Infrared Thermometer Applications in the Chemical Industry
In the petrochemical industry, refineries deploy temperature indication systems within routine preventive maintenance procedures. These procedures include furnace process monitoring and thermocouple reading verification. For furnace process inspection, infrared thermal viewers are used to detect the level of carbon deposition on heated surface tubes. This type of deposition, known as coking, leads to higher furnace firing rates and elevated tube temperatures. Such high-temperature operating conditions shorten tube service life. Coking hinders uniform heat absorption by the product from the tubes. When using an infrared thermometer, we observe that the tube surface temperature in coked areas is typically higher than that of tubes in other regions.
The operating principle guide for two-color fixed thermometers also supports preventive maintenance: Using portable thermal imaging systems, maintenance personnel can identify potential or existing faults. Examples include overheated motor coil windings, clogged cooling fins on transformers, poor capacitor contacts, and heat buildup on compressor cylinder heads. Any fault is accompanied by a temperature rise or a temperature profile distinctly different from the surrounding area, which can be located with portable thermal imaging systems. In most cases, faults can be detected and corrected promptly before a process shutdown is required.
Comparative Analysis of Online Infrared Thermometers vs Handheld Units
Online infrared thermometers are mostly applied for on-site temperature measurement in industrial production. They measure the real-time temperature at a certain stage of the production line, transmit and display readings in the control room, and can even participate directly in closed-loop control. Thermometers of this type generally demand long-term stability and reliability.
A handheld infrared thermometer is a type of portable infrared thermometer, compact and easy to carry.
Online and handheld infrared thermometers differ in operating environments and measurement accuracy. Thanks to portability, handheld infrared thermometers can work indoors and outdoors with few site restrictions, though their measurement accuracy is slightly lower than that of online models. Online infrared thermometers are bulkier and not easy to move, subject to site constraints. However, they deliver superior measurement accuracy and support online comparison and analysis of measured temperatures - features unavailable on handheld devices. Naturally, online thermometers are also more expensive. For industrial applications, online thermometers offer substantially higher precision.
