PRESENTATION

BY
K.CHARMILA

INFRARED
TECHNOLOGY

INFRARED RADIATION

SIR FREDERICK WILLIAM HERSCHEL found the infrared

radiation in 1800
First called as CALORIFIC RAYS and then renamed as
INFRARED RAYS or Infrared radiation
Infrared radiation lies between the visible and microwave
portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

INFRARED RADIATION
Infrared waves have wavelengths longer than visible
and shorter than microwaves, and have frequencies
which are lower than visible and higher than
microwaves.
Infrared is broken into three categories:near, mid and
far-infrared.
NEAR-INFRARED: part of the infrared spectrum that is
closest to visible light
FAR-INFRARED : part that is closer to the microwave
region.
MID-INFRARED: is the region between visible light and
microwave region

CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED
RADIATION
INVISIBLE TO HUMAN EYES : This is useful for
security applications but sometimes makes
measurement and optical systems difficult
SMALL ENERGY : Infrared radiation energy is equal
to vibrational or rotational energy of molecules
hence it can easily identify molecules
LONG WAVELENGTH : This means infrared radiation
is less scattered and offers better transmission
through various medium
EMITTED FROM ALL KINDS OF OBJECTS

INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY
Infrared thermography is the process of
using a thermal imager to detect infrared
radiation (heat) that is emitted by an
object.
The technology allows operators to
validate normal operations and, more
importantly, locate thermal anomalies
(abnormal patterns of heat invisible to the
eye) which indicate possible faults, defects
or inefficiencies within a system or
machine asset.

 An Infrared Camera Senses Infrared

Radiation
A Processor In The Camera assigns color to
the Infrared Radiation-different color
equals different temperature enabling us
to visualize the thermal world

INFRARED IMAGE

Color Palette Range Is Chosen For Clarity

Color Palette 1
White = T>85F
Black = T<72F

Color Palette 2
White = T>95F
Black = T<72F

THE INFRARED TEMPERATURE

MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
Each body with a temperature above the
absolute zero (-273.15C = 0 Kelvin) emits
an electromagnetic radiation from its
surface, which is proportional to its intrinsic
temperature.
A part of this so-called intrinsic radiation is
infrared radiation
This infrared radiation can be used to
measure a bodys temperature.

 With the help of a lens (input optics) the

beams are focused on a detector element,
which generates an electrical signal
proportional to the radiation.
The signal is amplified and, using successive
digital signal processing, is transformed into
an output signal proportional to the object
temperature.
The measuring value may be shown in a
display or released as analog output signal,
which supports an easy connection to control
systems of the process management.

ADVANTAGES OF NON-CONTACT
TEMPERATURE
temperature measurements of moving or
overheated
objects in hazardous surroundings
very fast response and exposure times
measurement without inter-reaction, no
influence on the measuring object
non-destructive measurement
long lasting measurement, no mechanical wear

INFRARED
DETECTORS

CLASSIFICATION
IR Detectors
Photon

Photoconductiv
e

Photovoltaic

Photo emissive

Thermal

Bolometric

Thermoelect
ric

Pyroelectric

THERMAL DETECTORS
Thermal detectors (transducers) of optical radiation are
generally considered to be those devices that absorb
the radiation , increase their own temperature , and
provide a resultant electrical signal .
Thermal detectors include heat sensitive coatings,
thermoelectric devices and pyro electric devices.
In these detectors the temperature of the sensitive
element varies because of the absorption of
electromagnetic radiation.
This leads to a modified property of the detector, which
depends on temperature.
This change of the property will be electrically analysed
and used as a standard for the absorbed energy.

BOLOMETERS
The bolometer was invented by Astronomer
Samuel P. Langley in ~1880.
A bolometer is a device that changes
temperature when it absorbs the energy of a
particle.
In light detection, a bolometer changes
temperature when photons are absorbed.
This temperature change is usually sensed by
measuring a resultant change in electrical
resistance in a thermometer that is thermally
coupled to the bolometer.

PRINCIPLE
An absorber of heat capacity C is
thermally connected to a heat
reservoir at temperature T0by a
weak thermal link G.
The absorber sees the power of
the incoming light Psignaland an
electrical bias power Pbiasand
hence has a temperature T=T0+
(Psignal+Pbias)/G>T0.
If the incoming power
Psignalchanges and Pbiasstays
constant the temperature
T will
change.
A bolometer works by measuring

BOLOMETERS

THERMOPILE DETECTOR

A thermopile is a serially-interconnected array of

thermocouples, each of which consists of two
dissimilar materials
The thermocouples are placed across the hot
and cold regions of a structure and the hot
junctions are thermally isolated from the cold
junctions.
In the hot regions, there is a black body for
absorbing the infrared, which raises the
temperature according to the intensity of the
incident infrared.

THERMOPILE DETECTOR WORKING

 Thermopile works on the principle of Seebeck effect.

The ends are connected to a galvanometer which is
represented as G.
One set of junctions ie.1,3,5, is blackened to absorb
completely the thermal radiation falling on it.
The other set of junctions (2,4) called cold junction
is shielded from the radiation.
When thermal radiation falls on one set of junctions
(1, 3, 5) a difference in temperature between the
junctions is created and a large thermo emf is
produced.
The deflection in the galvanometer is proportional to
the intensity of radiation.

