November 2020

Focus on: Thermal Imaging Maintenance Matters anomalies at very high temperatures up to 1500oC, found in harsh industrial environments such as steel mills or kilns. FLIR Inspection Route is now offered as a standard feature on every Exx-Series camera and is complemented by the FLIR Thermal Studio Pro software with Route Creator plugin, sold separately as an annual subscription. The complete routing bundle enables professionals to create and export custom inspection and pre- planned routes, ideal for large or multi-location electrical or mechanical projects. Checking out wind turbines The quick and efficient scanning of land, building sites and large machinery by UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems, or Drones) presents not only a far safer method of inspection but a more effective view of operations, offering a new perspective from which issues and faults can be detected. The smaller and significantly lighter infrared cameras are ideal for integration with UAVs. Drones with IR cameras are already in service for the oil, gas and utility industries, providing exceptional results in areas previously considered impossible to survey. Pairing aerial capabilities with thermal imaging techniques allows the inspection of PV systems in remote areas, meaning rooftops and large buildings can easily be assessed. The first foray for drones into the renewables market was not with wind turbines, but with photovoltaic solar panels, which are highly sensitive pieces of equipment that require periodic maintenance in order to replace or repair damaged panels, in order to improve efficiency. Employing infrared technology and high definition imagery makes it possible to find damaged cells, survey large solar farms and monitor the overall effectiveness of energy production. The number of wind turbines used globally has grown exponentially over the last few years, and with it so has the need for efficient and safer inspection methods. A growing number of these are operating out of warranty and must be serviced more frequently to maintain productivity and avoid downtime. Preventative maintenance, by inspecting blades before a blade failure actually occurs, costs 25% less than reactive maintenance, while predictive maintenance costs 47% less. This is driving a brisk business in wind turbine blade inspections. The role has traditionally been accomplished from the ground using simple visual inspections or by more complicated and risky techniques such as using a cherry picker, service platform, hydraulic crane or rope descent. Commercial-grade UAVs handled by professional operators provide closer, higher-resolution imagery than ground-based alternatives and are also significantly quicker. UAVs are able to fly at an optimum distance from the structure, usually from 3 to 10m, and can circle around it to cover the whole surface area. This data can then be used in conjunction with photogrammetry software and used to build a three-dimensional model of the blade, delivering a level of accuracy and detail that is hard to achieve with manual methods. When and if repairs are needed, the team knows the exact location on the turbine. Because it is GPS enabled, it also points to the repair’s exact location.