ITC InfraMation - = July 2003

If you can't see the graphic version = of this=20 message please change your profile to receive text messages at=20 {{user("unsubaddr")}}
To view this message on the web go to http://www.itcnews= letter.com/2003/2003-07.htm

July=20 2003

Volume 4, Issue=20 7

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

IR in the News

Follow-up: The Importance of Correlating = Predictive=20 Technologies in Electric Motor Diagnostics

Home Fire Safety
Using IR

Meet=20 the Staff

Last Month's Brainteaser

Brainteaser of the Month

Past Issues

Upcoming Classes

About the ITC

View the=20
Conference Video

Hello=20 {{user("firstname")}},

Happy Independence = Day to our=20 U.S. readers and happy summer to you all.

We have=20 several new features in this month's newsletter for = you.

I have=20 changed the navigation format to include the features in this = issue on=20 the left side for easier scanning.
Due to=20 readers' requests, I have linked all thermal and visual images = to a high=20 resolution version you can view. Simply click on any image and a = new=20 window will open with a larger image for you to = inspect.
I have added=20 several new links for upcoming courses including information and = schedules in many local languages. See Upcoming Classes.

This month we=20 have reader feedback and author responses to our lead article from = last=20 month. See Follow-up: The Importance of Correlating Predictive = Technologies in Electric Motor Diagnostics.

Joe DeMonte=20 tells us about how to keep our homes safer in Home=20 Fire Safety Using IR.

And=20 be sure to check out our new Brainteaser of the Month.

If you want to=20 save this newsletter for viewing off line in your computer, just = go to the=20 web page using=20 your browser and select File....Save As or save this email = page as html in=20 your email software.

Have a safe=20 Fourth of July!

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and = Publisher

IR in the=20 News [top]

Operation Full Stop 2003: Stopping the = Swarm
PCT = Online - Jul 2,=20 2003
... The late Bob Melia, who owned Real Time = Thermal=20 Imaging, helped develop the application. He died in 2001, but = his family=20 has continued running his business. ...
Airport Tests Thermal Imaging
CIO - Jun 30, 2003
... = control=20 tower at Logan International Airport, an oversized computer = monitor=20 shows the airport tarmac below as it appears through the eye of = a=20 thermal imaging ...
Thermal Imaging Reveals A Changing=20 Mars
The first overview analysis of = a year's=20 worth of high-resolution infrared data gathered by the Thermal = Emission=20 Imaging System (THEMIS) on NASA's Mars Odyssey ... =
ARC's New Plant Asset Management and = Condition=20 Monitoring Market ...
Business Wire (press = release) - Jun 23,=20 2003
... a capital asset requires a broad range of = expertise=20 including intimate knowledge of vibration, oil analysis, motor = current=20 dynamic characteristics, thermography ...
200000=20 hours of heliborne operations for French electricity ...=20
Rotorhub, UK - Jun 22,=20 2003
... and exacting professionals who optimize = helicopter=20 potential by developing operational methods and new = high-performance=20 tools, such as infrared thermography to ...
Transcript: Columbia Accident Investigation Board = Roundtable=20 June ...
Space=20 Ref - Jun 20, 2003
... destructive=20 evaluation. Let me show you in this next little piece of video = something=20 called thermography. Watch right here. What ... =
Paris Air Show 2003
Business Wire=20 (press release) - Jun 16, 2003
... = Thermography=20 products support such applications as condition monitoring,=20 non-destructive ... statements, including statements = regarding=20 the Star SAFIRE III thermal ...
Cambodia installs thermal imaging = scanners to=20 detect SARS
Japan=20 Today, Japan - Jun 9, 2003
PHNOM PENH = =97=20 Cambodia's two international airports were equipped Monday with = thermal=20 imaging scanners donated by Singapore in an effort to prevent an = ... =

Follow up to The=20 Importance of Correlating Predictive
Technologies in Electric = Motor=20 Diagnostics=20 [top]

by Gary=20 Orlove

I received a letter = from O.J.=20 Utter, a thermographer from Northwest Electric, Inc. in Lincoln = NE, with=20 comments about Juan Hidalgo's article last month. I contacted Juan = and he=20 sent me a response. I am sure many of you had the same questions = so I have=20 reprinted it below:

1. Readings on the = external=20 housing of the motor is not a true indication of the actual motor = winding=20 temperature. In many of the motors that I have run across in the = field=20 (not comparing with thermal couples) there is a minimum = temperature rise=20 between the outer housing and the windings of 40=BAF (again this = is=20 minimum).

I totally = agree with you,=20 readings on the external part of an electrical motor with = infrared are=20 not true indication of the real temperature of the windings. But = based=20 on my experience I should say between the casing and the = windings there=20 would be a minimum difference of 15-20 C and this will depend on = the=20 ambient temperature. Many articles probe this, you can refer to = an=20 excellent article published by Jack Nicholas on P/PM issue of = October=20 1997.

