FLIR Photon, A320, A325 Manual Book
IR Automation Guidebook:
Temperature Monitoring and Control
with IR Cameras
$29.95
IR Automation Guidebook:
Temperature Monitoring and Control
with IR Cameras
ii
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expressed in this book are intended for informational
purposes only. FLIR accepts no liability for actions taken by
readers in their individual businesses or circumstances.
Published by FLIR Systems Incorporated
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the permission in writing from FLIR Systems Incorporated.
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iii
Contents
Preface iv
Chapter 1
Typical Monitoring and Control Applications 1
Chapter 2
Remote IR Monitoring 5
Chapter 3
Temperature Measurement
for Automated Processes 17
Chapter 4
Combining Machine Vision
and Temperature Measurement 25
Chapter 5
Real-Time Control Issues 32
Appendix A
Glossary 40
Appendix B
Thermographic Measurement Techniques 43
Appendix C
History and Theory of Infrared Technology 45
Appendix D
Command Syntax Examples
for A320 Resource Socket Services 58
Appendix E
Quick Summary of
FLIR IR Cameras
Inside Back Cover
iv
Preface
Manufacturing and process engineers
are under constant pressure to make
production systems and processes more
ecient and less costly. Frequently, their
solutions use automation techniques to
improve throughput and product quality.
Automated IR (infrared) radiation imaging
oers the potential for improving a host
of industrial production applications,
including process monitoring and
control, quality assurance, asset
management, and machine condition
monitoring.
This handbook is intended to help those
considering the creation or improvement
of production automation or monitoring
systems with IR cameras. Numerous
application examples will be presented
with explanations of how these IR vision
systems can best be implemented.
Some of the major topics that will be
covered include:
Integration of IR cameras into •
automation systems
Data communications interfaces•
Command and control of •
thermographic cameras
Principles of thermographic •
measurements
Interfacing with a PC or PLC controller•
Standard software packages for IR •
camera systems
These complex matters require attention
to many details; therefore, this handbook
cannot answer every question a system
designer will have about the use of
IR cameras in automated systems. It
is meant to serve only as a roadmap
through the major issues that must be
faced in IR vision system design.
1
Typical Monitoring and
Control Applications
Typical Monitoring and
Control Applications
Temperature Measurements
with IR Cameras
Infrared (IR) radiation is not detectable
by the human eye, but an IR camera
can convert it into a visual image that
depicts thermal variations across an
object or scene. IR covers a portion of
the electromagnetic spectrum from
approximately 900 to 14,000 nanometers
(0.9–14 µm). IR is emitted by all objects at
temperatures above absolute zero, and
the amount of radiation increases with
temperature. A properly calibrated IR
camera can capture thermographic images
of target objects and can provide accurate
non-contact temperature measurements
of those objects. These quantitative
measurements can be used in a variety of
monitoring and control applications.
In contrast, other types of IR imagers
provide only relative temperature
dierences across an object or scene.
Hence, they are used to make qualitative
assessments of the target objects,
primarily in monitoring applications
where thermal images are interpreted
based on temperature contrast. One
example is to identify image areas that
correlate to physical anomalies, such as
construction or sub-surface details, liquid
levels, etc.
In some cases, an IR camera is justiably
referred to as a smart sensor. In these
cases the IR camera has built-in logic
and analytics that allows the comparison
of measured temperatures with user-
supplied temperature data. It also has a
digital I/O interface so that a dierential
temperature can be used for alarm and
control functions. In addition, a smart
IR camera is a calibrated thermographic
instrument capable of accurate non-
contact temperature measurements.
IR cameras with these capabilities
operate much like other types of smart
temperature sensors. They have fast,
high-resolution A/D (Analog to Digital)
converters that sample incoming data,
pass it through a calibration function, and
provide temperature readouts. They may
also have other communication interfaces
that provide an output stream of analog
or digital data. This allows thermographic
images and temperature data to be
transmitted to remote locations for
process monitoring and control.
Generally, smart IR cameras are used
in quantitative applications that
require accurate measurements of the
temperature dierence between a
target object and its surroundings. Since
temperature changes in most processes
are relatively slow, the near-real-time data
communications of smart IR cameras are
adequate for many process control loops
and machine vision systems.
Automation Applications
Typical automated applications using
IR cameras for process temperature
monitoring and control include:
Continuous casting, extrusion, and roll •
forming
Discrete parts manufacturing•
Production where contact temperature •
measurements pose problems
Inspection and quality control•
Packaging production and operations•
Chapter 1
2
Chapter 1
Environmental, machine, and safety •
monitoring
Temperature monitoring as a proxy for •
other variables
The examples below demonstrate a wide
range of applications that can be served
with IR cameras. Potential applications
are limited only by the imagination of the
system designer.
