And its importance in our world
The concepts of “temperature” and “heat” have been present in us since the beginning of our lives, and it would be impossible to conceive the world without them. We know many ways to quantify this manifestation of energy, and one that is particularly interesting and is changing the world is infrared thermography.
Infrared thermography is a technique that provides visible images of infrared energy radiation. Any object with a temperature higher than absolute zero (-273.15°C or 0 Kelvin) emits radiation in the infrared region, even the coldest objects, such as a piece of ice, emit infrared rays.
The electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from radio waves to gamma rays, includes infrared waves at one end of the visible range. Although these waves are not visible to the human eye, they can be felt as heat. The infrared energy emitted by objects is directly related to their temperature, allowing for its measurement and quantification through special sensors that convert this information into a visible image with colors assigned to the measured temperature values.
Thermal cameras capture images based on heat rather than visible light. Although heat, also known as infrared or thermal energy, and light belong to the electromagnetic spectrum, a camera designed to detect visible light will not perceive thermal energy and vice versa. Specifically designed to capture infrared energy, thermal cameras use this data to generate images through video outputs, either digital or analog.
Applications of thermography
In industrial and scientific fields, infrared thermography stands out as an invaluable tool. It offers a wide range of crucial information for detecting problems or monitoring the condition of machinery and equipment. Compared to infrared thermometers, thermography offers numerous advantages: it provides real-time measurements, without direct contact with the object, and offers a two-dimensional image displaying thermal patterns and trends. These features make thermography essential in a variety of industrial and scientific sectors.
To make the most of this technique, it is essential to understand some basic concepts. When selecting a thermal camera, it is important to consider features such as resolution, temperature range, accuracy, and thermal sensitivity. Additionally, when performing infrared
thermography measurements, it is fundamental to follow considerations such as personnel training, choosing the right camera, clearly defining the measurement objective, scheduling inspections for reference parameters, and documenting the entire process and data obtained.
As for the main applications of this technology, we find Early Fire Detection, Continuous Monitoring of Substations, Unattended Damage Inspection Systems for Mining Truck Tires, Slag Detection in Liquid Steel, Quality Control of Metal and Polymer Molding, and Automotive Product and Component Testing (to name just a few).
