InfraMation - July 2009

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July=20 2009

Your intelligence = brief on=20 infrared thermography

Volume 10 Issue=20 7

In This = Issue:=20

Welcome

Thermographer Most Important part of an IR=20 Inspection

Video of the Month

IR News you can Use

ITC Message Board Posts

Brainteaser of the Month

Last Month's Brainteaser

Course Calendars

About the ITC

Visit our Web=20 Store

Google=20 Translate

InfraMation=20 2009

Special=20 InfraMation Summer Offer!

InfraMation IR=20 Clinics, InfraMation = Paper=20 Abstracts, InfraMation=20 Schedule

Hello {{user("firstname")}},

<= IMG=20 border=3D1 hspace=3D6 vspace=3D3 align=3Dright=20 = src=3D"http://www.itcnewsletter.com/2009/2009-07_images/Fireworks_small.j= pg"=20 xthumbnail-orig-image=3D"2009-07_images/Fireworks.jpg">Welcome = to the=20 summer. Here in the northeast we have had so much rain, that I = think we=20 could compete with Ireland for green this year!

Our application story this month reminds us that = its the=20 thermographer's skill and ingenuity that is at the heart of a = thermography=20 program. Geoff Generalovic gives us a few examples of things he = has=20 found.

Make sure you watch the video of the month, a = timely article=20 on lighting systems and their effects on energy usage.

We know our message boards have been hit by spam = engines for=20 the last several weeks. I am happy to say that we have put in = guards=20 against this and we have not seen any spam since these were = activated, so=20 please feel safe in using the boards again.

We have posted the InfraMation 2009 clinics, = presentation=20 abstracts, and the schedule on the website. All of these can be = accessed=20 by the links to the left.

As usual = we have our=20 Message Board posts, News items, = Videos, and our=20 monthly Brainteaser for you to solve.

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

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of = July.

We'll see you again next month,

Gary Orlove,
Editor and=20 Publisher

Thermographer Most Important = part of an IR=20 Inspection

By Geoff=20 Generalovic

Infrared inspections are a = routine=20 inspection in all areas of our plants.

Most believe=20 it is all about what the infrared camera sees, forgetting that = there is a=20 human who is one of the most significant and important components = of any=20 good Predictive maintenance program, the brains behind the camera. = The=20 camera is only as good as the operator, his knowledge and skill=20 manipulating the camera to get the best possible image each and = every time=20 is key to excellent report with pertinent information for the = department=20 requesting the infrared scans.

The camera=20 operator also brings other assets into the mix each time he = completes an=20 infrared route, he brings his other senses along as well. Nothing = can=20 replace this invaluable set of tools, which with the knowledge on = how the=20 system works, can assist the local departments immeasurably by = giving them=20 a heads up on equipment that may require immediate attention. This = is very=20 relevant today with the cutbacks in manpower across industry, a=20 knowledgeable thermographer is another skilled tradesman to be = utilized in=20 your maintenance program.

Figure 1. = Hot=20 Motor due to plugged end bells.

In = Figure 1,=20 we have some images captured on regular rounds. This is a motor = that was=20 running extremely hot, over 100 deg C, it was discovered that all = of the=20 motors were running this hot, it was unusual. The thermographer = found the=20 source of the problem by just looking around, the end bells for = the fans=20 were plugged with grease and dirt. Once cleaned all of the = motor=92s=20 operating temperatures dropped to normal levels of around 40 deg = C. See=20 Figure 2.

Figure 2. Motor temperatures after = cleaning.

Other things=20 found on routine rounds were a emergency stop Pushbutton station = that was=20 at over 100 deg C (Figure 3.). Water had entered the box and = shorted the=20 leads and melted the pushbutton. This effectively eliminated the = redundant=20 spare pump motor from starting, not to mention the hot steam from = burning=20 someone who opened the box to see what the problem was. With the = infrared=20 images at hand the electrician opened the box cautiously, when he = did=20 steam billowed out of the box, this possibly eliminated a possible = burn to=20 the electricians hand.

=
Figure 3. Hot emergency stop button.

The other set=20 of eyes will also notice damage like this water damage inside a = local=20 disconnect that had several hot connections.

Figure 4. Hot disconnect due to water=20 damage.

Something=20 always to keep in mind when scanning, stay aware of what is around = you;=20 you could get hints on what is happening and insight into unseen=20 problems.

Geoff earns=20 8 ITC certification renewal credits for his case history and a = thank you=20 gift.

Video=20 of the Month

How=20 Hot Are Your Lights?
Uploaded by EnergyCircle. = - Technology = reviews and=20 science news videos.

During a thermal = imagery home=20 energy audit, we took a closer look at just how much heat our = lights are=20 generating. If you can't see this = video, click=20 here.

