• FLIR Systems and Indigo Systems Complete Merger; FLIR to Report ...
  Business Wire (press release) - Jan 6, 2004
  ... is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems for a wide variety of thermography and imaging ...

• China killing cats over SARS fears
  The Globe and Mail, Canada - Jan 6, 2004
  ... We are ready for that eventuality, though, and could reinstate screening measures used during last year's outbreak, such as thermal-imaging devices," said ...

• Honda ’ s ‘ compact jet ’ takes its first test drive
  Aviation International News, NJ - Jan 5, 2004
  ... Besides the data-collection computers plugged into the sensors, Honda mounted an infrared camera in the T-33 cockpit to record the laminar-to-turbulent boundary ...

• There is a silver lining in clouds
  Oakland Tribune, CA - Jan 3, 2004
  ... Four Star uses an infrared camera to detect leaks in the house. Overall the water damage restoration business is extremely competitive. ...

• Bear cubs' sleeping hearts may yield clues to disease
  Seattle Times, WA - Jan 3, 2004
  ... Though the bears won't see the humans for at least a week, the scientists will watch their sleep daily over an infrared camera that sends images to computers ...

• Infrared camera aids home inspections
  WBBH, FL - Jan 2, 2004
  ... normal. But through the lens of an infrared camera, it is an electrical
  panel with overloaded breakers and it's a major fire hazard. ...

• Aerial search to scout for lost towns
  Times Picayune, LA - Jan 3, 2004
  ... Now, St. Charles Parish history buffs hope an aerial tour, complete with thermal imaging photography, will help them locate the two lost villages. ...

• Superyachts turn tide for industry
  Guardian, UK - Dec 30, 2003
  ... Since September 11, yacht owners have been demanding CCTV cameras, thermal imaging and worldwide tracking technology. But more basic safety seems an issue. ...

• Healthcast: Back Surgery; Homeless Vets; McArdle's Disease
  INDYchannel.com, IN - Dec 24, 2003
  ... Using a CT scan, infrared camera and other instruments, doctors can operate with exact precision for placing discs or screws in the spine. ...

• Beefing up security: Police return to trains; truck inspections ...
  Stamford Advocate, CT - Dec 23, 2003
  ... Metro-North Railroad trains, and uniformed troopers will patrol bridges and other major infrastructure on the ground and from aircraft using thermal imaging ...

• Improved thermal eye sees through smoke
  United States Marines (press release) - Dec 19, 2003
  ... It will be the replacement for the current first-generation Forward Looking Infrared Sight. The ITSS and components provide thermal imaging and far target ...

• Thermal imaging camera monitors shoppers
  BBC News World Edition - Dec 19, 2003
  A thermal imaging camera monitors the body temperature of shoppers in Taipei, as Taiwan fears a new outbreak of the flu-like Sars virus (click to picture 8)...

• Preventative measures key to lower bills
  Craig Daily Press, CO - Dec 17, 2003
  Yampa Valley Electric Association can help owners of residential properties find cold air leaks with the help of a thermal imaging camera. ...

• Consumer Reports: Electric Grills Put To The Test
  KCRA-TV, CA - Dec 16, 2003
  ... Testers used an infrared camera to see how evenly the grills heat. After preheating the grills, a picture is taken. All of them scored very well. ...

• Army’s superdigitized force leads Hussein capture
  GCN.com - Dec 15, 2003
  ... of any division, including newer versions of the M-1A2 Abrams tank and the Apache Longbow attack helicopter, each equipped with thermal-imaging infrared radar ...

• Nuclear probe to journey to Jupiter's moons
  New Scientist, UK - Dec 10, 2003
  ... And how and where and when does the ocean communicate with the surface?" Radar,
  thermal imaging, and seismic sensors placed on the moons might answer these ...

Below you will find a selection of new topics started by visitors to the message board last month. Feel free to click the links, see how people have responded, and post your own response.

• Medical Research
  I have been asked by a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Queen's University Belfast; is it possible to perform thermal imaging of the human brain? Any thoughts???

