March 2011Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Boiler tube damage or blockage can cause a significant percentage of total downtime, making regular inspection essential. Older imaging technology, both infrared and visible, was limited in viewing distance and could not penetrate significantly through particle or gaseous combustion environments.
In response, Enertechnix, developed its new PyrOptix IR camera and high performance lenses which allow for complete viewing of all critical areas in the boiler under full load conditions. An advantage is the use of solid state digital technology, which provides the ability to generate clear images and to record, store, and review videos if desired. Dual use capability allows for implementation as a fixed based configuration, while the system can easily be reconfigured as a mobile device without the need for any special tools. This enables users to conduct critical mobile inspections of any boiler area and then return the camera to its fixed position. If only a portable unit is required then this is also available.
In many cases, mobile inspections can reveal equipment malfunctions that may have gone undetected otherwise, leading to poor conditions and affecting the operating stability of the boiler. Performance engineers and operators are now able to prevent this through first-hand proactive views.
Accessories such as robust fixed automatic retract mounts or the newly introduced ‘through the lens’ pyrometer (TLP) allow operators to monitor the temperatures of the viewed areas. Not just one measurement, but up to eight individual temperature indications can be created as desired. This allows temperature measurements to be integrated into a boiler control system to deal with ongoing or changing fuel and combustion conditions.
Superior boiler inspection using advanced infrared camera technology combined with a safe and mobile platform provides the visibility for enhanced online temperature analysis. Infrared cameras provide instantaneous surface-temperature information within high-temperature, particle-laden environments. The ability to eliminate water wash outages, shut-downs due to salt cake deposits in gas passages, reduction in steam requirements for soot blowing and tube repair outages can result in significant annual cost savings.
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