Plywood Mill Machine Monitoring
Problem: Steam from open vats of hot
water obscures the machinery operator’s
view of the logs as they are maneuvered
for proper alignment in the log vat.
Solution: An IR camera can present an
image to the operator that makes the
cloud of steam virtually transparent,
thereby allowing logs to be properly
aligned in the log vat. This example of
a qualitative application is illustrated in
Figure 1.
Production Testing of Car Seat Heaters
Problem: Using contact temperature
sensors to assure proper operation of
optional car seat heaters slows down
production and is inaccurate if sensors
are not properly placed.
Solution: An IR camera can detect
thermal radiation from the heater
elements inside the seats and provide
an accurate non-contact temperature
measurement.
This quantitative measurement can be
made with a camera that is permanently
mounted on a xture that is swung
into measurement position when
the car reaches a designated point
on the assembly line. A monitor near
that position provides an image with
a temperature scale that reveals the
temperature of the car seat heater
elements, as shown in Figure 2.
The Problem
• Operatorscannotseethroughthesteam
cloudcausedbycondensationincoolerair
temperatures.
The Solution
• IRoersanotherpairof“eyes”tosee
throughthesteamintothelogvatfor
properlogalignment.
Figure 1. Plywood mill application
3
Typical Monitoring and Control Applications
Packaging Operations
Problem: On a high-speed packaging
line, ecient methods for nondestructive testing of a glued box seal
are scarce, and most tend to be very
cumbersome. In addition, the glue
application method has a good deal of
variability that must be monitored and
recorded with statistical quality control
routines.
Solution: Since the glue is heated prior
to application, its temperature and
The Problem
• Optionalfeaturesinvehiclescannotbe
inspectedwithoutsometypeofcontact.
• Thisslowsdownproduction.
• 100%inspectionistedious.
The Solution
• AnIRcameracanbepermanentlymountedto
inspecttheseitems.
• AnIRcameracanbeusedinanon-contact
method.
Figure 2. Production testing of car seat heater elements
The Problem
• Detectincorrectlysealedboxes.
• Removefailedunitsfromtheline.
• Generateanalarmiftoomanyboxesfail.
• Logstatisticaldataofpass/fail.
The Solution
• Captureathermalimageofthebox.
• Detectpresenceofgluespots.
• Pass/failoneachbox.
• Logstatistics.
Figure 3. Machine vision box seal quality control
4
Chapter 1
locations on the box lid can be monitored
with an IR camera. Moreover, the image
can be digitized in a way that allows this
information to be stored in a statistical
quality control database for trend analysis
and equipment monitoring as shown in
Figure 3.
This is an example of using dierential
temperature as a proxy for another
variable. In this case, temperature
replaces mechanical methods of
inspection/testing.
Summary
The automation examples presented
in this chapter have barely scratched
the surface of the application space
that smart IR cameras can serve. In
the following chapters, more detailed
examples will be presented along
with practical information on the
implementation of automated systems
that exploit the advantages of IR cameras.
These chapters are organized according
to the major types of applications that
typically use IR cameras:
Remote thermographic monitoring•
Non-contact temperature •
measurement for automated processes
Combining IR machine vision with •
temperature measurement
Real-time control and monitoring – •
issues and answers
5
Remote IR MonitoringChapter
Remote IR Monitoring
Overview
Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects
at temperatures above absolute zero
and is detectable by IR cameras. Since
these cameras have various means of
communicating thermographic images
and temperatures to remote locations,
they are ideal for remote and unattended
monitoring. Moreover, smart IR cameras
(those with built-in logic, analytics, and
data communications), can compare
the temperatures obtained from their
thermographic images with user-dened
settings. This allows the camera to
output a digital signal for alarm and
control purposes, while also providing
live images.
IR Camera Operation
IR camera construction is similar to
a digital video camera. The main
components are a lens that focuses IR
onto a detector, plus electronics and
software for processing and displaying
thermographic images and temperatures
on an LCD or CRT monitor (Figure 1).
Instead of a charge coupled device
that video and digital still cameras use,
the IR camera detector is a focal plane
array (FPA) of micrometer size pixels
made of various materials sensitive to
IR wavelengths. FPA resolution ranges
from about 80×80 pixels up to 1024×1024
pixels. In some IR cameras, the video
processing electronics include the logic
and analytical functions mentioned
earlier. Camera rmware allows the
user to focus on a specic area of the
FPA or use the entire detector area
for calculating minimum, maximum,
and average temperatures. Typically,
temperature measurement precision is
±°C or better.
