Understanding Infrared Thermography Reading 7 Part 2 of 2.pdf

EPRI Licensed Material
Basic Elements of an In-House Program
6.2 Sample Program
This section incorporates the above recommendations and could serve as the basis for a program
using infrared thermography as part of a predictive maintenance program.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 This program is for the administration and conduct of an infrared inspection program of
electrical and mechanical equipment. The purpose of this program is to identify
equipment that requires maintenance and to improve its reliability through the use of
infrared thermography (IR).
1.2 This document contains the recommended scope, frequency, and corrective action criteria
for routine and unscheduled infrared surveys.
1.3 Requests for changes to this program and questions relative to it shall be directed to the
administrator of the IR program.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
2.1 Infrared – Electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths that are greater than those of
visible light, but shorter than microwaves. As it applies to IR thermography, the
wavelengths are between 3 to 15 micrometers.
2.2 Infrared Survey – A comprehensive examination of components and equipment with an
infrared imaging system.
2.3 Emissivity – The ratio of radiance from a surface to the radiance at the same wavelength
from a perfect blackbody at the same temperature. Functionally, this is the radiation
efficiency of a surface in the infrared spectrum.
2.4 Radiosity – Thermal energy of a surface as seen by the infrared detector.
2.5 Thermogram – A recorded, displayed, or hard-copy image of the output of an infrared
imaging system.
2.6 Isotherm – A thermal contour on a thermogram where all of the spots along it are at the
same apparent temperature.
2.7 Infrared thermographer – An individual who is trained and qualified to operate infrared
imaging equipment and to interpret the images.
3.0 SCOPE
3.1 The requirements of this procedure shall apply to all safety-related components. It shall
also be applicable to non-safety-related equipment where financial benefit might be
achieved by monitoring (that is, increased plant availability, decreased maintenance
costs, and so on).
3.2 This procedure includes guidelines for the following:
• Component selection
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