Infrared inspections are emerging as a leading procedure in successful predictive maintenance programs. Infrared thermography cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation and provide precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities. Nearly everything gets hot before it fails, making infrared cameras extremely valuable diagnostic tools in many diverse applications. As industry strives to improve manufacturing efficiencies, manage energy, improve product quality, and enhance worker safety, Infrared thermography has become a leader in predictive maintenance for electric equipment.

Why use Infrared?

Hot Fuse Connection

A picture says a thousand words; infrared thermography is the only diagnostic technology that lets you instantly visualize and verify thermal performance. Infrared cameras show you thermal problems, quantify them with precise non-contact temperature measurement, and document them automatically in seconds with professional IR reports. Nearly everything that uses or transmits power gets hot before it fails. Cost effective power management is critical to maintaining the reliability of your electrical and mechanical systems. Today, no one would argue that infrared thermography is the most effective proven predictive maintenance (PM) technology available to quickly, accurately and safely locate problems prior to failure. In June 2001, Maintenance Technology magazine reported a $4 return on investment in for every $1 spent on infrared inspection. Finding and fixing a poor electrical connection before a component fails can save you the much greater costs associated with manufacturing downtime, production losses, power outages, fires and catastrophic failures.

Mechanical Applications

APPLICATION	CONDITIONS DETECTED
Drives/Conveyors, Pillow Blocks, Couplings, Gears, Power Transmission Belts, Pulleys, Shafts.	Overheated bearings or rollers, misalignment of shaft, pulley or coupling, lubrication failure uneven pressure.
Motors	Overheating of windings and bearings, blockages in cooling passages, friction, damping, material deformations, brush contact problems, rotors
Pumps/Compressors/Fans/Blowers	Overheated bearings, high compressor discharges temperature, high oil temperature, and broken or defective valve.
Internal Combustion Engines	Valve or injector malfunction, blocked radiator tubes and oil coolers. Thermal distribution, high radiator inlet or outlet temperature.
Heavy Duty Equipment - Tires, Bearings, Brakes, Hydraulics, Kilns, Ball Mills, Paper Machines	Overheating brakes, tires, bearings, pulleys, gears, gear or pulley misalignment, and blockages in hydraulics.
Mechanical DriveTurbines and Small TurbineGenerator Units, Gas Turbine, Exhaust Ducts	High lube oil temperature, high bearing temperatures, faulty stop/control valve operation, uneven metal temperature, leaking shaft seals, gas turbine firing conditions, including deterioration in firing chambers, cross firing tubes.
Ovens, Furnaces, Kilns, Pipes	Location and severity of damaged insulation, location of steam leaks in buried steam lines.
Valves: Shutoff Valves, Relief Valves, Steam Traps	Leakage, blockage.

View an Infrared Thermography Success Story

Matlock Electric's Infrared Technology

Flir P60 ThermaCAM

Matlock Electric utilizes the ThermaCAM P60 to provide state of the art Infrared predictive maintenance. This technology is the most highly refined infrared inspection system available today. Its powerful features and conveniences enable Matlock Electric's professional thermographers to work with unprecedented efficiency and productivity.

Our thermographers work to collect, report, and archive infrared images and thermal data for all your electric equipment. Matlock Infrared Services provide highly sensitive thermal imaging, precision temperature measurement and extensive thermal data analysis capabilities.

The ThermaCAM P60 is the most powerful infrared inspection system designed to maximize the efficiency and productivity of the professional thermographer.

Click here to view the ThermaCAM P60 Data Sheet.

(Click image to enlarge)

Flir ThermaCAM Reporter Software

Matlock Electric integrates the ThermaCAM P60 with Flir's powerful ThermaCAM Reporter Software. ThermaCAM Reporter integrates powerful image analysis and report generation tools for fast, accurate evaluation of infrared (IR) inspection results. Robust image analysis tools graphically plot minimum, maximum, and average temperatures. Delta function quickly and automatically calculates the temperature difference between known-good and problem areas. User-defined formula function automates tedious and repetitive calculations. Analysis functions, text and voice comments are digitally stored with IR camera images in the field, and then automatically downloaded and embedded into results tables and report text.

Click here to view the ThermaCAM Reporter Data Sheet.

View the Flir Infrared Image Gallery.

Contact us for more information regarding our Infrared Thermography program.