The camera lens and distance to the
target object results in a eld of view
(FOV) that determines the spot size
covered by each pixel. The pixel’s analog
output represents the intensity of heat
energy received from the spot it covers
on the target object. In FLIR IR cameras,
the A/D converters that digitize the pixel
output have resolutions that range from
8 bits (28 or 0–255 pixels) up to 14 bits
(214 or 0–16383 pixels). The thermographic
image seen on the monitor screen is
the result of a microprocessor mapping
these pixel output values to a color or
gray scale scheme representing relative
temperatures. In addition, radiometric
information associated with the heat
energy impinging on a pixel is stored
for use in calculating the precise
temperature of the spot covered by
that pixel.
IR In
Optics
NIR
MWIR
LWIR
Video
Processing
Electronics
Detector Cooling
Digitization
User Interface
User Control
Video Output
Digital Output
Synchronization In/Out
System Status
Figure 1. Simplied block diagram of an IR camera
6
Chapter
Hence, IR cameras with these capabilities
operate much like other types of smart
temperature sensors. Their calibrated
outputs can be accessed via one or more
communication interfaces and monitored
at a remote location. Images saved from
these cameras are fully radiometric1 and
can be analyzed o-line with standard
software packages, such as those
available from FLIR.
Important Criteria in Remote
Monitoring Systems
When considering an IR camera for a
remote monitoring system, some of the
important variables to consider are:
Spot size – the smallest feature in a •
scene that can be measured
FOV (Field of View) – the area that the •
camera sees
Working distance – distance from the •
front of the camera lens to the nearest
target object
Depth of eld – the maximum depth of •
a scene that stays in focus
Resolution – the number of pixels and •
size of the sensor’s active area
NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature •
Dierence) – the lowest level of heat
energy that can be measured
Spectral sensitivity – portion of •
the IR spectrum that the camera is
sensitive to
Temperature measurement range, •
precision, and repeatability – a
function of overall camera design
1 Radiometry is a measure of how much energy is
radiating from an object, as opposed to thermography,
which is a measure of how hot an object is; the two are
related but not the same.
Another fundamental consideration
is which portion of a camera’s FOV
contains the critical information
required for monitoring purposes. The
objects within the FOV must provide an
accurate indication of the situation being
monitored, based on the temperature
of those objects. Depending on the
situation, the target objects may need
to be in the same position consistently
within the camera’s FOV. Other
application variables related to the
monitored scene include:
Emissivity of the target objects•
Reected temperatures within the FOV•
Atmospheric temperature and •
humidity
These topics will be covered in more
detail in a subsequent chapter.
Remote Asset Monitoring
One type of application where IR cameras
are very useful is in remote monitoring
of property, inventory, and other assets
to help prevent loss and improve safety.
Frequently, this involves storage facilities,
such as warehouses or open areas for
bulk materials. The following example
can serve as a general model for setting
up an IR camera monitoring system for
this type of application.
Hazardous Waste Storage Monitoring. In
this application barrels of chemical waste
products are stored in a covered facility,
but one in which they cannot be totally
protected from moisture. Thus, there is
the possibility of leaks or barrel contents
becoming contaminated by air and
moisture, causing a rise in temperature
due to a chemical reaction. Ultimately,
there is a risk of re, or even an explosion.
7
Remote IR Monitoring
While visible light cameras might be
used in such an application, there often
is a line-of-sight problem where many
of the barrels cannot be seen, even with
multiple cameras positioned throughout
the storage area. In addition, smoke or
ames would have to be present before
a visible light camera could detect a
problem. This might be too late for
preventative measures to be taken.
In contrast, stand-alone IR cameras
monitoring the facility can detect a
temperature rise within their FOV before
re occurs (Figures 2a and 2b).
Depending on the camera manufacturer,
several monitoring options are available.
For instance, the FLIR A320 camera
allows a threshold temperature value to
be set internally for alarm purposes. In
addition, the camera’s logic and clock
functions can be congured so that a rise
in temperature must be maintained for a
certain period of time before an alarm is
sent. This allows the system to ignore a
temporary temperature rise in a camera’s
FOV caused by a forklift entering the area
to add or remove barrels. Furthermore,
a hysteresis function can also be used to
prevent an alarm from turning o until
the detected temperature falls well below
the setpoint (Figure 3).
