Table of Contents

1. What is thermography?
2. Why does an Infrared picture have all those funny colors?
3. Show me some examples!
4. What type of equipment do we use?
5. Can I earn Federal Energy tax credits for improvements ?
6. Where can Thermography be used?

What is Thermography?

A: Short answer - Thermography is the science of using imaging to measure infrared radiation with a camera or other device that is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The total range in the electro magnetic spectrum classified as "infrared radiation" is .8um to 1000um, in thermography we use .9um-14um wavelength range for imaging.

A: Long answer - Thermography is a method used to see and take pictures of the heat an object gives off, or "radiates". Since every physical object is made up of atoms and molecules that spin around and vibrate extremely quickly, the temperature of an object depends on how fast it's molecules and atoms are spinning. The faster they spin the warmer the object.  For example, a microwave oven makes the molecules of water in your hamburger spin very rapidly, which causes the food to heat up. Take the same hamburger and put it into the freezer and it gets colder because the molecules slow down. Even though you have frozen the hamburger it still contains heat, to a certain degree.  It is still much warmer as compared to, let's say dry ice (frozen Co2) at -109 degrees F., and dry ice is a LOT warmer than liquid Nitrogen which freezes at - 346 degrees F.  However NOTHING is colder than an object at "Absolute Zero" temperature, which is the point at which all the atoms and molecules slow down to the slowest possible point at which they can be, "Absolute Zero" which is  -459.67 degrees F.

Absolute Zero is the coldest temperature theoretically possible, so unless you are sitting in a theoretical freezer reading this, you and all the things around you are warmer than Absolute Zero and THAT is what makes Thermography such a valuable tool. It relies on the fact that any object warmer than Absolute Zero must radiate SOME amount of heat (called Infrared radiation) and special equipment designed to see this Infrared radiation can take a picture of it.  With that picture, a trained Thermographer can measure and analyze the heat signature of that object and use the information to determine several factors about the object and implications about it's environment.

Here is another way to think about Thermography: instead of using radiation from the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum we see in our everyday lives called  "visible light," we use the longer wavelength radiation from the "Infrared" portion of the spectrum  and take a picture of it called a Thermogram,  hence the term Thermography to describe this science and Thermographer as the person who practices it.

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Why does an Infrared picture have all those funny colors?

A:Short Answer - A Thermograph or infrared picture is a False Color image which maps the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to a specific color in the visible light portion of the spectrum such that a value of heat is represented by a color we can see

A: Long Answer - Within the Electromagnetic Spectrum, there are lower and higher frequencies of Electromagnetism, but it are all made up of electromagnetic waves.

At the lower end of the EM spectrum are waves having a lower frequency and therefore a longer interval or "Wavelength", these are your brain waves at about 1-25 hertz, followed by the 60 cycle  power lines or 60 hertz, which is the hum you sometimes hear coming from electronic equipment. Then radio waves such as AM in the Kilohertz range and FM in the low megahertz range.   Next up in frequency are Microwaves as in radar transmitters, the "Microwave" oven in your Kitchen and yes, even that cell phone plastered against your head several hours a day, Next come, infrared waves which have a wavelength about the size of a pin head. The infrared camera has a sensor in it which is sensitive only to this range of electromagnetic frequency so it can "See" the infrared electromagnetic radiation or what we commonly call heat.

Next is Visible light, the light we see, the wavelength of visible light is the size of a Protozoa. The digital camera has a sensor in it not unlike the one in an infrared camera, but it sees a range of electromagnetic frequency which is slightly higher in frequency than Infrared called, visible light. Interesting fact is, most regular cameras have a filter built in to keep out Infrared light! We can see this visible light form of electromagnetic radiation so we think it's something special, but it's not, it made up of the same stuff as everything else and it only commands a very, very small  part of the total known electromagnetic spectrum.

Well conclude our Electromagnetic discussion with three more frequencies:  Ultraviolet Light with a wave length of about the size of a Molecule, X-Rays, with a wavelength about the size of an atom (which is why they can go through your flesh, bones and teeth) and finally Gama rays and other ethereal cosmic stuff where the wavelength is about the size of the nucleus of an Atom and smaller

The reason colors in a thermographic or infrared pictures are funny is because you can't see Infrared radiation (or any of the others except for visible light) with your eye so we have to make up or translate the different frequencies of infrared radiation into a color you can see.  One format for doing this is where the lower frequencies or frequencies representing less heat are colored Blue to show the cooler temperatures in the image, Green is not so cool, Yellow and Orange are warmer colors so they are used to represent warmer temperatures in the image, Red is hotter and White are the hottest colors representing the warmest parts of the image. There are many other types of "Color Pallets" including Black and White where cool is dark gray and hot is white or light Gray and other various combinations of colors but they all do the same thing, translate a given frequency of infrared radiation we cannot see with the naked eye  into a visible color which we can see and which represents a temperature.

