Thermography equipment

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. 

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]... 

Important mechanical integrity concerns, such as the manufacturers recommendations and lubrication programs, need very specific treatment depending upon the equipment and the service. Although this subject is beyond the scope of this chapter and will not be addressed, we will examine an in-house vibration program and briefly review the use of thermography. 

As recently as 1960, commercial thermography was very limited for plant operations. An instrument that weighed 85 pounds, required 110 volt power supply, and was cooled by liquid nitrogen was the best equipment to produce a useful thermal picture. [13]... 

The real power of thermography is that it allows us to quickly locate and monitor problems, and present critical decision-making information in visual form making it easy for management to understand. Infrared imaging systems, as they are generally called, produce a picture. . . of the invisible thermal pattern of a component or process. These thermal patterns, when understood, can be used to monitor operating conditions of equipment or processes. [14]... 

Thermography has been used on electrical distribution systems for years by various corporations. Its use on rotating equipment is not as widespread, but it can be used to pinpoint the areas with friction problems. Excessive heat can be generated from friction due in part to faulty bearings, inadequate lubrication, misalignment, aging components and other reliability sacrificing problems. [ 13]... 

Out-of-limit temperatures for rotating mechanical components and systems are usually based on values established by the manufacturers. Pump and compressor equipment that could benefit from an infrared thermography inspection program include motor gears, bearings, shafts, couplings, V—belts, pulleys, compressors, vacuum pumps, and clutches. 

Thermography can be used to quickly locate and prevent recurrence of many equipment and process problems, such as ... 

Leak detection, e.g. on pressure vessels, which can be carried out by a number of methods. Thermography can be used if the leaking fluid has a temperature different from the ambient. Leakage can also be detected by acoustic emission techniques. In order to indicate when the corrosion allowance of pressurized equipment has been consumed by uniform corrosion or erosion, a narrow hole is drilled from the outside of the wall (at the installation of the equipment) to a depth where only the corrosion allowance is left. Leak detection cannot of course be used for explosive fluids. 

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