What Affects the Measurement Accuracy of Infrared Imagers
With the wide application of infrared temperature measurement technology in industry and other fields, higher requirements for measurement accuracy are also put forward. Non-contact infrared thermometers are getting better in function and technology, but there are still some factors that affect their accuracy. So, what factors will affect the measurement accuracy of the infrared imager?
Measuring angle
In order to ensure accurate measurement, when measuring (perpendicular to the target surface), the infrared thermometer should be along the normal direction of the surface of the measured object as much as possible. If the instrument cannot be guaranteed to be in the normal direction, it should be measured at an angle of 45 degrees to the normal direction, otherwise the display value of the infrared thermometer will be low.
ambient temperature
The infrared thermometer should be used in strict accordance with the ambient temperature specified by the technical indicators of the instrument. Otherwise, when the range is exceeded, the measurement error of the infrared thermometer will increase, and the infrared thermometer may even be damaged. When the ambient temperature is high, air cooling, water cooling devices or thermal protection jackets can be used. The heat shield can ensure the infrared thermometer works normally in the environment of 200 degrees.
When a handheld infrared thermometer or thermometer is used from one environment to another with a large temperature difference, the accuracy of the instrument is temporarily reduced. In order to obtain ideal measurement results, the infrared thermometer should be placed at the work site for a period of time (recommended at least 30 minutes) to allow the temperature of the instrument to equilibrate with the ambient temperature before use.
air quality
Pollutants in the air, such as smoke, dust, etc., as well as dirty lenses, will make the infrared thermometer unable to receive enough infrared energy to meet the measurement accuracy, thereby increasing the measurement error of the instrument. Therefore, it is best to keep your lenses clean, and a hair dryer helps prevent contamination of your lenses.
electromagnetic interference
Infrared thermometers should be kept as far away as possible from potential sources of electrical interference, such as electrical equipment with large load changes. The output and input terminals of the online instrument should be connected with shielded wires, and ensure that the shielded wires are well grounded. In a strong interference environment, the performance of the external rigid protective conduit is better than that of the flexible conduit. Additionally, AC power from other equipment must not be introduced into the same conduit.
environmental radiation
Therefore, when we use the infrared thermometer, as long as we pay attention to the measurement angle, ambient temperature and electromagnetic interference, we can obtain high-precision data and avoid unnecessary troubles.
Field of View and Target Size
Make sure the target is in the field of view of the instrument measurement. The smaller the target, the closer it should be to the target. Also, it is better to set the target size to the size of two light spots in the field of view to reduce errors in actual measurements.
When there are other objects with higher temperature around the measured object, the light source or when the sun radiates, these radiations will directly or indirectly enter the measurement optical path, resulting in measurement errors. In order to overcome the influence of environmental radiation, please avoid environmental radiation directly entering the optical path, so that the field of view of the instrument is as full as possible with the measured object. Indirect interference from ambient radiation can be eliminated by shielding.
