Thermography and Detecting Induced Ground Currents
by Jeff Lebold- Boldstar Infrared Services

Thermography has proven to be a very effective method for detecting induced circulating ground currents in metal clad enclosures and cable runs. Substantial heating can be produced that make infrared inspection the premier method for early detection of this unwanted phenomenon.

THERMOGRAPHIC QUALITY ASSURANCE OF TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENTS

by: Bharat B. Chaudhry, Hank Holmes, Sr., Stolper Fabralloy, Steven M. Shepard, Tasdiq Ahmed, Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.

Over the last decade, growth in worldwide demand for electrical power has resulted in a consistent increase in installations of land-based turbine systems. However, the high cost of a new turbine installation, coupled with  the severe internal operating conditions and the negative consequences of an outage have resulted in a growing emphasis on preventative maintenance and Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) of the equipment. The same factors have led power generation OEM’s and their primary suppliers to understand the importance of maintaining the highest possible levels of quality control in the manufacturing process, as warranty costs associated with replacement or repair quickly undermine profitability. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to reconcile the need for high precision NDI of turbine components with the materials, structures, throughput, and economics of the industry. As a major supplier of turbine components to several OEM’s, Stolper-Fabralloy has been aggressive in our ongoing attempt to maintain the highest quality standards. In this paper, we will describe our experience with Thermal Wave Imaging, an NDI approach we have implemented which has allowed us to improve component quality, while reducing costs and increasing throughput and reliability.