Use Of Thermovision Research Articles

The use of thermovision in the detection of asymptomatic facial inflammation – Pilot study

Abstract Introduction: Asymptomatic inflammatory foci resulting from chronic dental infections or the presence of foreign bodies, e.g., in the sinuses, leading to serious local and systemic complications. These conditions, despite the absence of symptoms, are a source of bacterial, toxic, allergic, and neurogenic effects. Despite the developed radiological diagnostics in the form of pantomographic images and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), thermal imaging is increasingly mentioned as an auxiliary tool in detecting and treating inflammatory foci of the craniofacial region. It is due that thermal imaging can bring indirectly metabolic information about studied tissues and thus allow the detection of early inflammatory lesions yet not invisible on X-ray diagnostics. The purpose of the study was to apply and validate a protocol for identifying asymptomatic inflammatory foci in the maxillofacial area using thermal imaging. Material and methods: Patients referred to the institute were examined for the presence of inflammatory foci. Analysis of radiographs revealed asymptomatic foci in the maxillary sinus, which were associated with the presence of a displaced foreign body. Thermographic examinations were performed using a FLIR T540 thermal imaging camera. Results: The obtained results showed a significant temperature difference between the suspected and opposite sinus. It was also confirmed that after the foreign body was removed from the sinus the temperature showed a dynamic decrease in time. Conclusions: According to the study, thermography has the potential to become an essential diagnostic tool for inflammation of odontogenic origin. It offers non-invasiveness, safety, real-time imaging, painless and completely safe.

Animal detection using thermal imaging and a UAV

PurposeThis study aims to test a multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) paired with a thermal imaging camera for detecting big game species such as Eurasian elk, red deer, European roe deer and Eurasian wild boar.Design/methodology/approachThe research work was carried out in the Czarna Bialostocka Forest District (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland). A thermal imaging camera E20Tvx Yuneec with a view angle of 33° × 26.6° and a thermal sensor resolution of 640 × 512 pixels was selected for the research. The Yuneec H520E hexacopter was chosen as the lifting vehicle. The flights for the study were conducted between the autumn of 2021 and the winter of 2022. The UAV was flown at two different altitudes, 120 and 80 m above ground level, which provided a ground sampling distance of 11 and 7 cm, respectively.FindingsThe results so far have shown the potential of commercially available thermal imaging cameras for detecting and identifying big game species, such as Eurasian elk and red deer. Moreover, in the winter season of 2022 on the 7th and 13th of March, it was also possible to determine the sex of red deer distinguishing between males and females. The results of the survey made with the thermal camera were compared to the assessment from the standard method for the determination of the game population in the Czarna Bialostocka sub-district. In the case of red deer, the results of the research carried out during the winter exceed five times the numbers obtained as a result of the traditional inventory. That is most likely due to the gregarious occurrence of this species in the winter season.Originality/valueThe use of thermovision to estimate the population and sex of animals is a relatively new issue, especially in Poland, where the use of thermal imaging is not the official method of research of big game species yet.

Thermal Measurement and its Application for Diagnostics of Distribution Oil Transformers

In the first part of the paper the theory of infrared radiation and the use of nondestructive measurement of electrical devices by means of thermovision are under analysis. In the second part of paper basic principles and application of non-contact temperature measurement are examined. In the third part of paper thermal processes in distribution oil transformer – temperature in dependence on height of oil transformer and temperature distribution in sectional plan of oil transformer – are considered. In the fourth part of paper, by means of the experimental measurements and subsequent analysis, practical thermal imaging and contact thermal measurements by optical detectors for the diagnosis of distribution oil transformers in the field of mechanical strength of windings are shown. In this paper, we wanted to show out the possibility of using thermal measurements in this field of analysis and detection of quality of winding for distribution oil transformer. It is possible to use these methods to localize places of faults, and they are also applicable for the diagnosis and detection of disorders of the quality of materials and other anomalies during operation of the equipment. By means of the experimental measurements followed by diagnostic analysis the practical use of thermovision and optical sensors for diagnostics of power oil transformers in field mechanical strength and quality of winding is demonstrated.

