Four Thermal Imaging Applications of Infrared Technology in Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging involves the use of specialized cameras to measure infrared radiation emitted by various surfaces. This information is then converted into a two-dimensional image, where the colors represent different temperatures. Data is collected non-contact in real-time and can be measured from a distance with extremely short response times. Thermal imaging data can be used in a wide range of fields, including science, industry, medicine, and security.

In this article, we will focus on four main areas, namely construction, science, industry, and emergency services.

Thermal imaging technology has been widely adopted by the building industry to provide an overview of the energy performance of the entire building. Users can pinpoint thermal anomalies in walls or roofs from inside or outside the building, revealing any heat leaks or insulation defects. Thermography can also be used for quality control inspections of insulation retrofits.

As for electrical applications, the technology can detect abnormal temperatures in electrical installations. It is also used to inspect electrical panels during preventive maintenance operations. Finally, thermal imaging can help professionals address weaknesses in a building's structural integrity, especially in the event of water ingress (i.e. track down the cause of any leaks or moisture).

Thermal imaging technology has been widely adopted by the scientific community, especially process control professionals, to measure and manage the temperature. For example, checking temperature uniformity is critical in the glass and steel industries.

Thermal imaging also plays an integral role in research and development work aimed at checking the heat dissipation of brake discs. In motorsports, hot components, overheating, and overcooling can severely degrade vehicle performance, safety, and durability. Research and development activities can improve the quality of brake discs for competitive sports and civilian applications.

In the medical industry, thermal imaging can reveal inflamed tissue, detect muscle damage or diabetes, monitor peripheral circulation disorders, identify tumors, and more.

Finally, the recent health crisis has prompted a surge in the use of systems capable of remotely detecting cases of elevated skin temperature (EST) in populations. The thermal sensor can continuously and non-contact measure the body surface temperature of a person in real-time and detect whether the body temperature exceeds the normal value. They play a critical and non-intrusive role in maintaining safe and healthy working conditions in high-traffic areas.

The diagnostic capabilities of thermal imaging can be used by industry to easily pinpoint overheating issues or weak points in mechanical or electrical installations.

- Professionals can also take advantage of the full potential of thermal imaging to analyze or keep an eye on any sensitive component in petrochemical facilities or high-risk facilities in compliance with Seveso requirements.

- Ensuring that tank levels are tracked for process control in ovens or in the petrochemical industry helps detect and prevent any integrity flaws that could lead to serious fires or other catastrophic events.

- Thermal imaging is also used in industry for predictive/preventive maintenance of production equipment such as drives, bearings, gears, and pumps.

- Electrical systems, including electrical cabinets and LV/MV/HV transformers, can also be closely inspected by thermal imaging techniques.

Thermal imaging offers emergency responders and rescue services a way to protect the public from harm. Thermal imaging systems are critical to detecting fire outbreaks. The destructive power of a fire can level several buildings and facilities in the blink of an eye. With their ability to perform non-contact temperature measurements, thermal imaging cameras can help prevent fires by detecting hot spots before they become full-blown fires.

Landfills are a good example. Spontaneous combustion, increased heat from increased pressure, and spontaneous chemical reactions between waste and accumulated methane are just some of the catalysts that can start a fire. Infrared cameras can prevent fires by identifying hot spots that can cause them.

In the blaze that destroyed Notre Dame Cathedral, emergency services were immediately notified of a fire under the cathedral's roof. Thermal imaging really works because of its ability to detect a fire inside a building before the flames are visible from the outside.

Infrared technology continues to raise the performance bar for thermal detection quality. In today's world, technology represents a great ally in all major traditional sectors such as construction and industry, but it has also earned a reputation as a must-have technology in more innovative areas, including the medical, automotive, and aerospace industries. Follow this space!

The four thermal imaging applications of infrared technology in thermal imaging have been introduced above. If you want to buy thermal imaging equipment, please contact us.

Javol is a professional custom infrared thermal imaging systems manufacturer. Relying on the multi-spectral high-sensitivity photoelectric sensor chip of advanced compound semiconductor materials, with the deep learning AI algorithm as the engine, it integrates low-light night vision technology, infrared thermal imaging technology, short-wave infrared technology, Multi-spectral integration technology, our company designs, develops and manufactures advanced imaging products and system solutions, which are widely used in machine vision, automatic driving, drone payloads, high-end manufacturing, medical diagnosis and other fields.