Cameras with a digital I/O interface
typically provide an OFF/ON type of
output for alarm purposes. The digital
I/O output is either o or on; when on, it
is typically a DC voltage or current. For
example, the digital I/O output from a
FLIR A320 camera is 10–30VDC for loads
of 100mA or less. Typically, the digital
I/O output is sent to a PLC (Programble
Logic Controller) that controls the portion
of an alarm system associated with the
monitored area.
A good way to set up the alarm system
is to have all cameras congured so they
have a high level digital output when the
temperature is below the alarm condition
that holds a PLC in its non-alarm state.
When the alarm setpoint temperature is
detected, the camera’s digital I/O output
goes low (typically zero volts) after an
appropriate time delay, causing the PLC
Figure 2a. IR image of a hazardous waste storage
area showing two spot temperature readings
(26.4°F and 16.8°F) that are in the safe range, plus
one reading (98.8°F) that is abnormally high.
Figure 2b. A subsequent image of the same
area shows that the abnormal reading in 2a
has increased further, causing an alarm to
go o.
8
Chapter
to go into its alarm state. This creates a
fail-safe system. If power to the camera is
lost, then there is no high level output to
the PLC, which treats that event just as if
a temperature had reached the setpoint,
thereby causing an alarm. This alerts
personnel that they have either lost the
monitoring function or there is indeed a
temperature rise.
Image monitoring. Receiving a warning
based on temperature measurements is
very useful, but the real power of IRbased asset monitoring is in the camera’s
image processing capabilities. Control
room personnel can get live images from
IR cameras that visible light cameras
and other temperature detectors
cannot provide. Again, cameras vary by
manufacturer, but the most versatile ones
oer a variety of data communication
formats for sending thermographic
images to remote locations. Increasingly,
web-enabled cameras are used to allow
monitoring from any location where a PC
is available.
Figure 4 illustrates a system using
the FLIR A320’s Ethernet and TCP/IP
communication protocols in conjunction
with its alarm setpoint capabilities. The
Ethernet portion of the system allows
cable runs of up to 100 meters in length.
By communicating a digital alarm directly
to the PLC, it can immediately activate
a visual and/or audible alarm. The visual
alarm can appear on an annunciator
panel telling the operator where the
alarm originated; the operator then goes
to the PC to look at live image(s) of that
location. Images and temperature data
can be stored for future reference and
analysis.
A320 cameras can also be congured to
automatically send temperature data
and images to a PC via e-mail (SMTP) or
FTP protocol whenever the temperature
setpoint is reached, thereby creating a
record for subsequent review.
Time
Temperature
Threshold
T e mperature
(Warning On)
Wa rning O
T e mperature
Deadband
O Te mp = On Te mp – Deadband
Hysteresis
• Also known as deadband
• Can be thought of as another threshold setting – where
the smart sensor resets the alarm that was generated
when the original setpoint was compromised
• Used to prevent signal “chatter”
Figure 3. Hysteresis is an important signal processing characteristic of smart IR cameras, which
makes monitoring and control functions much more eective.
9
Remote IR Monitoring
In conjunction with a host controller
running FLIR’s IR MONITOR (or other
suitable software), temperature data can
be captured for trend analysis. The A320
can also supply a digital compression
of the camera’s analog video signal,
which can be sent as MPEG-4 streaming
digital video over an Ethernet link to a PC
monitor. IR MONITOR can be used to set
up temperature measurements, image
capture, and camera display functions.
This application allows the PC to display
up to nine camera images at a time
and switch between additional camera
groups as needed. The FLIR IP CONFIG
software can be used to set up each
camera’s IP address.
After the cameras are congured, the
PC used for monitoring does not need
to remain on the network continually.
By using the FTP and SMTP protocols
within the camera, the user can receive
radiometric images upon alarm events
or on a time based schedule. Also, any
available PC with a web browser can be
used to access the cameras web server
for live video and basic control. This web
interface is password protected.
Most IR cameras have an analog
video output in a PAL or NTSC format.
Therefore, another image monitoring
possibility is to use a TV monitor to
display thermographic video. A single
control room monitor can be used with
a switch to view live images from each
camera sequentially. When the cameras
are properly congured, control room
personnel can view scaled temperature
readings for any point or area (minimum,
maximum, and average) in that image.
(See color scales in the screen capture
images depicted in Figure 2.) Not only
will the operator know when there
is excessive heat, he or she can see
where it is.