Perhaps I did = not say it=20 explicitly in the article, but if you add 99 C + 20 of = temperature=20 difference between the casing and the windings you end up with a = temperature of 119 C well below of 155 C for an Insulation Class = F=20 Motor.

2. The next point = that was not=20 discussed is the environmental conditions that this motor was = operating=20 in. What was the atmospheric and Tambient temperatures both times = the=20 motor was checked. 3. Plus a host of other information like = operating=20 load, cooling fan restriction, etc.

Continuing = with the=20 explanation in the previous paragraph, the heat transfer in a = motor will=20 not only depend on the actual ambient temperature but on the = frame size,=20 mass and if the frame is ribbed or not, also will depend if the = motor is=20 totally enclosed or not and other cooling factor not explained = in my=20 brief article.

For the = particular case=20 the motor was running under the same condition, load, ambient=20 temperature, etc.

I think the = key issue=20 here was the trend on temperature indicating something was wrong = with=20 the motor. Using a good judgment and always being on the safe = side, I=20 did recommend doing further testing. And it turned out to be=20 accurate.

The best part that = was noted=20 in the article was that ALL infrared mechanical is the 1st Line = of=20 Defense for fault identification but needs to be followed up with = another=20 condition monitoring technology. Many of the customers that we = perform=20 Mechanical IR Inspections on also have us perform Vibration = Analysis and=20 Emax Testing as well. In some instances Ultrasonic has even been = used to=20 determine a lubrication issue.

Mr. Utter = mentioned=20 another key issue on this brief article: for mechanical problems = IR can=20 not be alone since it needs another CM technology to back it up = and to=20 detail the failure mechanism.

Thanks very = much for your=20 comments on my article and contributing to this fascinating = field...If I=20 can be of further assistance do not hesitate to contact me. -=20 = JC

Home=20 Fire Safety Using IR =20 [top]

By Joe DeMonte
ASNT/PdM-TIR = Level=20 III
ITC Senior Thermography Course Instructor

We = have seen, in the=20 past few years, articles on the benefits of infrared in our own=20 homes. Heat loss is on everyone=92s mind with the rising = cost of fuel=20 and electricity. IR can trace these losses and increase the=20 efficiency of our homes reducing money out of our = pockets.

This article is one of those home discussions, but from = another=20 vantage point: FIRE SAFETY.

I had just gotten back from a long trip teaching a = course, and was=20 ready to get to bed on a Thursday night. My wife asked me a = peculiar=20 question at a very tired point in my day:

=93Honey, your Mom and I smell a burning smell in her = basement. =20 Can you check it out with the camera tomorrow morning?=94 =

=93Sure thing sweetheart (adding a smile and a = wink)=94, I=20 replied.

When I got up for work the = next=20 morning, I called my Mom and asked her to turn on as many lights = and=20 electric appliances that she could. You see, the smell was = not only=20 in the basement, but strongest above the TV according to my wife, = Mom, and=20 Dad. That is where the house=92s main breaker is kept inside = a wooden=20 cabinet and surrounded by=85 you guessed it=85 more decorative = wood on the=20 walls (see fig. 1).

I waited about an hour to let everything become steady = state. =20 After load is added to an electric circuit, the heat generated by = the=20 product of the I² (current squared) times the R = (resistance)=20 takes some time to increase the temperature of the components to = its final=20 value depending on the surrounding environment.

When I got = to Mom=92s=20 house that morning, I powered up the IR camera, and opened up the = wooden=20 door to the breaker cabinet. I almost didn=92t expect to = find=20 anything, but since I took the time to write this article, you = probably=20 guessed that I did find something. Check out fig. = 2.

At this point in time, I do not care what temperature I = see with=20 the radiometric imager. I am looking at the breaker casing and ANY = unnecessary heat is a problem when talking about a residence = (especially=20 my Mom=92s residence). My next step is to remove the outside = metal panel=20 from the breaker box, and trace out where the heat is being = generated.=20 Fig. 3 shows the image in grayscale with the cover = removed.

Instead of moving spots around, or adding line profiles, = isotherms,=20 or area functions, I chose another method of analysis. I changed = the color=20 palette to IR Rainbow. This choice of color keeps my 256 bands of = color,=20 but separates the scale in a set of 8 color bands to distinguish = the=20 different radiances the camera perceives from the bottom to the = top of the=20 scale/span. I can therefore trace the conductive patterns on the = breaker = casing and=20 cable to see if it is going from the breaker to the outside, or = vice=20 versa. Fig. 4 shows that resultant color change.

The heat was being generated from the breaker and = conducting up the=20 incoming cable. My next step was to call an electrician and inform = him/her=20 of our repair needs. Just to show the electrician the path of = heat, we=20 also took an image of the outside meter area above the incoming = line (Fig.=20 5).

The electrician arrived an hour later and de-energized = the circuit.=20 I showed him the IR images and he proceeded to perform the = necessary work.=20 I then returned to my home office to finish paperwork for my last = class. A=20 little bit later, the electrician called me and said that he had = found no=20 =93burning=94 or =93damaged=94 components visually. That was not a = concern to me,=20 and I just politely asked him to clean and retighten the breaker=20 connection and contacts for us.