The Use of Thermovision in the Monitoring of Coal Storage Facilities as an Element of Safety Management in the Warehouse Management

Abstract Spontaneuos combustion (or self-ignition) is the initiation of the burning process without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. This phenomenon often occurs during storage of such substances as hay, straw as well as coal or culm. Like any other type of fire, in addition to potential material losses, it also poses a threat to people. Thanks to the systematic monitoring of landfills using a thermal imaging camera, the dangerous effects of this phenomenon can be avoided. The article presents photos taken on a coal storage site where, as a result of both prolonged heat and wind exposition, a self-ignition phenomenon occurred that was detected early due to the use of thermovision.

Estimation of thermal transmittance based on temperature measurements with the application of perturbation numbers

Fast estimation of thermal transmittance based on temperature measurements is uncertain, and the obtained results can be burdened with a large error. Nevertheless, such attempts should be undertaken merely due to the fact that a precise measurement by means of heat flux measurements is not always possible in field conditions (resentment of the residents during the measurements carried out inside their living quarters), and the calculation methods do not allow for the nonlinearity of thermal insulation, heat bridges or other fragments of building envelope of diversified thermal conductivity. The present paper offers the estimation of thermal transmittance and internal surface resistance with the use of temperature measurements (in particular with the use of thermovision). The proposed method has been verified through tests carried out on a laboratory test stand built in the open space, subjected to the influence of real meteorological conditions. The present elaboration involves the estimation of thermal transmittance by means of temperature measurements. Basing on the mentioned estimation, the authors present correction coefficients which have impact on the estimation accuracy. Furthermore, in the final part of the paper, various types of disturbance were allowed for using perturbation numbers, and the introduced by the authors “credibility area of thermal transmittance estimation” was determined.

Use of Thermovision for Monitoring Temperature Conveyor Belt of Pipe Conveyor

The paper deals with using new technologies to monitor progressive changes in temperature conveyor belts loaded static forces without the transported material. Multiple measurements were performed to demonstrate the functional dependence of temperature conveyor belt of pipe conveyor to the size of the tensioning force.

Measurement of tight in steel ropes by a mean of thermovision

If tenseness in a wire causes its warming, the weakest place of the rope will react – it will became the warmest. If it is possible to predict the place/point of destruction of a rope or a chain by a means of tenseness causing warming, than it is also possible to search for disruptions on static ropes, but at suitable conditions. Destructive and non-destructive measurements were combined in order to detect disruptions on ropes and chains. Our experiments proved that at certain conditions the use of thermovision for detection of weak places on loaded ropes and chains is applicable. Above mentioned methodology was applied on static ropes in the place where it is not possible to perform regular NDT and at the places where ropes enter socket baskets.

The use of thermovision in the detection of early breast cancer.

4621 completely asymptomatic women underwent thermographic screening followed by clinical examination for breast cancer. 628 of the women were found to have abnormal thermograms and were referred for mammography. Of these 326 were abnormal but negative for malignancy 198 were negative 42 were positive for malignancy and 62 were suspicious of malignancy. Of the 62 9 were found positive at repeat roentgenogram indicating that thermography may indicate a malignant change at a time when the lesion is too small to be demonstrated radiographically. A positive thermogram should be considered as an indication for further study rather than biopsy. The false negative rate was 1.7 per 1000 women screened. Advantages of thermography are: 1) it provides simplicity of performance and repetition with no radiation hazard 2) it can provide an indication for further examination and 3) all women have nondeviating thermographic patterns except for older women who become progressively less vascular. Disadvantages include: 1) the coldness of scirrhous cancer 2) bilateral cancers may be interpreted as negative 3) there is no spatial relationship to the cancer and 4) thermographic signs of cancer occur in benign conditions.