Another example of the innovative
functions available in camera rmware
or external software is a feature called
Figure 4. An example of one type of system conguration for remote IR camera monitoring. The
system uses a digital alarm output for annunciating an over-temperature condition and transmits
streaming MPEG-4 compressed video that allows the scene to be viewed on a PC monitor.
Use Digital Out on
each camera to
ALARM on AREA MAX
Use the camera’s
web interface to
congure multiple
cameras. Set up one
AREA in each
camera.
10
Chapter
image masking. This enables the user
to pre-select specic areas of interest
for analysis of temperature data. This
is illustrated in Figure 5, which shows
continuous monitoring of substation
hotspots that indicate problem areas.
A similar type of pattern recognition
software can be used for automated
inspection in metal soldering and
welding and in laser welding of
plastic parts. IR cameras can see heat
conducting through the nished parts
to check the temperature of the areas
where parts are joined together against
a stored value. In addition, the software
can learn a weld path to make sure this
path is correct, which is accomplished
by programming the specic pixels in
an image to be used by the software for
this purpose. Alternatively, the program
developer can save an image of a
“perfect” part and then have the software
look for minimum, maximum, or delta
values that tells the equipment operator
if a part passes inspection. The car seat
heater inspection described in Chapter 1
can be an example of this, and the same
principle is used in the inspection of car
window heater elements by applying
power to them and looking at their
thermographic image.
Power over Ethernet. It should be noted
that a camera with Ethernet connectivity
can be powered from a variety of sources,
depending on its design. Typically, a
connection for an external DC supply is
used, or where available, the camera is
powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet).
PoE uses a power supply connected to
the network with spare signal leads not
Figure 5. Masking functionality of the FLIR A320 IR camera, which is also available in some third
party software programs.
11
Remote IR Monitoring
otherwise used in 10/100baseT Ethernet
systems. Various PoE congurations are
possible. Figure 6 depicts one in which
the power source is located at one end
of the network. (Gigabit Ethernet uses all
available data pairs, so PoE is not possible
with these systems.)
PoE eliminates the need for a separate
power source and conduit run for
each camera on the network. The
only additional cost is for some minor
electrical hardware associated with PoE.
Many applications encompass areas that
exceed the maximum Ethernet cable
run of 100m. In those cases, there are
wireless and beroptic converter options
that provide o-the-shelf solutions
for communicating over much greater
distances. These are frequently used in
the bulk material storage applications
described below.
Additional Asset Monitoring Situations
Bulk Material Storage. Many bulk
materials are stored in open yards where
air and moisture can help promote
decomposition and other exothermic
reactions that raise the temperature of
the pile. This brings with it the threat
of re, direct monetary loss, and safety
issues for personnel. In addition, there
is the risk of consequential damages
caused by res, including loss of nearby
property, water damage resulting from
re-ghting, and production shutdowns.
Materials that are especially prone to
spontaneous combustion include organic
wastes (compost, etc.), scrap paper
for recycling, wood, coal, and various
inorganic chemicals, such as cement and
chlorine hydrates. Even in the absence
of spontaneous combustion, many
bulk materials like plastics pose a re
hazard due to sparks or other external
ignition sources.
1
5
Spare Pair
Signal Pair
Signal Pair
4
2
TX
+48V
–
RX
DC/DC
Converter
3
6
1
5
4
2
3
6
RX TX
5
Spare Pair
4
5
4
Power Sourcing
Equipment (PSE)
Powered
Device (PD)
Figure 6. Schematic depicting spare-pair PoE delivery using the endpoint PSE arrangement.
12
Chapter
In most cases, prevention is less costly
than a cure, and the best prevention is
continuous monitoring of the materials.
The cost of an automated temperature
monitoring system using IR cameras is
a modest and worthwhile investment.
System design can take the same form as
the one described earlier for hazardous
waste barrels. Cameras are congured
to generate a direct alarm output to an
operator when user-dened maximum
temperature thresholds are exceeded.
Audible and visual alarms in a control
room draw the operator’s attention to a
possible spontaneous re development.
Various types of software have been
developed to isolate trouble spots, such
as the waste pile zone monitoring system
depicted in Figure 7.
Although self-ignition usually starts
within the bottom layers of a stock pile,
continuous monitoring of the surface
reveals hot spots at an early stage (Figure
8), so measures can be taken to prevent
a major re from breaking out. Large
storage yards generally require multiple
cameras for total coverage, with the
cameras mounted on metal masts above
the stock piles. This calls for cameras with
housings and other features designed
for reliable operation in harsh industrial
environments.
