Recap: November meeting on thermal imaging

Ed Kochanek photo

Ed Kochanek

At November’s meeting, Ed Kochanek, Director of Eastern Region Sales for FLIR Systems, discussed advancements in thermal imaging cameras. He began by describing the nature and properties of infrared radiation (ir). He said that all objects emit infrared radiation, even ice. He noted that the opportunities for using thermal cameras for industrial inspection and energy savings have mushroomed in the last ten years. The reasons: dramatically falling prices for hardware along with more sophisticated software.

Ed went on to overview a variety of cost-effective applications in multiple industries. Typical applications include finding electrical hotspots, overheated bearings, compromised roofing, moisture intrusions, and energy losses.

He demonstrated the value of thermal imaging over radiation thermometer guns. Software can quantitatively pinpoint unusally hot temperatures within a thermal image that covers a wide area. The ir guns average the temperatures over a relatively large circular spot area of interest. They potentially overlook a dangerously hot point within the circle (whose radius increases with distance).

Other advantages of thermal imaging cameras include:

  • importing, processing, streaming, and sharing images and videos
  • reporting and documentation
  • remote control of video

Ed concluded with a demonstration of a thermal video camera connected to a iPad. The iPad contained a free app for interpreting and communicating the image. Both Apple and Android apps are available.  For more information: FLIR link.


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