ITC InfraMation - = May 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")}}
and view this message on the web at = http://www.itcnews= letter.com/2005/2005-05.htm

May=20 2005

Volume 6, Issue=20 5

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

Thermography Keeps Condition Monitoring on=20 Track

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

Early=20 Bird Specials!

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

This month our=20 lead article focuses on thermography's use in the railroad = industry and=20 how Metronet Rail in the UK is utilizing it to lower maintenance = costs and=20 improve reliability.

The=20 InfraMation program committee is busy scrutinizing more than 80 = abstracts=20 we received for October's InfraMation Conference. We will select = those=20 that we feel will be of most value to you and build this year's = program=20 around them. I will let you know when they have been posted to the = InfraMation web site.

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

Thermography Keeps = Condition=20 Monitoring on Track

by Sal Mansfield
New River Industrial Communications,=20 Ltd.

For = the Auto Visual=20 Inspection team (AVI) at Metronet Rail, the continual review of = new=20 techniques to improve the efficiency of the service it provides is = a=20 matter of policy. Thermography was added to its predictive = maintenance=20 arsenal in the late =9190s and, as is typical of the technology, = its=20 application field has steadily broadened.

=93We chose FLIR Systems infrared cameras based on their = high level=20 of flexibility to provide a good return on investment,=94 = explained AVI=20 Section Leader Joe Nolan. =93Their use is growing with our = experience.=94 And=20 it=92s not just the AVI unit that has benefited from the = technology.=20 Metronet colleagues responsible for electrical cabling and = tunneling are=20 now also using the cameras.

As part of Metronet=92s Technical Services Team, the AVI = Section=20 provides instrumentation and testing expertise to support the = company=92s=20 overall engineering functions. One of its key roles is to = undertake track=20 and track-train interface surveys using high tech custom video = equipment.=20 These surveys are conducted throughout the year on the nine lines = in the=20 network and also include train-borne thermal imaging cameras. For = this=20 purpose, the camera is mounted on the front of a train traveling = at normal=20 line speeds.

= =20
<= FONT=20 size=3D1>Poor electrical connections are readily apparent to the = infrared=20 thermography system

AVI does a concurrent visual and thermographic = =91sweep=92 of the track=20 network to reveal hot-spots that are then investigated in detail = by the=20 traction supply engineers who themselves have hand-held FLIR = Systems=20 infrared cameras. Prime targets are high voltage bonds, insulators = and=20 trackside switchgear. =93Thermography adds an extra dimension to = our survey=20 facilities, allowing us to look at the track supply system,=94 = explains=20 Metronet AVI Systems Engineer, Salim Mohamed. =93Additionally we = are now=20 using the technology to survey our rolling stock.=94

For inspecting the integrity of electrical and mechanical = systems=20 on the underside of trains, infrared cameras are installed under = the=20 tracks. Monitoring is carried out during service hours without any = disruption to the running schedules.

FLIR Systems has provided all the cameras currently in = use at=20 Metronet. AVI=92s work is increasingly calling for real-time = thermal imaging=20 and digital output. For these applications the company invested in = three,=20 top-of-the-range ThermaCAM^=AE S-Series infrared cameras = to=20 supplement it=92s professional P-Series models.

In line with all companies in this sector, Metronet=92s = contract is=20 based on performance and quite simply any unnecessary service = delay=20 carries a cost penalty. Thermal imaging is part of a package of = measures=20 enabling the company to maintain the network infrastructure = pro-actively=20 and it is now seeking to develop its methods to grade the = criticality of=20 faults detected.

The collaboration between rolling stock, track, traction = supply=20 engineers and the AVI team is resulting in temperature thresholds = being=20 set for critical system elements, with each being assessed on its=20 individual characteristics.

Service requirements are also being taken into account. = =93For=20 example, we may set lower thresholds for the lines that serve = central=20 London,=94 Salim Mohamed explains. =93Clearly more trains run on = these=20 traction circuits and there is a much higher cost implication in = the event=20 of failure.=94

Next in line will be the development of Metronet=92s data = logging=20 system to automate the survey process further. This work will = result in=20 the digitizing of its visual survey work initially. Thermal = imaging will=20 soon follow and by choosing FLIR Systems ThermaCAM^=AE = S60,=20 Metronet already has the hardware to support this development. = This model=20 is designed to provide 50Hz digital recording and evaluation of = high-speed=20 events. Its enhanced connectivity options include an IEEE-1394 = FireWire=20 interface for real-time transfer of fully radiometric 14-bit JPEG = images=20 and associated = data.

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.

