An infrared thermographic survey can detect a problem before it manifests itself into a costly failure. Using thermography it is very common to find a problem that can be repaired for less than €100, but if it were allowed to fail, the cost could skyrocket into thousands of Euro for equipment, repair or replacement.

One of the great things about conducting an infrared scan is the equipment doesn't need to be shutdown. In fact, it is preferable for the equipment to operate near full-load capacity. That way we can measure the severity of the fault with greater accuracy.

Having a survey conducted prior to a scheduled outage will afford the opportunity to acquire any needed replacement parts ahead of time.

Third party certification to ISO standards is the ONLY true certification, and BINDT are a highly respected organisation with insurance companies, certifying bodies and end users. It is your responsibility to ensure that your service providers conform to ISO standards.

Thermal Vision currently employs the ONLY third party ISO Level 3 certified thermographer in Ireland, and as such we are the only true Level 3 service providers. Others may claim to be Level 3, but this is often untrue or misleading, and cannot be verified against ISO standards. Our Thermographer is certified by BINDT as a Level 3 thermographer in civil and electrical applications under their PCN scheme, and this scheme is validated against ISO 18436.

Examples of what can be scanned using thermography:

Electrical Applications
Thermography is a non-contact temperature measurement technique. It’s ability to measure temperature in a non-intrusive manner makes it one of the best tools available to the electrical industry today. Typical candidates for an infrared electrical survey include overhead transmission lines, substations, transformers, thyristor banks, circuit operating devices, switches, fuses, circuit breakers, control equipment, motors and motor control centres.

With more than 20 years experience in the electrical industry we feel that we are in a unique position in this field. We act independently of electrical contractors and do not carry out repairs on any problems found, this way we have nothing to gain from the repairs, and have no reason to misreport faults.

What do I get besides a pile of pictures?
We don’t just provide pictures of “Hot Spots”; we provide detailed information about the root cause of the “Hot Spot” and we how it can be repaired effectively. We will work with you to prevent problems from reoccurring.

It does not matter what your insurance company requires whether you need NMAC, NETA or NAVY standards we can exceed those needs.

The photos of the electrical system condition are only the starting point. You'll receive reports that can be tailored to your needs. Working with your personnel, we develop the specific information to be included in your report that can bring light to the severity of the situation.

Our reports include an image of the condition, both in infrared and visual light, our analysis as to why the condition exists and suggestions for correcting the problem. Not only do we provide reports on hardcopy, but we also provide a Cd rom version. Our Cd also includes a copy of all images taken and all required software. This is the most complete survey and report available anywhere, adding significantly to the versatility of our service.

Electrical Surveys are available with a basic, advanced or premium level.

Basic; this includes a single visit and report.

Advanced; this includes an initial visit and a visit after all repairs have been carried out, and a report after each visit.

Premium; this includes liaising with your insurance company before the initial visit. We will discuss the required frequency, type of report, additional information and items to be covered with them on your behalf and come up with a tailored program for your site.

Mechanical Applications
Mechanical applications for thermal imaging almost always involve rotating equipment. Excessive heat is generated by friction caused by faulty bearings, inadequate lubrication, misalignment, imbalance, misuse, or normal wear. We can combine thermography with other methods to provide a complete analysis of mechanical condition. The temperature of motors gearboxes or just about any mechanical equipment can be monitored over time and historical data can then be trended.

Insulation / Refractory Applications
These surveys usually involve kilns or furnaces. The refractory lining breaks down allowing heat to pass through to the outside; this can cause quality control problems or may even pose a risk to personnel. Our high tech equipment has temperature capabilities of up 1500°C. We can work with your engineering staff and assist them in monitoring the thickness of the refractory lining.

CCGT & HRSG Commissioning and validation
Thermographic surveys as part of the validation of temperature profiles throughout a HRSG boiler as part of the commissioning process is an invaluable tool in finding and assessing the condition of the boiler. It can be used to evaluate the overall temperature levels and to look at specific areas of interest such as the roof and floor penetrations, bellows arrangements, expansion joints, inspection hatch gaskets and locate problems associated with excessive conduction and gas leaks.

Building Applications
Insulation defects can be found easily with thermographic surveys. The areas without insulation can be seen with an imager viewed from the cold side (usually outside). The area with defective insulation will show up as hotter.

Leaks in flat roofs are detectable, because of the difference in the thermal capacitance of the wet and dry insulation. These surveys are best done after sunset on a sunny day. The wet insulation will retain its heat for longer.

By combining thermographic surveys with the blower door technique we can detect locate and quantify air leaks in buildings. This is done by creating a pressure differential between inside and outside, the air leaks can leave very traceable thermal patterns, which are visible to the trained eye.

Thermography Training In Association with ITC

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