Application Note

Application Note
From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library
They are better
together—Ti400
Infrared Camera
and Fluke 805
Vibration Meter
If a tree falls in the forest . . . it makes a noise,
whether anybody’s there to hear it or not.
Trouble heats up
An abnormally hot or cold spot
or an unusual thermal pattern
on process equipment often indi-
cates an emerging problem. This
makes thermal cameras, which
capture two-dimensional images
of the apparent surface tempera-
tures of objects, useful tools for
regular predictive maintenance
of mechanical, electrical and
other equipment. With thermal
imaging you can discover and
diagnose various issues includ-
ing high-resistance electrical
connections that impede airflow,
bearing issues on motors and
tank levels, and many other
mechanical problems.
In a major Florida brewery,
scanning with a Fluke infrared
camera revealed that the gear-
box of a bottle labeling machine
was running hotter than normal
– nearly boiling hot. A physical
inspection showed the box was
filled with water, not lubricant.
A damaged seal had allowed the
water in. A breakdown could
have shut down the bottling
line.
One way to prioritize infrared
scanning is to begin with the
critical assets whose failure
would threaten people, prop-
erty or product. Then determine
what conditions add stress and
monitor those assets more fre-
quently. For example, the sludge
and particulates found in many
processes put extra stress on
motors affecting bearings, wind-
ings and insulation. This stress
can show up as heat detect-
able by a thermal imager. Such
motors should be scanned for
frequently.
Just like that fabled tree, machines in trouble provide
telltale evidence to warn of impending problems—if
you just know how to look and listen. Two of the most
useful indicators are temperature and vibration. Most
mechanical components emit a certain amount of
heat and vibration in the normal course of operation.
But excessive heat, cold or vibration can tip you off to
underlying problems, so you can fix them before they
lead to breakdown and bring production to a halt.
New test tools such as the Fluke Ti400 Infrared
Camera and Fluke 805 Vibration Meter are available to
help measure heat and vibration and the 805 can help
interpret the data. They tell you what the underlying
problem may be and guide you in making repairs.
What to look for
Use your thermal imager to look
for hot and cold spots, as well
as other anomalies. Be espe-
cially aware of similar kinds
of equipment operating under
similar conditions, but at dif-
ferent apparent temperatures.
Such deviations might signal
a problem. A good approach is