Electricity and Control August 2024

PLANT MAINTENANCE, TEST + MEASUREMENT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Conducting thermal inspections – choose the best method

There’s no universal solution for all infrared inspections us ing a thermal camera or thermal imager. Fluke, as a leading provider of electrical testing tools, and locally represented by Comtest, advises that it’s best to match the method used to the type of equipment being inspected and the level of detail needed. However, it outlines three basic methods which can be used to cover most situations: Baseline ther mography, Thermal trending thermography, and Compara tive thermography. Baseline thermography Baseline thermography is a good place to start for most ap plications. The maintenance team should scan the equipment when it is first commissioned, or later in the lifecycle when it is working the way it should be, and use that ‘baseline’ as a reference point for future inspections. With Fluke’s portable thermal cameras, technicians can use the thermal images on the camera in the field or on a PC at the office, using software tools provided. This baseline approach paves the way to help maintenance technicians spot anomalies down the road. RS South Africa is part of the RS Group plc, which pro vides product and service solutions for industrial customers around the world and has spent over 80 years aggregating suppliers of technology and services to offer these to its cus tomers. “When customers approach us with specific issues they need to address, we look at what solutions we can offer in terms of an overall plan or strategy,” says Craig Henry, MRO Business Development and Value-Added Solutions Manag er at RS South Africa. Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) is key to the efficient functioning of supply chains across a range of in dustries, from equipment and machinery to the many pro cesses essential for a company’s daily operations. The effi ciency of MRO impacts maintenance planning, operational costs, and overall supply chain efficiency significantly. Technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), predictive maintenance algorithms, automation and digitisation, AI, blockchain technology and 3D printing are transforming MRO operations. They also assist with trace ability, asset tracking and more. Smart contracts, providing for three- to five-year optimisation of new procedures, pres ent another new trend Henry advises customers to ensure they have defined their goals and objectives clearly. “Prioritise what is going in first and what is most compatible. Consider key stake holders. If you do not have their buy-in, any strategy is un likely to take off effectively,” he says. □ Trending thermography Once the baseline is set, teams can conduct thermal trend New technologies in MRO boost supply chain efficiency

ing inspections to compare how tem perature is distributed in the same components over time. This can help to detect declining performance so that maintenance downtime can be scheduled before the equipment schedules it. Comparative thermography As would be expected, in this comparative approach, similar components are scanned using the thermal camera under similar conditions, and the results can then be compared. This method relies on the idea that similar or identical components under similar loads will be expected to have similar temperature profiles. Once three or more components are compared, picking up an anomaly is relatively easy. This is usually straightforward, but it is important to keep in mind that in some installations, depending on the components being compared, the actual temperature difference that can be viewed as an anomaly will vary.

Thermal imaging cameras can be used to monitor plant and equipment and detect anomalies.

For more information visit: www.comtest.co.za

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AUGUST 2024 Electricity + Control

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