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Infrared 101
Infrared can be described
as light we can’t
see. This is because infrared lightwaves have longer wavelengths than those
of visible light. Visible lightwaves we can process with human
sight, but infrared lightwaves need to be detected and processed
with the advanced technology found in infrared cameras. An
infrared camera processes infrared lightwaves, unlike our eyes,
and produces a thermal
(heat) image of an object from the infrared world. For all objects which
emit a
heat signature that is measurable we can use an infrared camera to capture
its
thermal image. This thermal image can then be interpreted by an infrared
thermographer either quantitatively or qualitatively. The infrared camera
also stores the infrared images for documentation in reporting
software. And, this
is where you benefit by being able to make decisions based on what you can
see in infrared!
Other inspection methods fall short when compared.
For a more
informed, and involved, explanation of infrared theory
go to these two ‘great’ sites:
www.itcnewsletter.com/Newitc/ir_primer.htm
Courtesy of the Infrared Training Center
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu
Courtesy of the Office of Education and Public Outreach
Spitzer Center IPAC/Caltech
Here are the important aspects for
you, and/or your company, to consider in having an infrared
inspection
survey:
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infrared is an advanced
technology that allows you to ‘see’ the
thermal image of an object and measure its temperature
for analysis
which
traditional inspection methods will not give you |
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infrared offers visual documentation of a thermal image to use for comparison
to later inspections, for corrective actions, or in prioritizing faults for later
repairs and considerations |
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infrared reports and documentation
offer hard proof for
workmanship and warranty issues, and for use in possible litigation cases |
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infrared saves you time... it finds problems quickly and it is a non-destructive
inspection application |
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infrared is competitively priced when
compared with conventional inspection methods that are
often less effective |
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infrared saves you money... from avoiding
business downtime and assuring
efficiency in equipment or systems operation |
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