Course on the Theory and Practice of Infra Red = Thermal Imaging=20 in Medicine
Earth and Moon through Rosetta=92s eyes
European Space Agency=20 (ESA), World - May 3, = 2005
...=20 everything works fine at the final target,=94 said Angioletta = Coradini,=20 Principal Investigator for the Visible and Infrared = Thermal=20 Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS ...
'Extinct' sable found in abandoned=20 reserve
Hindu, India - May 2,=20 2005
... But now an infrared = camera=20 installed by Angolan wildlife scientist Pedro Vaz Pinto has = photographed=20 a small herd of female sable. ...
First exoplanet = imaged
Astronomy = Magazine -=20 Apr 30, 2005
... clinched the case. Glenn = Schneider of the University of Arizona observed 2M1207b with = Hubble's=20 NICMOS infrared camera. In January ... =
The hot new way to detect breast=20 cancer?
Times = Online, UK - Apr 26, = 2005
...=20 Thermography, or =93digital thermal = imaging=94, uses an=20 ultra-sensitive heat camera to pick up areas of the breast that = are very=20 slightly hotter than the ...
Civilian-built spy aircraft monitors = US southern=20 border
World = Peace=20 Herald, DC - Apr 24, = 2005
...=20 infrared camera. It is manually launched from a = short=20 runway and, once at a safe altitude, is switched to autopilot. = Mr. King=20 said the plane's thermal imaging ... =
Silhouette reveals hidden shape of = star's=20 envelope
Spaceflight=20 Now, FL - Apr 22, = 2005
... Using=20 the Infrared Camera and Spectrograph with Adaptive = Optics=20 on the Subaru telescope, the astronomers looked for candidates = in and=20 around the Omega Nebula ...
NASA Creates 'Eye in the Sky' for Shuttle Chase=20 Planes
ScienceBlog.com - Apr 22,=20 2005
... housing. Marshall=92s Mission = Operations=20 Laboratory helped develop software to control the = infrared=20 camera and recorder. Huntsville ...
You can't hide your lying eyes from=20 devices
Indianapolis=20 Star - Apr 17, 2005
...=20 infrared camera detects a violet flaring of heat = around=20 her eyes, the telltale sign, researchers say, that she might be = lying.=20 Known as a thermal imaging device ... =
Local Kids Enter Science Contest with = Thermomebear
WISH, IN - Apr 11,=20 2005
... =93It has a thermal = imaging camera=20 inside and it will like scan the whole room for any heat to tell = what=20 the temperature is,=94 said Bennett. ...
Space tools gain healthy respect in = home planet=92s=20 hospitals
Fort Wayne=20 Journal Gazette, IN - Apr 4,=20 2005
... reduced circulation of the blood, = nerve damage=20 and other health problems can result in abnormally hot or cold = regions=20 on the skin, and IR thermography is used ...=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.

Safety cloths (PPE)
Does = anyone have=20 guide lines they follow as to the type of clothing (PPE) to wear = while=20 they are making IR scans of energized, exposed high-voltage = switchgear.=20
Wearing all of the components to the Nomax suit for any = length of=20 time is a safety hazard in it self plus it makes using an IR = camera=20 imposable.
infrared sightglass (hawk)
I have=20 recently bought 4 new hawk i.r.sightglass
for our switch = gear room,=20 does anybody have thoughts on a good location to monitor I will = be=20 installing them on our next P.M. down time.
Certifications
How = important and what=20 benefits come from the 3 levels of IR certification? What would = be a=20 reasonable time frame to aquire these levels? I know it would = depend on=20 a number of unknowns, but I'd like some educated guesses if = anyone would=20 care to comment.
Temperature Differences at Different = Emissivities
Assuming everything else is constant (reflected = & ambient=20 temperature, distance, etc.), is the temperature difference = (delta T)=20 between two points the same at different emissivities? I'm = asking=20 because if I'm only interested in temperature differences = between two=20 objects, I'd like to know how important it is to have the = correct=20 emissivity. I know the actual temperatures can vary=20 unproportionally.
Glass furnace Insulation Inspection?
Is it possible to get accurate thermagraphic = reading from a=20 glass furnace that=92s outside wall is constructed of steel and = painted=20 with aluminum paint? What is the emmissivity of aluminum paint?=20
Sub-terrainian voids
Has = anyone had=20 any experience with locating voids under concrete (aprox. 6-8 = inches)=20 using IR? If so, what parameters as far as temperature = fluctuations are=20 required and would you necessarily have to use an elevated = platform or=20 shoot from a roof?
Wild 'testing' in high rise condo
I=20 have been asked by a local building contractor to submit a = proposal to=20 compliment his 'field test of windows and sliding glass doors' = for a=20 high rise condo now being built. They gave me AAMA's = specifications for=20 this test (It does not specify infrared). So I contacted the = Tech people=20 at AAMA who stated they did not have specifications for that = type of=20 test using infrared.
Has anyone isolated an field test = windows for=20 moisture and air intrusion. Any leads, suggestions, etc. would = be=20 appreciated. Bernie2 at Internatioanl Imaging = Tech

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 = 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.

Last = Month's=20 Brainteaser

<= IMG=20 height=3D120 hspace=3D3=20 = src=3D"http://itcnewsletter.com/2005/2005-05_images/brain_2005_04_small.j= pg"=20 width=3D196 align=3Dright vspace=3D3 border=3D1=20 xthumbnail-orig-image=3D"2005-04_images/brain_2005_04.jpg">Last month's Brainteaser was a tough one; Daryl Androli = explains his=20 thermogram below:

"What looks like the sun over a = hill or=20 mountain is actually my thumb print on a frosted over window. The = "ground=20 effects" are created due to the ice formation on the window!"=20

But can you believe it? Buster Norris = got it right=20 on the money, incredible! Both receive an ITC low emissivity = traveling=20 coffee mug and a big = thanks.

Past=20 Issues =20

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

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

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

June=20 2004

May=20 = 2004

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

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