Infrared Thermography for Electrical Systems
Infrared imaging of electrical components will reduce failure risk and save maintenance dollars.
The electrical distribution system is a vital component of nearly every type of manufacturing plant. The lighting, motors, heaters, and machinery control circuits are the backbone of the facility, and a loss of function can cripple production. Add the risk of fire or secondary equipment damage during an electrical component failure, and your talking about a significant cost impact.
Because of the significant amount of wires, cabinets and electrical components in a typical system, monitoring their condition can be difficult at best. Serious problems can lie undetected and show no obvious visual or other sensory indication. As a result, most electrical failures are found when the equipment stops, or worse yet, when something gets so hot that it begins to burn and create a smell. At that point, the risk of fire is extremely high, and major damage may already have been done to the equipment in the system.
A proven technology for inspecting electrical components is Infrared Thermography. Thermography uses a special camera to convert non-contact temperature measurements into a color image that can be used to assess the condition of a target. Large numbers of equipment can be safely and quickly checked for indications of overheating, failed components, and high resistance connections. The high resistance connection shown here can be easily corrected by cleaning and properly tightening the breaker lug. If left uncorrected, the breaker could trip, the fed motor could single phase, or a fire could start.
A program of periodic infrared inspections of the electrical system will allow Maintenance Managers to prioritize system repairs, avoid unnecessary maintenance and replacements, and avoid electrical fire or equipment damage. At the same time, the reliability of the system is increased, and the plant experiences more uptime. When an infrared inspection program is coupled with timely maintenance repairs and equipment condition improvement, it is common for the return on investment to be on the order of 10 times the cost of the program.