Combustible Dust Application- Thermal Imaging

 

As a maintenance manager of a large manufacturing company, you are concerned about the ignition potential of your operating equipment in proximity to combustible dust. You have a preventative maintenance program but you have had unexpected fires in the past from hot work activities, overheated bearings and electrical faults. What can you do to strengthen your ignition controls and reduce unscheduled downtime.

Thermal imaging is a cost effective, non-intrusive, non-destructive method of safely observing the temperatures of surfaces of operating equipment. The thermal imaging camera works by measuring the infrared radiation being emitted from an object and converts it to the visible light spectrum for the operator to observe. By having this visual understanding of the temperature of the area being scanned it makes it easy to scan for electrical faults, overheated bearings, hot embers left from hot work activities. These issues produce abnormal amounts of heat which makes them stand out as different colors on the camera display. Views can be easily captured as photos for distribution or reports.

  Before cleaning activities involving combustible dust start, it is recommended to scan the area around the proposed cleaning zone with a thermal imaging camera to ensure that equipment has been allowed to cool below the safe temperature, and there are no overheating components, electrical shorts or other ignition sources present. Having a documented housekeeping procedure that includes thermal imaging scanning of designated work area demonstrates diligence in managing the combustible dust hazard.  

Once you have included thermal imaging in your preventative maintenance program, you will find that many lubrication-based failures will be eliminated reducing unscheduled downtime, and unplanned ignitions.  When you become familiar with the ease of operation of a thermal imaging camera you will find many other uses. It is easy to spot water pipe leaks indirectly by the loss of insulation effectiveness when insulation is wet in building walls, rodent or insect nests can be observed from their heat generation, dust collection piping wear can be observed by temperature variation, insulation effectiveness for building envelopes. The use of thermal imaging continues to grow with increased use for search and rescue applications, medical diagnosis of veterinary and human conditions.

Once you have added thermal imaging to your toolbox you will wonder how you managed without it!

This article is not intended to be a definitive guide to use of thermal imaging, or as training for thermal imaging use. It is just a primer to allow people to become more aware of the components of an effective Combustible Dust Management Program, and to understand which questions to ask when seeking assistance with setting up a program.