IR News you can=20 Use

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

Infrared Cameras Help = Detect
IEN Europe - ‎Jun 25, = 2009‎
An infrared camera is=20 a very effective tool to detect people infected with a viral = disease at=20 a very early stage. Leading this technology are Flir Infrared=20 ..
A = "Briny Deep"=20 Inside Enceladus?
Sky & Telescope - Kelly Beatty - = ‎Jun 24,=20 2009‎
Thermal imaging from the Cassini spacecraft = reveals heat=20 escaping along the four sulci (dubbed "tiger stripes") near the = south=20 pole of Enceladus. ...
FLIR Systems Launches ThermaTrak
Advanced Imaging Pro (press release) - ‎Jun = 18, 2009‎
...=20 developed with GadgetTrak=AE, employs recovery software that = pinpoints the=20 geographic location of the lost, stolen or missing infrared = camera.=20 ...
How = to=20 build an electrical maintenance program
Reliable Plant Magazine - ‎Jun 16,=20 2009‎
Thermography (where it can be safety applied) is = always the=20 best option for detecting hot joints in control and distribution = equipment. ...
Latest=20 PCB technology boosts power electronics performance
Engineer Live - ‎Jun 16, 2009‎
The = different temperature=20 shapes of a system can easily be determined by thermal imaging = (Fig. 3).=20 It is also important to be aware of the physical = ...
5=20 things to look for in a Home Energy Auditor
Examiner.com - ‎Jun 15, = 2009‎
He or she, at=20 minimum, conducts a blower door test with the aid of an infrared = camera=20 as well as a duct blaster test. The blower door test indicates = how=20 ...
Keeping Things Cool In A Rack-Dense = World
Processor.com - Drew Robb - ‎Jun 4, = 2009‎
Thermal=20 imaging is a good way to get an idea of how your cooling system = is=20 performing and where there is room for improvement. = ...

ITC Message Board=20 Posts

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

Intro to Weatherization Course receives = RESNET and=20 BPI Accreditation
The Introduction to Weatherization = course has been=20 approved by RESNET for 16 continuing education credits, and by = BPI=20 recognized for 8 CEU Credits.

For more information click = below:=20
http://www.infraredtraining.com/courses/ir_weatherization.asp
Building IR Basics On Demand Web=20 Course
Many E-LearnIR students told = us they=20 wanted lots more examples of building thermography. The result = is this=20 course, Building IR Basics featuring over 120 examples of = interior,=20 exterior, and roofing thermograms.

This On Demand Web = course will introduce you to the art and science of using an = infrared camera as a non-invasive building diagnostic and = reporting=20 tool. We include lessons on IR thermography, IR science, and = heat=20 transfer. All of these subjects are necessary to allow you to = properly=20 interpret images. Finally, the course includes numerous examples = of=20 interior, exterior, and roof thermography.

This is an = excellent=20 class for anyone who wants to learn more about how IR cameras = are=20 revolutionizing the building inspection industry!

Use = the link=20 below to access the course
http://irtraining.inquisiq.com/catalog/coursedetails.asp?caid=3D= 0&crid=3D8695
MV Stress Cones
I have been looking at some 15KV Stress = Cones.=20 Thermal contrast is very difficult due to the high voltage low = current.=20 I have performed some baseline imaging finding some uniformly = heated=20 cones. I have also found a few with some very small abnormally = heated=20 areas below the bells. I know that the corona will cause added = heating=20 of the material with a failing cone but how much and primary = area I am=20 unsure of without added experience. Does anyone have any = experience or=20 guidelines to follow with stress cones? I have attached an image = that we=20 were visually able to see tracking on two of the three cones = that are=20 clearly failing. A and B phase were failing, this image is from = the back=20 so we are facing C-B-A. These cones were clearly failing however = temperature variance across the material was very small (less = than a=20 degree) Any help for future imaging on MV cones would be great. =
Ca= uses=20 for 1 phase hotter
Take a look at this image. The conductors = on the top=20 of the breaker are the load side of the breaker. The breaker is = a 350A=20 277/480V breaker feeding a 150A continuous load across all = phases. I am=20 going to do a shut down and check the connections. Upon a rescan = if the=20 issue is still there, I assume the only thing to do is replace = the=20 breaker. Ideas?

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

=20 Brainteaser of the = Month =

Here is = this month's=20 brainteaser. Readers who email us a correct explanation are = entered into a=20 drawing to win a prize. Please put "Brainteaser" as the = subject of=20 the message.

Click=20 here to email your guess

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

=20 Last Month's Brainteaser

<= IMG=20 border=3D1 hspace=3D3 vspace=3D3 align=3Dright=20 = src=3D"http://www.itcnewsletter.com/2009/2009-07_images/IR_2088A3_small.j= pg"=20 = xthumbnail-orig-image=3D"2009-06_images/IR_2088A3.jpg">This = a bicycle seat=20 after a rider just got off. This study was used to determine the = pressure=20 points on this seat compared to others.

We received a = total of 146=20 guesses last month and 95 correct answers. Congratulations to our = winner=20 Stu Wright of Tronox Maintenance Reliability Group, and to our = thermogram=20 contributor, Dave Sawyer of SAWYER INFRARED.com, Infrared = Inspection=20 Services. They both win the revered ITC low e coffee=20 mug.

Course Calendars =

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

Americas

Eurasia

Deutschland

France

Italia

United=20 = Kingdom

About = the=20 Infrared Training Center =20

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

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

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

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, = BOSTON

25 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862,=20 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,=20 Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26=20 01
E-mail: 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

=A92009 Infrared Training Center - All rights=20 reserved

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