Benefits of thermo graphic surveys

• Surveys are non-invasive and non-destructive allowing the survey to be completed whilst plant and equipment is running, in production and on load.
• Surveys are real time and produce fast, accurate and immediate temperature measurement and fault detection.
• Increased reliability and efficiency of plant and equipment resulting in reduced breakdowns and stoppages and significantly reduced maintenance costs and production losses.
• Assists businesses to comply with The Electricity at Work Act by complementing the electrical periodic test and inspection and helping to prove the integrity and safety of electrical systems and equipment
• Assists businesses to comply with insurance requirements and complements their existing risk avoidance measures
• Surveys can be incorporated into existing predictive and preventative maintenance programmes.
• Surveys can be performed at a convenient time and tailored to each client’s individual requirements.
• Increased energy efficiency.
• Increased capital equipment lifespan.
• Increased safety.
• Reduced risk of fire.

 

Electrical Surveys and Preventive Maintenance

A thermal imager provides a visualisation of heat, often invisible to the naked eye, which provides a quantitative analysis of temperature rise. A thermal imager can display and record temperature differences as low as 0.3°C which is far above the sensitivity required to detect electrical faults. A warm wire in a bundle of wires or amongst hundreds of terminals will be immediately detected and displayed. Overheated components or components that are breaking down and visually normal to an electrician will also be immediately apparent to a thermal imager.

Preventative maintenance surveys can save on-line breakdowns, delivery schedules and in the long term significant costs.

Infrared thermography or thermal imaging is a recognised technique for detecting loose or corroded connections. A poor electrical connection under load will rise in temperature. Arcing may occur and eventually the connection will fail, and could result in a fire.  

The images below are samples of overheated cables and poor connections.

Fuse boards

         

Faults of fuse boards usually only come to light when they burn out or completely fail causing risk of fire or plant disruption. A survey will highlight problem areas and we will tell you in our report exactly what you need to do to repair the fault.

Supply Fuses

         

Control Panel

          

Very often the repair involves just re-tightening a connection but left alone would result in a burn out and plant downtime costing potentially thousands of pounds.

Crimp Connections

         
Any type of connection can fail. Look how close the hot crimp connection gets to the paper schedule on the inside of the fuse board door when it is closed.

PLC and Data

         
Many people believe that thermo graphic electrical surveys can only be carried out on 240 volt systems and above. PLC, Data and low voltage detection systems which very often have the potential to cause huge plant disruption.The problem shown above was caused by a faulty valve connected to this circuit.

Battery Charger

          
Battery connections to fork lift trucks or cleaning machines are oven abused and damaged. These pieces of equipment are often in secluded areas and left on charge over night which heightens the risk of fire and major damage to buildings.

To arrange for your thermal imaging survey call A & N Electrical Engineering today on:
0151 606 0776.