Infrared inspection and reporting process

• US 20070002929A1
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SEAM Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Predictive Service
• Inventors: Frankel, Donald, Cobb, Joseph, Goertzen, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 7,357,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations

Abstract

An infrared inspection and reporting process and system obtains inspection data on site via a portable computer. An actual temperature of a component derived from an infrared image and a temperature delta between the temperature of the component and the maximum temperature for the component is calculated to determine if there is a problem. A criticality level is assigned for each problem component from a plurality of criticality levels each having a predetermined range for the temperature delta. The criticality level provides an accurate and consistent assessment of component conditions. The inspection data is up linked to a home server from the portable computer and is made available to the customer via an interactive, on-line web application. The customer can interact with the inspection dating including an interactive prediction of energy savings if the problem component is repaired.

Claims

1. A method of reporting an infrared inspection comprising the steps of:

obtaining a temperature of a component derived from an infrared image;

computing a temperature delta between the temperature of the component and a maximum desired temperature for the component; and

assigning a criticality level for the component based on the temperature delta from a plurality of criticality levels each having a predetermined range for the temperature delta.

2. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 1, further comprising the step of computing the maximum desired temperature for the component.

3. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 2, wherein the step of computing the maximum desired temperature for the component includes calculating the maximum desired temperature (T_MAX) using the formula T_MAX=(Load²*Rated Rise)+T_Ambient, wherein the Load is the electrical load on the component, the Rated Rise is the rated rise specified for the component, and the T_Ambient is the ambient temperature surrounding the component.

4. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 3, further comprising the step of computing the Load using the formula Load=(Amps_Measured/Amps_Rated)², wherein the Amps_Measured is measured from the component and the Amps_Rated is specified for the component.

5. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 3, further comprising the step of obtaining the Rated Rise from a database of manufacturer'"'"'s information for a plurality of types of equipment.

6. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 3, further comprising the step of obtaining the ambient temperature using an infrared camera.

7. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of criticality levels includes four criticality levels.

8. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 7, wherein a first one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 0 to about 13 degrees F., a second one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 14 to about 32 degrees F.;

a third one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 33 to about 68 degrees F.; and

a fourth one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 69 degrees F. or greater.

9. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 7, wherein the four criticality levels are identified as minor, important, serious, and critical.

10. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 1, wherein the maximum desired temperature indicates that there is a problem with the component.

11. A method of reporting an infrared inspection comprising the steps of:

obtaining a temperature of a component derived from an infrared image;

computing a maximum desired temperature for the component using the formula T_MAX=(Load²*Rated Rise)+T_Ambient, wherein the Load is the electrical load on the component, the Rated Rise is the rated rise specified for the component, and the T_Ambient is the ambient temperature surrounding the component;

computing a temperature delta between the temperature of the component and the maximum desired temperature for the component;

assigning a criticality level for the component based on the temperature delta from a plurality of criticality levels each having a predetermined range for the temperature delta; and

wherein a first one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 0 to about 13 degrees F., a second one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 14 to about 32 degrees F., a third one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 33 to about 68 degrees F., and a fourth one of the plurality of criticality levels is assigned when the temperature delta is in the predetermined range of about 69 degrees F. or greater.

12. A method of reporting an infrared inspection comprising the steps of:

identifying a component having a problem;

obtaining hours of operation for the component;

obtaining energy costs for the component;

computing predicted energy savings if the component is repaired; and

displaying the predicted energy savings.

13. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 12, wherein the predicted energy savings is calculated using the formula Energy Savings=t*c*f(u)*T_Delta, wherein t is the hours of operation for the component over a time period of savings, c is the electrical costs for the component in $/kilowatt hr, f(u) is an energy usage function that translates T_Delta into kilowatts consumed per hour, and T_Delta is a temperature delta between a temperature of the component and a maximum desired temperature for the component.

14. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 13, wherein the energy usage function is an empirically derived function.

15. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 14, wherein the energy usage function is f(u)=0.0185+0.003*T_Delta^0.155.

16. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 12, further comprising the step of obtaining a temperature of a component derived from an infrared image;

17. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 16, further comprising the step of computing a maximum desired temperature for the component.

18. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 17, wherein the step of computing the maximum desired temperature for the component includes calculating the maximum desired temperature (T_MAX) using the formula T_MAX=(Load²*Rated Rise)+T_Ambient, wherein the Load is the electrical load on the component, the Rated Rise is the rated rise specified for the component, and the T_Ambient is the ambient temperature surrounding the component.

19. The method of reporting an infrared inspection according to claim 12, wherein the hours of operation for the component and the energy costs for the component are obtained via an interactive online website and the predicted energy savings is calculated and displayed in real time via the interactive online website.

20. A method of reporting an infrared inspection comprising the steps of:

obtaining a temperature of a component derived from an infrared image;

identifying that the component has a problem;

obtaining hours of operation for the component via an interactive online website;

obtaining energy costs for the component via the interactive online website;

computing predicted energy savings if the component is repaired;

wherein the predicted energy savings is calculated using the formula Energy Savings=t*c*f(u)*T_Delta, wherein t is the hours of operation for the component over a time period of savings, c is the electrical costs for the component in $/kilowatt hr, f(u) is an empirically derived energy usage function that translates T_Delta into kilowatts consumed per hour, and T_Delta is a temperature delta between a temperature of the component and a maximum desired temperature for the component; and

displaying the predicted energy savings via the interactive online website.