• Evidence of ice water found on Mars
  Fort Frances Times, Canada - Jan 31, 2004
  ... European scientists said they analyzed vapours of water molecules themselves, using
  an infrared camera aboard the Mars Express orbiter circling over the planet ...

• Watching for a big blowup: Satellite proves worth with detailed ...
  Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Jan 25, 2004
  ... That is changing, LaBrecque said, and there is interest in flying additional thermal
  imaging sensors. A view of the Bezymianny volcano from ground level. ...

• Planetary Nebula in Glowing Detail
  Universe Today - Jan 19, 2004
  Astronomers testing a new near-infrared camera on southern Arizona's 6.5-meter
  (21-foot) MMTO telescope have produced a sharp, detailed image of an aged ...

• CHA Uses Chopper, Thermography To Look For Hot Water Leaks
  WBBM, IL - Jan 19, 2004
  (Chicago) -- Cabrini-Green residents should not be alarmed by a low-flying
  helicopter, scheduled to hover above their homes late Monday morning. ...

• Northrop Grumman Delivers Composite Fuel Tank Half to NASA
  Space Ref - Jan 13, 2004
  ... Northrop Grumman will use two types of non-destructive evaluation techniques to examine
  the workmanship of the half-tank: thermography and laser shearography. ...

• Powering the Super Bowl
  KHOU, United States - Jan 12, 2004
  ... lines themselves. And, they don't just eyeball it themselves. Gonzales
  uses an infrared camera with an electric eye. He aims it ...

Our message boards have been busy this month. Here is a selection of recent posts by IR Community members. Feel free to click the links, see how people have responded, and post your own response if you like.

• Thermography in Fired Heaters
  When gathering data to calculate emissivity for tubes in fired heaters should we try to gain the flame temperature as this is likely to be the highest reflected temperature seen on the heater tubes. This is going to be significantly higher than the surrounding refractory temperature.

• Acid Plant Piping
  Please send us information about how to apply thermography to measure wearing out or thinning on Acid Plant piping (material saramet or ductile iron), if is possible please include information about same matter on Storage, Dry and Absorption tanks.

• Furnaces and boiler inspection
  I need information about inspections with flames between the wanted surface. I have an Agema 550 elite option.

• Emissivity Values for Exploding or Burning Ordnance
  I have an unusual and somewhat complicated task to measure surface temperatures of exploding and/or burning ordnance items that are located within a shrapnel containment field. I have already worked out the design, approach and logistics I will use to record these data for further post analysis using the FLIR 2001 Researcher software. I will be using an SC500 camera calibrated out to the extended temp range 350-1500 C. Were I am stuck is deciding on a solid technique to measure the emissivity of these exploding ordnance flashes and long burns from the test items. I used both aluminum foil and black electrical tape targets, having a known emissivity, in the target area to measure the background Tamb and to determine emissivity of objects within the field of view of the camera, the same area near the exploding ordnance. I need some help in determining the correct emissivity for the exploding and/or burning ordnance. I do have a list of materials that make up these ordnance to include the burning materials inside the ordnance. Any help from any of my colleagues out there doing similar high temperature work to calculate or measure unknown emissivity from specific or unknown materials would be helpful. appreciated.

• Absolute Temperature of Metal Caps RESPONSES NEEDED
  Are there any known examples of FLIR equipment being used in a high-speed production line where absolute T readings must be taken to confirm sealing on multiple 1" diameter unfinished stamped steel caps moving on a conveyer? T is about 100C to 200C.

• Need help with High Voltage
  I am fairly new to the IR industry and I am very comfortable with doing scans on commercial and industrial electrical installations. My company is starting to get inquiries about doing scans on High Voltage distribution systems and lines. High Voltage equipment and terminology are new to me, so I am hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. If anyone knows of good reference materials or has a good system in place for High Voltage, I would really appreciate some help.

• Bat dung between exterior and interior wall
  Situation: Bat have previously entered a building and have alleged to have left large amounts of bat dung between the exterior split face block wall and the interior cinder block wall. They entered thru the eaves areas due to alleged improper construction. The bat situation has been abated, but alleged large amounts of bat dung remain between the two walls.
  
  Problem: Determining where the bat dung is between the walls by some sort of a testing method or with infra red photography. Since the bats have been alleged to be gone, infrared may not be applicable......any ideas.....appreciate your help.......thanks

• Scanning of corrosion under insulation
  Has anyone try an application of the above?

