Predictive maintenance thermography

Maintenance of process installation is still a necessity to realise high process reliability. Infrared thermography is becoming more and more an useful tool for predictive maintenance in the process and electrical industry. 

A comprehensive program that includes predictive maintenance techniques to monitor and analyze critical machines, equipment, and systems in a typical plant. Techniques include vibration analysis, ultrasonics, thermography, tribology, process monitoring, visual inspection, and other non-destructive analysis methods. 

These techniques include (1) vibration monitoring (2) thermography, (3) tribology, (4) process parameters, (5) visual inspection and (5) other nondestructive testing techniques. This chapter will provide a description of each of the techniques that should be included in a full capabilities predictive maintenance program for typical plants. 

Thermography is a predictive maintenance technique that can be used to monitor the condition of plant machinery, structures and systems. It uses instrumentation designed to monitor the emission of infrared energy, i.e. temperature, to determine their operating condition. By detecting thermal anomalies, i.e. areas that are hotter or colder than they should be, an experienced surveyor can locate and define incipient problems within the plant. 

Inclusion of thermography into a predictive maintenance program will enable you to monitor the thermal efficiency of critical process systems that rely on heat transfer or retention electrical equipment and other parameters that will improve both the reliability and efficiency of plant systems. Infrared techniques can be used to detect problems in a variety of plant systems and equipment, including electrical switchgear, gearboxes, electrical substations, transmissions, circuit breaker panels, motors, building envelopes, bearings, steam lines, and process systems that rely on heat retention or transfer. 

Successful rotating equipment Predictive Maintenance Programs require several elements. Typical elements include an effective lubrication program with oil analysis to detect residual metal particles, thermography, machine monitoring instrumentation, repair specifications, repair history records, advanced training of mechanics, and the use of data management computers. [10]... 

Significant technological advances made in infrared imaging systems over the past decade have made thermography a useful predictive maintenance tool. Nowadays, some infrared camcorder cameras weigh less than ten pounds. 

Nowhere are the risks of failures and shutdowns more critical than in the nuclear power generation industry. Therefore, nuclear power plants have come to be the facilities that conduct the most comprehensive predictive maintenance programs using IR thermography. However, the applications within these programs are typical to almost all plants and facilities. 

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