Thermography (Infrared Inspection)
Thermography uses infrared cameras to map surface temperatures, revealing developing faults that show up as heat — overloaded electrical connections, failing bearings, blocked steam traps, fouled heat exchangers and missing insulation. It is a fast, non-contact inspection and energy-survey technique.
How it works
An infrared camera images the heat radiated from surfaces, turning temperature differences into a picture. Because most developing mechanical and electrical faults generate abnormal heat, a thermal survey finds them without shutting equipment down — a hot connection, an overheating bearing, a stripe of missing insulation. It is widely used both for condition monitoring and for energy audits, where it quickly shows where heat is escaping.
What the data shows
A localised hot spot on an electrical connection flags a loose or corroded joint; a hot bearing housing flags developing bearing failure or poor lubrication; a cold steam trap flags one failed closed; a warm patch on a vessel flags missing or wet insulation.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) in practice
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) is versatile because it works across many asset types: electric motors, bearings, steam traps and others. This breadth is both a strength and a consideration — a wide-ranging technique often requires less customization, but may not be as specialized as a dedicated point-solution. Most plants use Thermography (Infrared Inspection) in combination with other techniques to build a complete condition-monitoring programme.
In practice: Thermography (Infrared Inspection) excels at catching developing faults early, when they show as subtle changes in the monitored signal. The challenge is distinguishing a real fault signal from noise. Successful Thermography (Infrared Inspection) programmes typically combine threshold alarms (alert if the signal exceeds a limit) with trending analysis (alert if the signal is rising fast, even if still below the limit). Both approaches matter for reliability.
Getting started: Implement Thermography (Infrared Inspection) on your most critical assets first — those whose failure causes the longest downtime or highest cost. Start with one or two assets to learn the signals on your equipment and processes, then expand. Many plants find that Thermography (Infrared Inspection) baseline data (what 'normal' looks like) takes 2–4 weeks to establish, after which the technique pays for itself through early fault detection.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) by equipment
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for electric motors
Faults it catches on electric motors and what the data shows.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for bearings
Faults it catches on bearings and what the data shows.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for steam traps
Faults it catches on steam traps and what the data shows.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for heat exchangers
Faults it catches on heat exchangers and what the data shows.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for conveyors
Faults it catches on conveyors and what the data shows.