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Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information

2Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information www.megger.com

Title Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information

Author Matz Öhlén

Transformer test marketing manager

Date April 2010

Keywords Thermal imaging, software, asset management, PowerDB, Flir

Abstract Using asset management software together with thermal

imaging cameras can result in more cost effective maintenance

and fault finding on electrical equipment.

Email Matz.Ohlen@megger.com

3Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information www.megger.com

Thermal imaging is a very useful addition to the armoury of engineers and technicians whose work involves maintenance and fault-finding on electrical equipment. It is fast and convenient to use, and it doesn’t require equipment to be taken out of service. Thermal imaging can also spot temperature differences that are indicative of an incipient fault long before the problem develops into a full-blown failure and, because it doesn’t involve making electrical connections to the equipment under test, it is easier to use safely than many of the more conventional test techniques.

The results from thermal imaging are, however, very different from those produced by most other tests, as they take the form of a colour picture rather than numerical or graphical data. This can create problems when it comes to incorporating thermal imaging results in test certificates, reports and historical archives of test data since most of the programs used for these purposes have few, if any, facilities for image handling. Now, however, these limitations have been overcome.

The latest version of PowerDB, one of the electrical industry’s most widely used acceptance and maintenance test data management software packages, can import and manipulate

images and data from the FLIR Model P65 thermal imaging camera. Like all thermal imaging cameras, this popular model produces images that are based on the infrared emissions from the equipment undergoing examination. In these images, variations in temperature are shown by colour contrasts. The images are stored as jpeg files on standard compact flash cards, together with information about the actual temperature of the equipment under investigation. The camera can also take normal visible light photographs, which are invaluable for reference purposes, and store these on the same card.

When a card from a P65 camera is plugged into a reader connected to a computer that is running PowerDB, a sub-menu appears. This offers options for importing both infrared and visible light images and for incorporating them into a test form. A reference point and a problem point can also be highlighted on either or both of the images, as shown in the sample forms in Figures 1 and 2. The sub-menu also makes provision for selecting different colour palettes for the infrared image as, in some cases, this can provide better contrast and make problem areas easier to spot.

Figure 1 – Sample infrared inspection report

for dry type ast coil transformer

4Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information www.megger.com

The remainder of the test form provides a structure for entering information about the apparatus shown in the pictures. This can, for example, include detail of load currents, measurements of harmonics and comments. As would be expected, the data and completed forms are stored in the PowerDB database, allowing them to be retrieved rapidly and easily or archived for long-term storage.

PowerDB forms containing thermal imaging data can, of course, be readily incorporated in reports and certificates produced by the software, and can also be exported for use in third party programs.

These new facilities mean that thermal imaging results can now be handled alongside and just as easily as the results from other types of test, making thermal imaging an even more attractive testing option in electrical power applications.

Figure 2 – Sample infrared inspection report for distribution panel

Storing thermal images with asset maintenance information

PowerDB-1_WP_en_V01.pdf