Critical Vessel Monitoring (CVM). There
are several applications where the
temperature of a vessel and its contents
are critical. The vessels could be used
for chemical reactions, liquid heating,
or merely storage. For large vessels,
the use of contact temperature sensors
poses problems. One reason could be
non-uniform temperatures throughout a
vessel and across its surface. This would
require a large number of contact type
sensors, whose installations can become
quite costly.
For most CVM applications, a few IR
cameras can image nearly 100% of a
vessels surface (Figure 9). Moreover, they
can measure the surface temperature of
the CVM to trend and predict when the
internal refractory will break down and
compromise the mechanical integrity of
the system. If specic regions of interest
(ROIs) must be focused on, IR camera
rmware (or external PC software) allows
the selection of spot temperature points
or areas for measurement.
Again, some variation of the systems
described earlier can be used. Depending
Figure 7. Control room for waste pile processing, and screen capture of the zone monitoring layout,
which uses a FLIR IR camera on a pan-tilt mount for re hazard warning.
13
Remote IR Monitoring
Figure 8. Visible light and IR images of a coal pile – the thermographic image clearly identies a hot
spot that is a re about to erupt.
on the application environment, an
explosion proof housing for the camera
may be a requirement. HMI (humanmachine interface) software, such as
SCADACAM iAlert from Pivotal Vision,
can be used to provide a monitoring
overview. This has the ability to combine
all of the camera images into a single
spatial representation of the monitored
area – in this case, a attened-out view
of the vessel. This view can be updated
continuously for a near-real-time
thermographic representation.
Electrical Substation Monitoring. Reliable
operation of substations is crucial for
uninterrupted electrical service. Besides
lightning strikes and large overloads,
aging equipment and connections are
a major cause of infrastructure failures
and service interruptions. Many of these
failures can be avoided with eective
preventative maintenance monitoring.
Often, the temperatures of transformers,
breakers, connections, etc. will begin to
creep up before a catastrophic failure
occurs. Detection of these temperature
increases with IR cameras allows
preventative maintenance operations
Figure 9. CVM monitoring example showing
camera locations, network connections, and PC.
1 Computer
2 CAT-6 Ethernet cable with RJ45
connectors
3 Industrial Ethernet switch with PoE
4 ThermoVision™ A320 cameras
5 Industrial process to be monitored,
e.g., a gasier
14
Chapter
before an unplanned outage happens.
(See Figure 10.)
The cameras can be installed on a pan/
tilt mounting mechanism to continually
survey large areas of a substation (Figure
11). A few cameras can provide real-time
coverage of all the critical equipment
that should be monitored. In addition
to preventative maintenance functions,
these cameras also serve as security
monitors for intrusion detection around
the clock.
By combining the cameras’ Ethernet
and/or wireless connectivity with a
web-enabled operator interface, live
images can be transmitted to utility
control rooms miles away. In addition,
trending software can be used to detect
dangerous temperature excursions and
notify maintenance personnel via email
and snapshot images of the aected
equipment.
These features and functions are already
in place at leading utility companies in
the U.S., such as Exel Energy’s “Substation
of the Future.” Companies such as
Exel consider IR monitoring a strategic
investment in automation, which is
part of a common SCADA (Supervisory
Control And Data Acquisition) platform
for maintenance and security operations.
The most advanced systems provide
time-stamped 3-D thermal modeling
of critical equipment and areas, plus
temperature trending and analysis. A
company-wide system of alerts provides
alarms on high, low, dierential, and
ambient temperatures within or between
zones in real time.
The previous examples represent just a
few applications that can benet from
remote IR camera monitoring. A few
other applications where IR temperature
monitoring is being used include:
Oil and gas industries (exploration •
rigs, reneries, are gas ues, natural
gas processing, pipelines, and storage
facilities)
Electric utilities (power generation •
plants, distribution lines, substations,
and transformers)
Figure 10. Visible light and IR images of a substation showing a transformer with excessive
temperature.
15
Remote IR Monitoring
Figure 11. Example pan/tilt mounting system.
Smarter surveillance for a smarter grid
Meet ScadaCam Intelligent Surveillance, the only system in its price range
that can automatically perform site patrols, monitor equipment temperature,
and scan for security breaches without human supervision.
By combining visual, thermal imaging, and thermographic cameras into a
multifunctional operations and security automation tool, ScadaCam can
detect, validate, and alarm you of problems that could otherwise result in a
major outage – before they occur.
See it in action at www.pivotal-vision.com/tryit
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