The quickest way to track thermal performance

Citation

(2001), "The quickest way to track thermal performance", Sensor Review, Vol. 21 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2001.08721cad.001

The quickest way to track thermal performance

The quickest way to track thermal performance

Keyword: Thermal imaging

Product designers and research engineers are increasingly turning to thermography as a development tool. It provides a complete picture of thermal performance which is uncluttered by sensor wires and whose set-up can be easily replicated. Exceptional sensitivity and accuracy are vital attributes for thermal imaging cameras used in this field and with the introduction of its new ThermaCAM® SC3000, FLIR Systems has now surpassed existing technology (Plate 1). Its credentials include extremely wide dynamic range, unmatched sensitivity, longwave image quality, 14-bit digital output and lens options which provide resolutions down to 31 microns.

Plate 1 With the introduction of its new ThermaCAM SC3000, FLIR Systems has surpassed existing technology

QWIP technology

The excellent thermal and spatial accuracy of this new ThermaCAM is largely thanks to the latest generation of GaAs Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector sensor it employs. This QWIP technology delivers advances in measurement accuracy and image stability which are unrivalled by any other commercial IR camera. The Stirling cooled sensor provides an image resolution of 320 x 240 pixels – nearly 77,000 measurement points – and thermal sensitivity of less than 20mK at 30°C, ensuring low thermal noise. Spatial resolution is 1.1mrad.

Exceptional accuracy

Longwave operation in the spectral range 8-9m plays a major part in the provision of high definition thermal images. It enables users to clearly see, measure and quantify thermal performance across the wide temperature span of –20°C to +1,500°C, accessible in four ranges; up to +2,000°C is optionally available. Measurement accuracy is ±1 per cent or 1°C for temperatures up to 150°C and ±2 per cent or 2°C beyond.

Automatic compensation

Various features contribute to this accuracy. The ThermaCAM SC3000 automatically recalibrates to take account of changes in object distance, atmospheric temperature and relative humidity, all of which can adversely affect transmission accuracy. The same applies to variation in temperature in the camera and on the lens, which again it monitors automatically. These features are complemented by emissivity correction by means of a pull-down menu. This displays a pre-programmed list of substrates in common use with adjustment values from 0.1 to 1.0.

31 micron resolution

The ThermaCAM SC3000 is introduced with two lens options. The first is a new, close-up lens which provides a resolution of 100 microns. When coupled with the second option, a microscope lens, that resolution can be increased to 31 microns.

Real-time analysis

Utilising ThermaCAM Researcher HS software with dedicated PC, the SC3000 feeds real-time 14-bit data from 50Hz to 750Hz directly to the PC for recording and analysis. Static 14-bit radiometric IR images can also be stored on the camera's removable, high capacity PC cards.

Extensive thermal analysis of dynamic or digitally stored images is easily accomplished via FLIR Systems ThermaCAM Researcher and Reporter software. Data can also be seamlessly exported to other common analysis packages such as Excel and MatLab.

This new, scientific thermal imaging camera is built to the same IP54 standard as its plant maintenance counterparts and is, therefore, suitable for use in the most demanding research and scientific testing environments. The unit weighs 3.2kgs and measures 220mm x 135mm x 130mm.

Typically, this new ThermaCAM will be used for the non-destructive testing of micro-electronic systems or composite materials and in any application where thermal performance needs to be tracked with the utmost efficiency and accuracy.