Hi! Thanks for the question.
Since you said that you are looking for resources on how Infrared
Thermometers work, I will try to provide you with links that answers
some of your questions and also gives a background of this field. I
will provide short quotations on the articles so as to save you time
but I strongly suggest that you read them in their entirety. Some
documents are in PDF file so you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
read them. In case you haven’t installed it yet here is a link so you
could download The Adobe Acrobat Reader
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
Our first link gives us some basic background on Infrared
thermometers.
“Infrared (IR) thermometers have become standard tools for maintenance
personnel, with applications throughout any manufacturing plant. They
enable quick and easy temperature measurements of objects that would
be otherwise difficult to measure. Moving conveyers and webs, live
electrical contacts, rotating electrical equipment, and overhead steam
lines or traps are just a few of the common applications.”
“Any object radiates infrared energy if its temperature is above
absolute zero. This energy travels like light, at the speed of light,
in all directions. An infrared thermometer is pointed at a target of
interest, and its lens collects and focuses the IR energy onto a
sensor. The sensor produces a small voltage output, proportional to
the target temperature, which is processed and displayed.”
Non-Contact Temperature Measurement
http://www.transcat.com/inforesource/pdfs/appl/NonContact.pdf
The following article provides a discussion on the physics of Infrared
Thermometers.
“Modern IR theory is based on the physical principle that all bodies
having a temperature greater than absolute zero (0 K, –273.16°C,
–459.69°F) radiate energy. The heat in such bodies causes molecular
vibrations that induce electron vibrations which in turn provide the
electromagnetic coupling to produce emission. The wavelengths of the
emitted radiation are temperature dependent; the amplitude is also
influenced by a surface characteristic--emissivity--of the radiating
body. Emissivity is the ratio of the energy radiated by an object at a
given temperature to that emitted by a perfect radiator (blackbody) at
the same temperature.”
Infrared Thermometers
http://www.sensorsmag.com/articles/1099/80/main.shtml
The next web page provides an explanation on how IR thermometers are
calibrated.
A Certified-Emissivity Blackbody
for Calibrating Infrared Thermometers
http://www.sensorsmag.com/articles/0402/blackbody/
Another valuable article meanwhile gives you some tips on the type of
IR thermometers you should choose.
Infrared Thermometer Selection Basics
By Alan Young, Raytek Corp.
http://www.process-heating.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/coverstory/BNPCoverStoryItem/0,3154,13502,00.html
Next, a historical and theoretical perspective on the development of
IR thermometers would be of great supplement to your research.
“The first patent for a total radiation thermometer was granted in
1901. The instrument used a thermoelectric sensor; it had an
electrical output signal and was capable of unattended operation. In
1931, the first commercially-available total radiation thermometers
were introduced. These devices were widely used throughout industry to
record and control industrial processes. They are still used today,
but mainly used for low temperature applications.”
”The first modern radiation thermometers were not available until
after the second World War. Originally developed for military use,
lead sulfide photodetectors were the first infrared quantum detectors
to be widely used in industrial radiation thermometry. Other types of
quantum detectors also have been developed for military applications
and are now widely applied in industrial radiation thermometry. Many
infrared radiation thermometers use thermopile detectors sensitive to
a broad radiation spectrum and are extensively used in process control
instrumentation.”
A Historical Perspective
http://www.omega.com/literature/transactions/volume1/historical3.html
“All matter--animate or inanimate, liquid, solid, or gas--constantly
exchanges thermal energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation with
its surroundings. If there is a temperature difference between the
object in question and its surroundings, there will be a net energy
transfer in the form of heat; a colder object will be warmed at the
expense of its surroundings, a warmer object cooled. And if the object
in question is at the same temperature as its surrounding, the net
radiation energy exchange will be zero.”
“In either case, the characteristic spectrum of the radiation depends
on the object and its surroundings' absolute temperatures. The topic
of this volume, radiation thermometry, or more generally, non-contact
temperature measurement, involves taking advantage of this radiation
dependence on temperature to measure the temperature of objects and
masses without the need for direct contact.”
“The development of the mathematical relationships to describe
radiation were a major step in the development of modern radiation
thermometry theory. The ability to quantify radiant energy comes,
appropriately enough, from Planck's quantum theory.”
IR Theoretical Development
http://www.omega.com/literature/transactions/volume1/theoretical1.html
Finally, here are a few Infrared Thermometers products available on
the market and the technical description on how they work. Just click
on the pictures so as to get a more detailed description.
IR Thermometers from Newport
http://www.newportus.com/Products/Infrared/
Land Instruments International
http://www.landinst.com/infr/prods/p-portab.html
Brighton Electronics
http://www.brighton-electronics.com/infrared_thermometers.htm
EPD
http://www.epdtech.com/infrared/Default.htm
Raytek
http://www.reliabilitydirect.com/tempproducts/portabletempindex.htm
Search terms used:
“Infrared Thermometers” basics
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
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Regards,
Easterangel-ga |
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