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Show me some examples ?

Here are some examples

As discussed previously every object above the temperature of absolute zero (minus 459oF) gives off some amount of heat.

Using a specially designed and very sensitive infrared camera, we can "see" and measure this heat. The camera takes a picture of the object's surface and shows the temperature range by displaying it in different colors. The coolest parts of the object's surface are represented by the cooler colors of Black, Blue, and Green. The warmest parts of the image are represented in the warmer colors of Red, Yellow, and White.

      

We immediately are able to pinpoint the source of the problem. Cold air (Blue) was leaking in from around the latch and cooling the surface of the surrounding door frame; this created a cold draft and was wasting energy. We checked the tradesman's work and found that during the installation process, he had removed a section of weather stripping and forgot to replace it.

Because this is a high definition image, there is less guess work and it is easy to see the fine structures of the door, lockset and its materials. It very clearly shows the strike plate and latch, and the color coding shows without a doubt (Blue) where the cold air is entering.

In this next image figure, cold air ( shown in Blue) is leaking from around the door frame, particularly at the bottom center area where the doors meet. The air infiltration is creating a draft and making the entire area in front of the door and the room feel colder.

These owners are wasting valuable energy dollars as they raise their thermostat to counter the cold air.

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What type of equipment do we use?

We use the  new P640 High Definition camera from FLIR,  the first and largest infrared camera manufacture in the world! 

The P640 infrared camera/thermal imager sets a new standard for professional thermographers with its high-definition 640 X 480 infrared detector delivering exceptional resolution and image quality for accurate infrared surveys. As a result, accurate readings can be taken on smaller objects at further distances. High Definition is what gives Infrared Imaging Services some of the clearest and most informative Infrared images available in the industry today with 307,000 individual temperature measurement pixels, that's 4 times the pixel resolution of conventional cameras Infrared cameras!

Take a look at the images above, on the Photospage and this movie of hot liquid to see how fantastic an infrared image can look when it has been captured by Infrared Imaging Services using our FLIR P640!

FLIR P640 High Definition	P640 movie of hot liquid in mixing tank. Convection currents are clearly visible!

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Can I earn federal energy Tax credits for energy improvements?

A. Short Answer -   YES!

A. Long Answer - On Oct. 3, 2008, the President signed into law legislation to extend many of the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives first enacted in 2005 but that expired at the end of 2007 or that were scheduled to expire at the end of 2008.  The bill also includes extensions of a variety of renewable energy tax incentives.  This link to the Government Energy Star web site will provide greater detail:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#s1

In Summary for most home improvements like adding insulation, new energy efficient windows , skylights and doors, new heating and AC units, you can receive tax credit for 30% of the cost up to $1,500.

Here is the table from the Energy Star website of the types of credits and what is covered. There are many additional details about these programs and details may change so please consult the energy star website before making any purchase decision.

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Where can Thermography be used?

In the first question, "What is Thermography?" We discussed that everything above the temperature of Absolute Zero gives off some amount of heat so if that is true and it is, then the applications for Infrared analysis are virtually endless!

For example, there are medical uses; if someone twisted an ankle and it swelled up,  Infrared could show how far the inflammation had spread.  It can also look at arthritis, Carpel Tunnel and other injuries and diseases. Within the electrical industry Infrared is used to safely detect overloads and loose or corroded electrical distribution equipment. It is used to detect the signs of roof leaks, tank levels, clogged pipes and broken valves, building energy loss, electrical motor inspection, worn out belts and bearings, process equipment such as heaters and furnaces, air conditioning, steam, printed circuit board evaluation, pollution tracking, forest fire mapping, surveillance (and no, it cannot see "through walls"  like in the movies)  military and many more applications.

Here is a link to FLIR corporation's application page. Flir is one of the industry leaders and a manufacturer of Infrared technology. You will find they have many very interesting application notes. Because "everything gives off heat" you may have an idea of how Infrared technology could work for you, if so, just give us a call, we'd be glad to discuss your application.

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Think ahead, call Infrared!

Contact us today to ensure you are taking advantage of all the benefits Infrared technology has to offer in your home and at your company.
Infrared Imaging Services LLC 845-641-5482