THERMOPILE
DETECTORS

PYROELECTRIC DETECTORS

Pyroelectric produce a signal in response to a change in

their temperature.
Below a temperature Tc known as the Curie point,
ferroelectric materials such as TGS or Lithium Tantalate,
exhibit a large spontaneous electrical polarisation.
If the temperature of such a material is altered, for
example, by incident radiation, the polarisation changes.
This change in polarisation may be observed as an
electrical signal if electrodes are placed on opposite faces
of a thin slice of the material to form a capacitor.
When the polarisation changes, the charges induced in the
electrodes can be made to produce a voltage.
The sensor will only produce an electrical output signal
when the temperature changes; that is, when the level of
incident radiation changes.

 At the heart of every PIR detector is the

pyroelectric crystal.
Typical detectors use materials, such as
triglycine sulfate (TGS) or lithium tantalite.
They are ferroelectric crystals, which have a
maximum pyroelectric sensitivity at room
temperature and therefore do not require the
cooling for detection of temperature changes.
And both TGS and lithium tantalite exhibit a
large spontaneous electrical polarization
below their Curie points

QUANTUM DETECTORS

Unlike thermal detectors, quantum

detectors do not rely on the
conversion of incoming radiation to
heat, but convert incoming photons
directly into an electrical signal.
The decisive difference between
quantum detectors and thermal
detectors is their faster reaction on
absorbed radiation.
The mode of operation of quantum
detectors is based on the photo
effect.

 When photons in a particular range of wavelengths are

absorbed by the detector, they create free electronhole pairs, which can be detected as electrical current.
Photon (quantum) IR detectors generate an output
signal that is proportional to the number of photons
absorbed in the device material rather than to their
total energy.
At the same time the energy of each single photon
must be high enough to cause delocalization of carriers
across the device structure, resulting in increasing the
device conductivity (as in photoconductive detectors)
or in generating potential difference across a junction
(as in photovoltaic detectors).
These detectors are characterized by selective energy
(or, wavelength)-dependent response.

 The signal output of a quantum detector is very small

and is overshadowed by noise generated internally to
the device at room temperatures.
Since this noise within a semiconductor is partly
proportional to temperature, quantum detectors are
operated at cryogenic temperatures [i. e. down to 77 K
(liquid nitrogen) or 4 K (liquid helium)] to minimize
noise.
This cooling requirement is a significant disadvantage in
the use of quantum detectors.
However, their superior electronic performance still
makes them the detector of choice for the bulk of
thermal imaging applications.
Some systems can detect temperature differences as
small as 0.07C.

PHOTOELECTRIC DETECTORS
Photoelectric detectors are semiconducting devices
that convert optical signals into electrical signals.
They rely on the quantum nature of matter, whereby
incident photons, ranging from high energy gamma
rays through visible light to infrared rays, excite
electrons in matter to produce an electrical charge.
The operation of a photoelectric detector involves two
steps: (1) conducting charge generation by an
incident light photon and (2) charge transport and/or
multiplication by whatever current gain mechanism
may be present. Photoelectric detectors are classified
as photoemission and photoconductive detectors.

PHOTOCONDUCTIVE DETECTORS
Photoconductors are the simplest conceivable optical detector.
The device consists of a piece of (undoped) semiconductor material
with electrical contacts attached.
A voltage is applied across the contacts. When a photon arrives in
the semiconductor it is absorbed and an electron/hole pair is created.
Under the influence of the electric field between the two contacts the
electron and the hole each migrate toward one of the contacts.
The electron to the positive contact and the hole to the negative
contact. Thus the resistance of the device varies with the amount of
light falling on it.

PHOTO EMISSIVE AND PHOTO VOLTAIC

DETECTORS
Photoemission occurs when the energy of the photonh is
sufficient to eject an electron from the surface of the solid
into vacuum.
Photoconductivity, sometimes referred to as internal
photoemission, is observed in a solid when the absorbed
photon raises an electron from a non-conducting energy
state to a conducting energy state where it contributes to
electrical conductivity
photovoltaic current is generated as a result of the
absorption of photons of a voltage difference across a p-n
junction (generation of voltage).
In general, photoconductive detectors have a higher
frequency response, however they also have a higher signal
to noise ratio.

ADVANTAGES OF INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

fast inspection rate (up to a few m2 at a time)
no contact
security of personnel (since there is no harmful radiation
involved, however high power external
results are relatively easy to interpret (you see what you
are inspecting) since they are (often)
obtained in image format, furthermore images can be
processed to extract more information;
wide span of applications
unique inspection tool for some inspection tasks (e.g. as in
the case of some ceramic coatings hardly inspected by
other NDT approaches or in the case of some maintenance
surveys).

LIMITATIONS
difficulty in obtaining a quick, uniform and highly
energetic thermal stimulation over a large surface
effects of thermal losses (convective, radiative)
which induce spurious contrasts affecting the
reliability of the interpretation
cost of the equipment
capability of detecting only defects resulting in a
measurable change of the thermal properties
emissivity problems

APPLICATION AREAS OF INFRARED

TECHNOLOGY IN NDT

REFRACTORIES

FURNACES AND

BOILERS

COMMERCIAL
FACILITIES

MANUFACTURING

POWER GENERATION

HIGH VOLTAGE SUBSTATIONS

PETROCHEMICAL

METAL REFINING

APPLICATIONS

THANK YOU