ITC InfraMation - = March 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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March=20 2005

Volume 6, Issue=20 3

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

Midwave vs. Longwave - Which is Better for Flame=20 Environments?

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

Poll=20 Position

Do you measure and enter reflected apparent = temperature (also=20 called background temperature, or T ambient) when performing = thermography measurements?

	Yes, I usually = do
	No, I leave it at the camera=20 default
	My camera doesn't allow me to = change=20 this
	What is this=20 parameter?

view=20 = results

Hello there=20 {{user("firstname")}},

We have some=20 hot stuff in this month's issue. We will start off with an article = discussing which IR wavelengths are best suited for viewing = objects=20 through flames from our associate in Italy. This link will take you right there.

And our IR News section has links to some stories (with = thermograms) such as the big uproar in the UK over heat loss from = some=20 famous buildings and the highest resolution thermal image of = Saturn ever=20 taken (from Earth no less)!

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

Remember to vote in our quick poll to the = left.

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

Midwave vs. Longwave - = Which is=20 Better for Flame Environments?

Roberto Rinaldi
ITC Italy = Technical=20 Training and Support
ITC Level III

This is a typical = question from=20 people in the chemical or oil industry using thermography for = thermal=20 analysis inside furnaces, but the principles can be extended to = any=20 application where an object temperature is desired when viewing = through a=20 flame.

The purpose is=20 to view thermal image of an object and, when possible, to measure = its=20 temperature through flame and combustion gasses.

When looking=20 through flames, we have to deal with something that has variable=20 transmission and emission characteristics with wavelength based on = the=20 fuel being burned. The fuel type determines if you have dusty or = clean=20 flames; for example an oil based fuel generates more particles = than=20 natural gas or methane. A burner using methane gas is the ideal = situation=20 for thermal analysis inside a furnace.

For object=20 analysis in a combustion chamber, such as refractory, pipes or = burners, we=20 need to deal with a high concentration of carbon monoxide, carbon = dioxide,=20 and water vapor. It is therefore necessary to consider the = spectral=20 response of those gasses within the IR band to choose the right IR = equipment for the application.

&nbs= p;=20 &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20
Visible image through a furnace=20 = door &nb= sp; =20 Atmospheric transmission chart for one nautical mile

Observing the=20 spectral transmission chart of air, we can see that for the two IR = spectral bands, Mid Wave (2-5 =B5m) and Long Wave (8-14 =B5m), = there are=20 several wavelength areas where the transmission is very low due to = gas=20 absorption. Of course the chart shown below is for a standard air = sample=20 of one nautical mile, which is not the case inside a furnace where = the=20 above mentioned gas concentrations are much higher.

If = we consider=20 the high object temperatures inside a furnace, the related thermal = emissions are moved toward the mid wave IR band, according to the = Plank=20 curves. The combination of gas transmission and radiation = intensity from=20 objects generates a situation where a Mid Wave camera provides = better=20 results in term of image quality and measuring = reliability.

This is=20 confirmed by the two thermograms below where the same subject is = viewed=20 and measured in both IR wavelengths.

&= nbsp; =20 <= BR>Mid=20 wave IR image=20 = (2-5=B5m) &nbs= p; =20 Long wave IR image (8-12=B5m)
Notice that you can see the flame = itself=20 much more clearly in the longwave image.
This influences the = apparent=20 temperatures we read from the tubes.

In = these two=20 pictures you can see that a mid wave camera using a special flame = filter=20 at 3.9 =B5m provides better clarity and detail. At this wavelength = the=20 combustion gasses are much more transparent.

&= nbsp; =20 <= /A>
Mid=20 wave IR image=20 = (3.9=B5m) &nbs= p; =20 Long wave IR image (8-12=B5m)
Notice the difference in clarity = and the=20 freedom from
interfering combustion gases in the mid wave=20 image.

The image=20 generated by the long wave camera is affected more by water vapor = and=20 therefore more "foggy". The apparent temperature level is also = much higher=20 due to this effect, therefore the readout is influenced by the = combustion=20 gasses and not only related to the analyzed objects.

ITC has a=20 simple procedure that can help you more accurately measure tube=20 temperatures in fired heaters. You can find these documents on the = web at=20 the following links:

The inspection procedure

A Heater=20 Reporter template (right click your mouse to save = this file=20 with extension ".RET".)

A Heater=20 Template in pdf format (if you don't have a recent = version of=20 Reporter)

And a bonus=20 document on heater tube=20 inspection

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.

