Thermal imaging: Just a note, not the whole tune a look into continuous thermal monitoring in switchear

Abstract

A rigorous thermal monitoring regimen is considered standard practice by those responsible for maintaining critical electrical infrastructure. As thermal imaging technologies mature and infrared cameras become increasingly common, it becomes necessary to understand any limitations that may be imposed by methods that capture data infrequently. This paper will frame the benefits of implementing continuous, real time, thermal monitoring instead of performing infrequent scanning with hand-held infrared cameras, in an industrial process environment. Attention is focused on medium and low voltage switchgear due to the importance of their thermal behavior in these industrial settings. Specifically, continuous thermal sensing utilizing fiber-optic based sensors will be reviewed, along with installation considerations and methods for analyzing data.