Application of an IR Thermographic Device for the Detection of a Simulated Defect in a Pipe

An infrared (IR) temperature sensor module developed for the detection of defects in a metal plate is modified for defect detection in a pipe. A module giving close sensor arrangement and maintaining a constant distance between sensor and measured object is developed and utilized in the present modification of the IR thermographic device. The defect detection performance is experimentally investigated, and the measured temperature is compared with the computed temperature distribution and with a previous experimental result. The outcome of this experiment indicates that detection of a simulated defect is readily obtainable, and the measured temperature distribution is better for defect detection than with the previously utilized device. The comparison of standard deviations of different sensors clearly indicates an improvement in the location of defects in this study. Also, the measured temperature distribution is comparable to the one calculated using a heat conduction equation. The device developed for defect detection here is suitable for implementation in chemical processes, where most vessels and piping systems are cylindrical in shape.