• Bypass valve
  Have anybody done some scan on bypass valve in a petrochemical environment? I have tried with E2 and the valve is without any insulation. I also tried with level and span but the result is not very encouraging. Please help tx

• Guideline for infrared building envelope inspection
  I'm doing an infrared inspection for the building envelopes. However, I'm getting confused regarding finding problems. How many degree of temperature differences indicates a problem? Are there any standards to follow?

• IR Thermography on Plastic Boat Composite
  Have anyone experience with application on plastic sandwich construction?
  The problem is follow: Our customer has a boat made with a plastic sandwich construction. And the assurance company will check the area after repair job for status.
  Has anyone any remarks note with use of thermography on this problem/questions. And will thermography find any wetness/weakening area?
  Please answer step by step any method process on this application.

• A40 IR camera
  I am a researcher working on face recognition by using thermogram. For my understanding, the thermal pattern of a face should be the same no matter how the environmental conditions change. I wonder whether the A40 is suitable in this application, or could you please give your recommendation.

• IR application for jet engine flume
  I have seen some IR images of jet engines and the story ends there. Does anybody have IR application examples for jet engine exhaust? Is the LW camera good enough for this application? Thanks.

• Thermography in fired heaters
  When we are doing thermography in fired heaters, we are setting the back ground temperature by taking the wall temperature at e=1 & the box temperature in average mode and we are putting it as Tamb or Tref as per recent news. But reflection also may come from the flame itself besides refractory wall, which we are not taking into consideration. So what will happen to the accuracy of the reading?
  
  In my opinion, why we cannot set the maximum temperature (which is due to flame) observed in the radiation zone as Tamb, because that is also going to be reflected to your camera when you are taking the reading of tube skin temperature. If any body can help in this regard?

• T Reflected and T Ambient
  These terms are tossed around constantly and I'm now doubting myself... T ambient I take to be the room or surrounding air temperature and T reflected is the amount of infrared radiation reflected to the camera lens from heat producing objects in the viewing area. If you take a piece of dull cardboard and glue aluminum foil on one side, you should be able to read T ambient from the cardboard side and T reflected from the foil side. Both measurements being taken with emissivity set at 1. Is this correct or have I confused the issue?

• Older home inspections impacting insurance rates
  A recent letter sent from my insurance company claims an increase in rates will be forth coming unless I prove I have replaced major plumbing, appliances, and electrical wiring since the home is approaching 40 years old. Are there any insurance companies who will accept a thermal image of breaker panels and outlets as proof that my current wiring is problem free?

• Equine Thermal Training Seminar March 2004
  Equine thermography is one of the most innovative new non-invasive diagnostic techniques that can help you detect, confirm and document a problem BEFORE the onset of a more serious injury. Before thermography, veterinarians could only locate a problem with observation or palpation but with equine thermography, an abnormality - now called a thermographic or infrared abnormality - can show tissue that's stressed BEFORE the affected tissue becomes damaged.
  
  Join us at Vetel Diagnostics in San Luis Obispo, California for an informative 3 day seminar on Veterinary Thermal Imaging, March 5-7, 2004 at the Sands Motel and Conference Center. 1930 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401, 1-800-441-4657, 805-544-0500.
  
  Our speakers will be Tracy Turner, DVM, Jim Waldsmith, DVM, and Mike Walsh, DVM.
  
  The tuition is $350.00 per participant and CE credits are offered. You can find a complete course outline at http://www.veteldiagnostics.com/Training%20Sessions.htm .
  
  Please contact Kelly Martin at Vetel Diagnostics for any additional information you require;
  1-800-458-8890, 805-781-7691 or Veteldiagnostics@aol.com

• Geology and IR?
  I will be embarking on a project this summer in search of some archeological under ground tunnels. These tunnels or caverns may be up to 100' below the surface of the ground and possibly filled with sea water. Some may be much closer to the surface and air filled. I was wondering how effective IR scanning would be in detecting their location from a few low level passes from a light plane. I will be using a FLIR P20 camera with standard lens.

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 a message board.

In Memoriam - Bo Wallin, A Colleague Lost [top]

By Lisa West Akerblom

Bo Wallin began his work at AGA Infrared Systems (later AGEMA) in 1981. He was hired as the training manager to develop the thermography education program within AGA IRS - he began by focusing on different application areas such as condition monitoring, research and development, and medicine.

In 1984, Bo Wallin was named the R&D product manager, and was responsible for the introduction of the first thermoelectrically cooled infrared camera, THV 870, together with the first data system that handled IR images in real-time, CATS. In 1991, Bo Wallin as product manager, introduced the THV 900 system. During the 90's, he traveled around the world in support of sales, and was a key contributor to the development of the thermography R&D market.

