Thermal Imaging: Just a Note, Not the Whole Tune: Preventing Electrical Devices from Thermal Damage by Using Highly Certified Thermal Monitoring Devices

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