Medical Breakthrough -- Arthritis Thermal = Scan
WQAD, IL -=20 February 23, 2005
New technology gives Tina = Hight a=20 chance to see something a normal x-ray can't. Using = thermal=20 imaging, researchers can tell if she has early signs of = arthritis=20 ...
Magneto keeps assembly lines=20 running
Mississauga=20 News, Canada - Feb 21, = 2005
...=20 industry. They still rewind motors, but they also do vibration = analysis=20 and use infrared thermography to detect potential = problems.=20 ...
De plane! De plane!
Penn = Live, PA -=20 Feb 19, 2005
... and Bald Eagle State = Forest in=20 Union and Centre counties will be among the 250,000 acres of = state=20 forest land to be scanned with an infrared camera = from a=20 plane ...
Small UAV provides eyes in the sky = for=20 battalions
United States=20 Army (press release) - Feb 18,=20 2005
... that attach to the nose of the plane, = an=20 electrical optical camera that sends data either through a nose = camera=20 or a side camera, an infrared camera in the nose=20 ...
SMOKING: CIGARETTES CAUSE TEMPORARY = FINGERTIP=20 AMPUTATION
Agenzia=20 Giornalistica Italia, Italy - Feb 18,=20 2005
... pressure. Experimental research relied = on two=20 analytical methods: remote thermography and Ambulatory = Blood=20 Pressure (ABP). Tests ...
Proof that the Queen should invest in double=20 glazing
Guardian, UK - Feb 15,=20 2005
This image, = taken with a=20 =A340,000 thermal imaging camera, reveals how much = heat is=20 lost from the draughty windows of the royal household on a daily = basis.=20 ...
Lords turn up the heat in a political = hothouse
Times = Online, UK -=20 Feb 15, 2005
... The=20 hothouse atmosphere of the Palace of Westminster is shown = vividly for=20 the first time in the photograph taken on a thermal=20 imaging camera. It is intended to ...=20
Heat-seeking the invisible=20 killers
IST=20 Results, Belgium - Feb 11,=20 2005
... guidance =96 like that provided by a = unique=20 European infrared-camera system =96 on ...=20 Multispectral thermal imaging is not a new idea, = admits=20 Sahli: =93It detects ...
Understanding investigation=20 techniques
Horse &=20 Hound Online, UK - Feb 9,=20 2005
... not need to be specially prepared for=20 thermal imaging, and as the technique is = completely=20 non-invasive, there is no recovery period. Thermography = costs=20 around ...
Saturn Has an Unusual Hot = Spot
Universe Today - = Feb 4,=20 2005
... Future work observing = Saturn will=20 include more high-resolution thermal imaging of = Saturn,=20 particularly due to the fact that the larger polar vortex region = may=20 ...
Waking up to health = risk
Brainerd Daily=20 Dispatch, MN - Feb 3, = 2005
...=20 eye movement and breathing. An infrared camera = lets=20 technicians monitor body positions during sleep. Greatens said = sleep=20 disorders ...=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=20 you like.

Sip Panels
I have recently = tried many=20 different scans on a home built with sip panels roof and walls, = the=20 foundation is insulated blocks. The siding is half log. Is there = a right=20 way or wrong way to do such a scan with the temperature = differences so=20 close. I have tried to heat the house up cool it down and just = leave it=20 the same and it is very difficult to see differences. The owner = is=20 having problems with wind and all the air getting sucked out of = the=20 house which is causing the heating system to imbalance. The = image I have=20 attached is when the temp. outside is 0 degrees and the inside = is 75=20 degrees
Thermography Inspections in Maryland = (Business)
Does anyone know what the licensing requirements = are, if any,=20 to operate as a thermographer in the state of Maryland? =

I would=20 like to use thermal technology to detect water intrusion and = insulation=20 defects in residential buildings. The state of Maryland does not = license=20 home inspectors and there is no funding as of yet. Also there is = no=20 licensing classification as far as I know for thermographers in=20 Maryland. I plan to take Level I and Building Science classes = from ITC.=20 Does anyone have any recommendations for starting a small = thermography=20 inspection consulting service?
Duplicating a page on the report
To do=20 the IR reports I am using the software that is incorporated with = Word.=20 Sometimes one single image has more than one hot spot (a breaker = might=20 have two loose connections). If I forget to upload the image = twice, is=20 there a way to duplicate that page once at the report?

I = tried=20 highlighting the whole page, then copying it and then pasting = it, but=20 the reference temperature is fixed on the hottest spot and does = not=20 allow to change it (it allows to change the spot marks but the = actual=20 temperature readings do not change).
Mobile crane IR inspection
Is anyone=20 performing inspections on mobile cranes? What are some of your = key=20 components to inspect and would you recommend a time based pm on = these?
Possible Transformer Problem
I have found this over the = last week. On=20 this day it was -15 C degrees. The cooling tubes of the = transformer are=20 only half working. Li1 ranges from -13 to 11.8, Li2 is -3.3 to = 9.6, and=20 Li3 is -12.4 to -4 degrees. I am waiting for some information to = get=20 back from the manufacturer but from what I can tell it seems as = thought=20 the outer part of the cooling tubes has no oil flow through = them. What=20 should happen is hot oil enters the top part of the tubes, then = as it=20 cools it flows down the tube and enters back into thw = transformer at the=20 bottom. A few days later we had a warm patch of weather so I = went and=20 rescanned the transformer. I will add another post for this=20 image.
Emissivity issue
I have = been facing an=20 issue regarding emissivity.
I have two Al plates with a = small gap in=20 between. The plates are heated to around 300 C. When I point my = IR=20 sensor at the plate surface and measure the temperature, it = corresponds=20 to the respective thermocouple reading. But at the gap ( air) it = shows=20 significantly higher reading compared to the thermo couple at = the gap.=20
I was wondering if I could do some formula to correct this = reading=20 assuming the emissivity of the air is 1.0 (??) =

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

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. 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

As=20 most of our roof moisture thermographers have probably guessed, = this is a=20 thermogram of a flat (no, make that low slope) roof probably = showing=20 residual heat from the daytime from trapped moisture under the = roofing=20 membrane, a classic pattern. We don't know = for sure=20 without a little more investigation, but the pattern is highly = suggestive=20 of wet insulation.

Steve Bispo is our winner of last = month's contest,=20 and Jim McDonald contributed the image. Both receive an ITC low = emissivity=20 traveling coffee mug and a big thanks.

<= IMG=20 height=3D120 hspace=3D3=20 = src=3D"http://itcnewsletter.com/2005/2005-03_images/Ferrier%20ETS_small.j= pg"=20 width=3D267 vspace=3D3 border=3D1=20 xthumbnail-orig-image=3D"2005-03_images/Ferrier = ETS.jpg">

<= /TR>

Past=20 Issues =20

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

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

February=20 2005

January=20 2005

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=20 = 2004

Course Calendars =20

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 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;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

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