• Reflected apparent temperature measurement (RAT)
  How is aluminum foil used to measure the reflected apparent temperature. Why are we setting e=1, why not some other value like 0.88? What will be the ambient temperature during the above measurement? If we are taking measurement in furnace tubes, how will aluminum foil will be kept in line with our target? What should be the thickness of aluminum foil?

• Chemical and Petroleum Applications
  For those of you doing thermography in refineries what are the qualifications to do this type of work.

• Petrol tank
  Does somebody have experience in finding mud in the bottom of a petrol tank? Can the difference in viscosity of the materials show me different temperatures in the tank's surface?

• I R Inspection of Steam Heat Exchangers
  Does anyone have any experience using IR to inspect steam tube and shell heat exchangers for condensate buildup in the shell? Do you have any thermograms of the shell showing the cooler area of the high condensate level?

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

Inspecting Seals with IR Thermography [top]

by James Gambrell
Predictive Maintenance Technician
Hercules Inc. Pinova div.

In today's industry, practices that were once acceptable are no longer even tolerated. Environmental concerns and EPA mandates are applying more and more pressure on businesses like the chemical industry to improve the manufacturing processes being used, to the point that not only is a slight drip from a pump seal not acceptable, but in 2004 the MACT will be enacted and only 500 - 1,000 parts per million vapor will be allowed and, eventually, no vapor at all.

Thus mechanical seals and packing for pumps that were once acceptable at a cost of $50.00 to $1,500.00 will have to be replaced with seals costing $3,500.00 to $7,000.00. For a plant with at least 100 or more pumps with seals, that's a cost difference of up to $700,000 a year IF you can get your MTBF on seals to go a year.

Hence the condition monitoring technologies in use today include INFRARED, VIBRATION ANALYSIS, ultrasound, and vapor detecting equipment. My particular expertise is in the thermography and vibration analysis condition monitoring techniques. My company has already started implementation of advanced mechanical sealing, where a great deal of the seals being used are the double mechanical kind with some type of barrier fluid being used between them, i.e. (water, process fluid, or synthetic oil).

Thermograms before and after seal correction and a visible photo, note the dramatic temperature drop.

The infrared technology can be a great tool if used in a route circuit, check your seals for temperature increases and you will be surprised to find out just how many seals either do not have proper flow of barrier fluid or none at all! Not only will you save and/or increase the life of the seal, but the savings in maintenance and seal replacement can be tracked and documented. The possible bonus at the end of the year isn't bad either.

In closing; check, track, and document your seals with your infrared equipment, if you do not have thermal equipment it's time to invest; it'll be worth the cost. For some strange reason, for the officials in charge, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the IR camera is the only device that can provide it.

barrier fluid, Any time you use dual seals (two seals) in an application, you should have a fluid circulating between them to prevent the generation of unwanted heat.

MAXIMUM ACHIEVABLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY (MACT) standards are technology-based air emission standards authorized by the Clean Air Act of 1990 and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The nearly 100 MACT standards are found in 40 CFR Part 63. Each standard regulates a specific source category such as dry cleaners, petroleum refineries, or vegetable oil production.

Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF), a measure of reliability. The longer the time span between failures, the more reliable the device.

Editor's note: James receives an InfraMation Executive Attaché for his article contribution.

Brainteaser of the Month  [top]

Here is this month's brainteaser. First reader to email me with the correct explanation of the thermogram receives a gift from ITC. Please put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the message.

Click here to email your guess

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

A lot of you guessed this was a sled, and many of you guessed it might be a luge, but only a handful of you got it right! It's an athlete at the Utah Olympic Park (site of the 2002 Winter Olympics Games Bobsled, Skeleton and Luge competitions) holding a Skeleton sled just prior to a competition run.

Our winner for last month's Brainteaser is Michael Jordan from Inovant. Thanks to Kurt Vicker for supplying the image taken by Steve Oberstein. Michael and Kurt both receive a special low emissivity traveling coffee mug.

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