When electric circuits have an increased resistance and = begin=20 building up excess heat, the problem snowballs and becomes = progressively=20 worse. Added heat can mean higher temperatures in those = components, and=20 that can increase the corrosion rate and will increase the = electric=20 resistance of copper and aluminum. I knew from past Utility and = substation=20 experience that just because we can=92t visually see the problem = doesn=92t=20 mean that it isn=92t a problem. The electrician performed the work = and then=20 re-energized the circuit.

That = evening, Mom had=20 placed load on the circuit again as I had instructed. I returned = to the=20 scene with the camera and performed another inspection. Fig. 6 = shows the=20 result of the EXCELLENT work by our electrician.

Fire safety in the home starts with many often overlooked = plans and=20 equipment such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. = You don=92t=20 need to invest in IR camera technology to start safe. =

According to the University of Nebraska Cooperative = Extension in=20 Lincoln, Nebraska, nearly all home fires can be prevented. = Families=20 are urged to reduce the risks of fire by following a few = rules.

Matches and=20 lighters:=20 Keep all matches and lighters out of children=92s sight and = reach.=20
Smoking: Never smoke = when you are=20 sleepy or in bed.
Wiring: = Don=92t=20 overload outlets or run wires or extension cords under rugs, = behind=20 radiators, through door jams or across walkways.
Combustible=20 liquids: Combustible liquids should be stored outdoors in a = cool=20 place out of reach of children.
Heating = equipment:=20 Many home fires can be traced to defective or improperly = operated or=20 installed heating equipment.
Trash: A = quick=20 check of the attic, basement and storage areas in and around the = home=20 will reveal any excess trash that should be removed.
Cooking = equipment:=20 Most fire hazards in the kitchen are associated with either = cooking or=20 careless use of the kitchen range.

Excerpt taken from = Lorene=20 Bartos, Extension Educator at the University of=20 Nebraska

Meet the Staff - Paul=20 Frisk [top]

Paul Frisk, P.=20 Eng
Instructor - ITC Level III

Paul is a Professional Engineer = with a=20 bachelor=92s degree in Applied Science from the University of = Toronto,=20 Canada. Paul has been in the infrared business since 1979 and with = FLIR=20 Systems for the past 16 years. Paul is a Level III Thermographer = (ITC) and=20 has 2 duties within FLIR. As the Automation Product Champion, Paul = has=20 extensive experience in Automation (Process Monitoring and = Control)=20 processes. His duties ranged from Software System Design, = Manufacturing=20 and System Installation as well as sales. Paul=92s second = =93calling=94 is as=20 ITC Instructor and provides enthusiastic training sessions that=20 are well received by his=20 students.

Brainteaser of the Month =20 [top]

Here is this month's = brainteaser.=20 First reader to email me with the correct explanation wins an ITC promotional = item. Please=20 put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the = message.

Click=20 here to email your guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would = stump other=20 thermographers? If so please email=20 me your image (preferably in native .img, .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or = .tmw format=20 with an accompanying visible photo) with an=20 = explanation.

Last Month's = Brainteaser=20 [top]Some = of you just=20 spend too much time in airplanes as there were many correct = guesses=20 on this image! It is an image of an overhead lighting panel.=20 Congratulations to Jim Scanish of Keystone Helicopter Corporation = for the=20 first correct = guess.

Past Issues =20 [top]

Click the links = below to view=20 past issues of this newsletter:

All past issues from February 2000 through October = 2002

June=20 2003

May=20 2003

April=20 2003

March=20 2003

February 2003

January=20 2003

December 2002

November=20 2002

Upcoming Classes =20 [top]

Click the links = below to see our=20 latest course calendars (in local language).

Americas - Level I

Americas - Level II

Americas - Application, Level III, = R&D

Eurasia

Deutschland

France

Italia

United = Kingdom

About=20 the Infrared Training Center =20 [top]

The Infrared Training Center offers training and = certification in=20 all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training = facilities are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and = Stockholm,=20 Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories = for=20 infrared applications. Please join us in exploring the fascinating = world=20 of the infrared!

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are = welcomed=20 and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case = study to=20 share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published = articles earn credit towards = recertification.

Please e-mail Gary = Orlove or=20 send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, BOSTON

16 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, = USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free:=20 = +1-866-TRAINIR
&= nbsp; =20 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978.901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com

ITC International, SWEDEN

Rinkebyv=E4gen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, = Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 = 01
E-mail:=20 mailto:itc@flir.se

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL = PURPOSES ONLY.=20 INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT = WARRANTY=20 OF ANY KIND. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy = and the=20 use of this document. The Infrared Training Center newsletter may = be=20 copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All = text=20 and images must be copied without modification and all pages must = be=20 included; 2. All copies must contain the Infrared Training Center=20 copyright notice and any other notices provided therein;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

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