Electrical systems are the most critical infrastructure in office buildings and industrial settings. There are significant advantages to be achieved by securing these systems and preventing unplanned downtime. This is accomplished by using electrical thermography, which allows you to identify any electrical issue before it occurs.
Thermography is a non-destructive test method that may be used to discover weak connections, unbalanced loads, degraded insulation, and other possible faults in powered electrical components. These issues may result in excessive power consumption, increased maintenance expenses, or catastrophic system failure, leading to unplanned service outages, equipment damage, or other problems.
Thermography, also known as Infrared Inspection, is based on detecting heat released from an object’s surface in the form of infrared radiation. Infrared radiation is detected and converted into a temperature value or a thermal picture, which may be used to analyze the thermal state of the item at the moment of measurement using test devices. An infrared camera is a typical form of the infrared thermal imaging instrument.
We use infrared thermal imaging of machinery and electrical panels at NTIPL to discover flaws before they become serious problems.
Our thermal imaging system generates precise real-time high-resolution pictures, allowing engineers to discover faults that might otherwise go undetected. This will enable you to perform corrective actions before costly system breakdowns, or production halts occur. As a result, infrared thermography is helpful in all industries for lowering maintenance costs and identifying potential improvements.
It is an effective diagnostic maintenance tool that increases industrial systems’ efficiency and reliability. Thermography surveys are performed while your equipment is in operation, and any faults will be swiftly identified, giving you time to schedule maintenance when convenient for your business.
When is a Thermography scan needed?
While all properties can benefit from a Thermographic scan, those with significant power usage, complex branch circuits and distribution subsystems, or heavy equipment are most in need. Therefore, businesses with substantial electrical needs should have a Thermographic scan conducted on crucial kits such as circuit panels, switchgear, and transformers at least once a year. Depending on the scan results, a rescan plan should be developed based on the types of equipment, power consumption, and age of the electrical systems.
Why is Thermography Testing Important?
Performing infrared testing will expose faults with electrical infrastructure under stress throughout the testing process since these locations will appear as abnormal temperatures exhibited in the thermal imaging camera’s live image. Furthermore, failures can prevent personnel from accessing active electrical circuits, putting them at risk of severe injury or death from electrocution. The chance of a loss of electrical wires and related components will be minimized by identifying and fixing high-resistance connections.
Other advantages of locating and correcting these defects include cost savings through energy conservation and reduced downtime and maintenance costs. High resistance in circuits increases the current flow. When current flow is increased, so does power consumption. Furthermore, excessive current demand can cause critical electrical circuit components such as circuit breakers, fuses, and transformers to fail prematurely. These failures result in more excellent maintenance and repair expenses, as well as business disruptions.
How is Thermography Testing in Electrical Equipment Performed?
The infrared camera, often known as a thermogram, is crucial for maintaining a sustainable and safe industrial business. Infrared thermography may be used as a maintenance tool in various ways, and there is no replacement for its precision, safety, and dependability.
- To avoid delays, create a strategy and notify relevant staff of the testing day and time. The plan should contain a broad itinerary detailing a starting point and an efficient route through the facility. The objective is to avoid or minimize retracing, which will slow progress.
- Organize a quick general meeting ahead of time to discuss the scope of the inspection and convey any business safety regulations.
- Often, the facility must supply an electrical engineer or electrical engineer assistant who is well-versed in the electrical distribution system. This individual should be trained in all business safety regulations and have prior experience opening electrical cabinets or removing covers from the equipment to be inspected. Mechanical equipment testing does not necessitate the use of an electrician; nonetheless, someone familiar with the equipment and its maintenance history is ideal.
- All equipment to be inspected must be under average load and ready for examination.
- Please note any door switches that do not have an override and notify workers to ensure that no equipment function is interrupted by mistake. Any door switches that cannot be bypassed must be listed as part of the inspection plan.
- Following testing, ensure that an exit meeting is held to discuss any significant suggestions that must be handled promptly. At times, a critical condition may occur that cannot be delayed until the report is prepared. Following an inspection,
- Once the report has been filed, examine the results with relevant staff and devise a plan to handle any suggestions or essential topics stated in the description.
- Any queries regarding any aspect of the report must be thoroughly discussed with the business who inspected to ensure that no needless work or repairs are undertaken and that suggestions are effectively implemented.
- All work, repairs, and/or replacement should be documented and archived safely. The company’s report will often contain a section to write the measures taken to execute the recommendation, the date finished, who conducted the task, and a signature.