Overview
With both rotating equipment and machinery, infrared thermography is often used to find immediate failures and critical problems. Perhaps an even greater benefit, however, is in trending equipment in conjunction with other maintenance technologies such as vibration analysis, acoustics, and oil analysis. All of these monitoring methods should work together in a comprehensive predictive maintenance program. If the data is gathered and correlated consistently, the cost benefits are phenomenal.
As with all infrared inspections it is also important to understand the theories involved in how infrared radiation works and how heat transfer is affecting the objects in a thermal image. Concepts such as emissivity, thermal reflections, thermal conductivity, and indirect temperature measurement are crucial to the identification and diagnosis of mechanical problems. |
Sample IR Images:
- Chipper Conveyor Arm Bearing
- Electric Motor Bearing
- Pump Bearing
- Motor Bearing
- Overtightened Cooling Fan Belt
- Overhead Cooler Fan Motors
- Overheating Inboard Bearing
- Turbine Enclosure
- Twisted Drive Belt
|
1. Chipper Conveyor Arm Bearing
The hot spot on the right side of the image indicates an overheating bearing. Examination and replacement of the bearing during the next scheduled outtage avoided possible unscheduled down-time and capital loss.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
2. Electric Motor Bearing
During a routine electrical survey, this motor was identified as having a damaged inboard bearing. Infrared imaging can quickly identify bearings, motor windings, gears, and other elements of rotating equipment that overheat due to misalignment, wear, under/over lubrication, and misuse.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
3. Pump Bearing
During a routine electrical survey, this pump was identified as having a damaged inboard bearing. Infrared imaging can quickly identify bearings, motor windings, gears, and other elements of rotating equipment that overheat due to misalignment, wear, under/over lubrication, and misuse.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
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4. Motor Bearing
Bearings can be compared with like equipment under similar load, can be trended over time, or can be flagged for immediate repair if a critical temperature rise is noted.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
5. Overtightened Cooling Fan Belt
The belt attached to the left side of this bearing is overtightened, causing the top of the bearing to overheat. (This is a lower bearing, therefore the belt pressure is to the top.) The inset image shows a normal bearing (left) where the heat is transferring from the friction of the belt vs. the overheating bearing (right) where the main source of heat is the upward pressure on the bearing itself. Another important thing to note in this comparison, is that the same colors will not necessarily represent the same temperature ranges in different thermograms. The object parameters and image scale and levels will change these representations.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
6. Overhead Cooler Fan Motors
The images of these two motors are taken with the same parameters, scale, and level. They should be operating under the same conditions. The inset motor, however, has the wrong pitch of fan blade, at it is operating at least 10° C hotter. This surface temperature on the motor housing is indirect, and the air flow in the area will reduce the thermal signature to some degree, so this calculated temperature rise is conservative.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
7. Overheating Inboard Bearing
An understanding of heat transfer and the ability to obtain a good thermal focus with an infrared camera allows a thermographer to clearly identify a failing component, such as this motor inboard bearing.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
8. Turbine Enclosure
This image shows a leaking seal on a turbine enclusure around a cooling air line.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
9. Twisted Drive Belt
The far right belt in this belt drive assembly is twisted and appears hotter than the belts to the left. The undersides of all of the belts appear hotter due to friction with the sheave.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
Overview
With both rotating equipment and machinery, infrared thermography is often used to find immediate failures and critical problems. Perhaps an even greater benefit, however, is in trending equipment in conjunction with other maintenance technologies such as vibration analysis, acoustics, and oil analysis. All of these monitoring methods should work together in a comprehensive predictive maintenance program. If the data is gathered and correlated consistently, the cost benefits are phenomenal.
As with all infrared inspections it is also important to understand the theories involved in how infrared radiation works and how heat transfer is affecting the objects in a thermal image. Concepts such as emissivity, thermal reflections, thermal conductivity, and indirect temperature measurement are crucial to the identification and diagnosis of mechanical problems. |
Sample IR Images:
- Chipper Conveyor Arm Bearing
- Electric Motor Bearing
- Pump Bearing
- Motor Bearing
- Overtightened Cooling Fan Belt
- Overhead Cooler Fan Motors
- Overheating Inboard Bearing
- Turbine Enclosure
- Twisted Drive Belt
|
1. Chipper Conveyor Arm Bearing
The hot spot on the right side of the image indicates an overheating bearing. Examination and replacement of the bearing during the next scheduled outtage avoided possible unscheduled down-time and capital loss.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
2. Electric Motor Bearing
During a routine electrical survey, this motor was identified as having a damaged inboard bearing. Infrared imaging can quickly identify bearings, motor windings, gears, and other elements of rotating equipment that overheat due to misalignment, wear, under/over lubrication, and misuse.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
3. Pump Bearing
During a routine electrical survey, this pump was identified as having a damaged inboard bearing. Infrared imaging can quickly identify bearings, motor windings, gears, and other elements of rotating equipment that overheat due to misalignment, wear, under/over lubrication, and misuse.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
4. Motor Bearing
Bearings can be compared with like equipment under similar load, can be trended over time, or can be flagged for immediate repair if a critical temperature rise is noted.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
5. Overtightened Cooling Fan Belt
The belt attached to the left side of this bearing is overtightened, causing the top of the bearing to overheat. (This is a lower bearing, therefore the belt pressure is to the top.) The inset image shows a normal bearing (left) where the heat is transferring from the friction of the belt vs. the overheating bearing (right) where the main source of heat is the upward pressure on the bearing itself. Another important thing to note in this comparison, is that the same colors will not necessarily represent the same temperature ranges in different thermograms. The object parameters and image scale and levels will change these representations.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
6. Overhead Cooler Fan Motors
The images of these two motors are taken with the same parameters, scale, and level. They should be operating under the same conditions. The inset motor, however, has the wrong pitch of fan blade, at it is operating at least 10° C hotter. This surface temperature on the motor housing is indirect, and the air flow in the area will reduce the thermal signature to some degree, so this calculated temperature rise is conservative.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
7. Overheating Inboard Bearing
An understanding of heat transfer and the ability to obtain a good thermal focus with an infrared camera allows a thermographer to clearly identify a failing component, such as this motor inboard bearing.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
8. Turbine Enclosure
This image shows a leaking seal on a turbine enclusure around a cooling air line.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents
9. Twisted Drive Belt
The far right belt in this belt drive assembly is twisted and appears hotter than the belts to the left. The undersides of all of the belts appear hotter due to friction with the sheave.
You may left-click on the picture for an expanded view.
Table of Contents