thermal imaging

Leaks in industrial gas systems can range from almost unnoticeable to disruptive and dangerous disturbances. Locating a leak in compressed air, gas, and vacuum systems can be challenging and time-consuming but quite necessary if the leak is to be repaired. Several gas detectors are available, using stationery and mobile or hand-held equipment to search for escaping emissions. In extreme cases, leaking gases may be toxic, with pressurized gases that include ammonia, chlorine, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide that must be detected and monitored. In less severe cases, escaping gases such as oxygen (O2) may be safe to an operating environment, but a leak or leaks represent an ongoing expense in the loss of a resource.

Gas leaks can be found in numerous ways, often by pressure testing a gas storage unit or interconnecting hose to enable gas sensors to measure beyond their minimum detection limits. Numerous types of gas detectors, such as electrochemical sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, semiconductor

Digital thermal imaging cameras have established themselves as invaluable tools for building safety inspections. Thermal imaging cameras such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras perform noncontact temperature measurements to detect anomalous heat patterns in buildings. They can be used, for example, to find energy-wasting leaks in construction or gaps in electrical insulation. They can also provide heat signatures that reveal the condition of a power generator or motor in factories and production plants. Since some building inspections are performed in potentially dangerous environments, a safe imaging camera can provide a sharp vision of a safe building. But choosing the right digital or thermal imaging camera for a job requires an understanding of how these instruments work and some insight into some of the more important performance specifications. The right camera can pack a great deal of safety inspection into a portable handheld instrument.

Thermal imaging cameras use infrared