With the merger between FLIR and AGEMA in 1997, Bo again took responsibility for customer training. Fluent in thirteen languages, Bo developed training materials and held courses in seven of those languages - Swedish, English, Russian, Spanish, German, Danish and French. He also produced literature within the field of thermography, among others a widely spread publication entitled "Thermography of Electrical Installations" released in 1999. Today, ITC continues to utilize Bo's documented knowledge and expertise in their worldwide R&D courses.

In 2001, Bo Wallin joined Ericsson Radio Access AB after twenty years of employment with FLIR Systems. We remember him as a dedicated husband and father, a talented classical musician, passionate about long-distance ice skating, sailing, and exploring all corners of the world - he was especially enchanted with the Far East.

We wish him peace after an extended illness of cancer, which ended on Monday, January 26, 2004 at 6:00pm Swedish time.

On behalf of many of his colleagues and friends,
ITC Eurasia

by Raphael Danjoux
ITC France

Infrared thermography and the French Navy
Reducing maintenance costs and optimizing the operational availability of a naval fleet!
This is a permanent challenge for the Service de Soutien de la Flotte de Toulon (SSFT), branch of the French Navy in charge of supporting the Mediterranean fleet. In order to succeed, a constant analysis of working methods, as well as keeping up with technological innovations are necessary.

In the last few years, SSFT has been using, and implementing on-board, oil analysis and vibration monitoring. Considering the excellent results obtained with these predictive maintenance methods, SSFT naturally adopted infrared thermography.

The French Navy chose FLIR Systems equipments, particularly the ThermaCAM PM 695. After being trained by ITC France, a SSFT specialist went aboard on several ships deployed in the Indian Ocean for the Héraclès operation, ordered after the September 11, 2001 attacks. More than 3000 thermograms were taken and more than 60 reports edited. The measurement conditions were extremely severe: indoor air temperature largely above 40 °C and high humidity. Infrared thermography allowed for immediate corrective actions, thus increasing the operational availability of all ships present.

  
Here is an example of an electrical problem on a gas turbine starter
(click each image to see a larger view).

The results after a month of measurements and analysis was more than positive. The global return on investment was already attained, and the acquisition cost of one camera paid for itself! One must add to the benefit the time gain on standard inspection of electrical cabinets (tightening, crimping, etc). A standard combat ship has got hundreds of them!

After six months of intensive use, the ThermaCAMs have proven their endurance and quality of engineering. In the coming months, the French Navy intends to invest in smaller size cameras, like those of the E series, to equip the route-men of on-board maintenance, particularly for the fleet of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

Several SSFT personnel then received a supplementary training. With an increasing level of expertise, infrared thermography is part of the maintenance policy of the French navy.

Thanks to ThermaCAM PM695 and E series, as well as its trained staff, the French Navy is perfectly armed to perpetuate predictive maintenance on-board.

Landing craft « Sabre »
Picture and thermogram composed with Image Builder
(click the images to get a larger one)

Champagne producing company Moët & Chandon
Recently purchased a ThermaCAM E2

Although the camera is primarily dedicated to electrical condition monitoring, the research & development lab had the idea to bring it to the vineyards, and look at grapes and leaves.

It appears that, under the same measuring conditions, healthy leaves and others symptomatic of esca - a wood vine disease, yield different thermograms.

Below is an example of some preliminary results (click the images to enlarge)

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.

Last months Brainteaser illustrates some basic thermoregulatory properties of the Ear of a Mature Elephant in the Toronto Zoo Elephant House.

The thermograph taken with a FLIR SC2000 camera indicates the power of this tool to quantify differences in body temperature in live animals. In this case, human contact for routine measures is difficult. The IR camera enables quantifiable differences in temperature even within the Elephant’s ear. The thermogram shows clearly the blood supply to the ear. Results indicate that the temperature gradient across the ear is close to 5 degrees. Thermograms such as these will enable more detailed behavior and physiology studies which will ultimately lead to more comfortable housing conditions for these captive animals as we better understand the mechanisms of heating and cooling and the animal’s reaction to climatic changes.

Our winner for last month's Brainteaser is Glenn Tattersall from Brock University in Ontario, Canada. Thanks to Stephen Miller at the University of Guelph, also in Ontario, for supplying the thermogram. They each receive a special low emissivity traveling coffee mug.

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