Infrared and acoustic imaging...our future?

[Barry Adair]

First off I know jack about acoustic so this only pertains to IR.

Become educated before you leap!

IR is not the end-all it is just another diagnostic tool that requires extensive training for proper end results.

Be sure you are willing to invest the time, money and this is the direction you want to take your business model.

ASNT Recommended Training for Level I Thermal / Infrared Testing
The following recommended course outline is from the ASNT (The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.) publication "Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A". This document is intended as a guideline for employers to establish their own written practice for the qualification and certification of nondestructive testing personal. It is not intended to be use as a strict specification. For more information as to SNT-TC-1A please contact the ASNT, 1711 Arlingate Lane, PO Box 28518 Columbus, Ohio 43228-0518.

Basic Thermal / Infrared Physics Course (10 / 8* Hours)
1. The nature of heat - what is it and how is it measured / expressed?
1. Instrumentation
2. Scales and Conversions
2. Temperature - what is it and how is it measured / expressed?
1. Instrumentation
2. Scales and conversions
3. Heat Transfer Mode Familiarization
1. Heat conduction fundamentals
1. Fourier's Law of heat conduction (concept)
2. Conductivity / resistance basics
2. Heat convection fundamentals
1. Newton's law of cooling (concept)
2. Film coefficient / film resistance basics
3. Heat radiation fundamentals
1. Stefan - Boltzmann Law (concept)
2. Emissivity / Absorptivity / Reflectivity / Transmissivity basics (Kirchhoff's Law)
4. Radiosity Concepts Familiarization
1. Reflectivity
2. Transmissivity
3. Absorptivity
4. Emissivity
5. Infrared radiometry and imaging
6. Spatial resolution concepts
1. Field of view (FOV)
2. Instantaneous field of view (IFOV) ref. ASTM E-1149
3. Minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) ref. ASTM E-1149, E-1213
4. Spatial resolution for temperature measurement - the Split Response Function (SRF)
7. Error potential in radiant measurements (and overview)

Basic Thermal / Infrared Operating Course (10 / 10* Hours)
1. Introduction
1. Thermography defined
2. How Infrared imagers work
3. Differences among imagers and alternative equipment
4. Operation of infrared thermal imager
1. selecting the best perspective
2. Image area and lens selection for required details
3. Optimizing the image
5. Operation of support equipment for infrared surveys
2. Checking Equipment Calibration with Blackbody References
3. Infrared Image and Documentation Quality
1. Elements of a good infrared Image
1. Clarity (focus)
2. Dynamic range of the image
3. Recognizing and dealing with reflections
4. Recognizing and dealing with spurious convection
2. Recording
1. Videotape
2. Photographic images
3. Video Photo cameras
4. Digital recording
5. Video printers
4. Support Data Collection
1. Environmental data
2. Emissivity
1. Measurement
2. Estimation
3. Surface modification
3. Surface reference temperatures
4. Identification and other

Basic Thermal / Infrared Applications Course (20 / 18* Hours)
1. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting from Differences in Thermal Resistance (Quasi Steady-State Heat Flow)
1. Larger surface-to-ambient temperature differences
2. Small surface-to-ambient temperature difference
2. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting From Differences in Thermal Capacitance, Using System or Environmental Heat Cycles.
3. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting from Differences in Physical state.
4. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting from Fluid Flow Problems
5. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting from Friction
6. Detecting Thermal Anomalies Resulting from Non-homogeneous Exothermic or Endothermic Conditions
7. Field Quantification of Point Temperatures
1. Simple techniques for emissivity
2. Typical (high emissivity) applications
3. Special problems of low emissivity applications.

[Dennis R. Goudreau]

just wanted to thank David,Leonard & Barry for your advice and examples of use of this device, clearly the expense of the tool warrents proper education I think in the end it would be a good tool to add to the tool bag.I first seen one on this old house and they were useing it for heat loss detection.

[Larry E. Freeze]

Originally Posted by dgoudreau

just wanted to thank David,Leonard & Barry for your advice and examples of use of this device, clearly the expense of the tool warrents proper education I think in the end it would be a good tool to add to the tool bag.I first seen one on this old house and they were useing it for heat loss detection.

And many thanks to all for all your replies and valuable comments/recommendations !!!
While it rather appears that IR and/or acoustic imaging might be inevitably be in our future....I think I shall do considerable more lookin' before leapin' !
Thanks to all !

[Dennis R. Goudreau]

Originally Posted by lfreeze

And many thanks to all for all your replies and valuable comments/recommendations !!!
While it rather appears that IR and/or acoustic imaging might be inevitably be in our future....I think I shall do considerable more looking' before leapin' !
Thanks to all !

Larry I did not mean to slight anyone, in my opinion there is great info here I was thanking these individuals for responding to a specific question, on a specific post, my apologies if I offended you