Online infrared thermometers are widely used in many industries
In the glass industry, it is heated to very high temperatures. Infrared thermometers are used to monitor the temperature in the furnace. Hand-held sensors detect the high temperature point by measuring the outside. The temperature of the melted glass is measured to determine the appropriate furnace opening temperature. In flat glass items, the sensor detects the temperature at each stage of processing. The wrong temperature or too rapid a temperature change can cause uneven expansion or contraction. In the case of bottles and containers, the molten glass flows to the front furnace which is kept at the same temperature. An infrared thermometer is used to detect the temperature of the glass in the front furnace. So it should be in proper condition where it exits. In fibreglass products, infrared sensors are used in processing furnaces to detect the temperature of the glass in the pre-furnace. Another use of infrared sensors in the glass industry is in the process of windscreen products.
In the plastics industry, infrared thermometers are used to avoid product tarnishing, to measure dynamic objects and to measure high-temperature plastics. In the blown film ejection process, temperature measurements to adjust to heating and cooling can help maintain the integrity of the plastic's tension and its thickness. During the ejection of blown film, sensors help control the temperature to ensure the thickness and homogeneity of the product. During sheet extrusion, the sensors allow the operator to adjust the heaters and cold rolls to ensure the quality of the product.
Also, in the petrochemical industry, refineries use temperature display systems as part of routine preventive maintenance procedures. These procedures include monitoring of the furnace process and confirmation of thermocouple readings. In furnace process monitoring, infrared displays are used to detect the percentage of carbon build-up on the heated surface tubes. This build-up, called coking, leads to higher ignition rates in the furnace and also to higher tube temperatures. This high temperature condition reduces the life of the tubes. This is because this coking prevents the product from absorbing heat evenly from the tube. When using an infrared thermometer we will find that the surface temperature of the tube in the coking area tends to be higher than the surface temperature of the tube in other areas.
