Noncontact temperature measurement system

Noncontact temperature measurement system for continuous equipment condition monitoring

Raytek® has introduced the Raytek Equipment Monitoring System with DataTemp® Multidrop software, a noncontact temperature measurement system that provides round-the-clock condition monitoring of actively powered components or operating machinery in support of predictive and preventive maintenance programs.

A temperature rise or spike on the surface of equipment can be a leading indicator of a problem. The Raytek Equipment Monitoring System acts as an early warning device for critical assets, including switchgear and electrical cabinets, electrical motors, pumps, furnace controls and heating elements, giving operators alarmed notice of thermal issues as they begin to occur, as well as recording data for trend analysis to support predictive maintenance programs. Early detection of heat-related faults and failures, along with maintenance performed as needed and not when estimated, result in reduced maintenance costs and less waste from unexpected downtime. Temperature is displayed on the system's LCD control module and/or remotely through PC-based, Windows 7® compatible DataTemp Multidrop software.

The system is "plug and play" (i.e., automatic head detection), consisting of a control box with circuit breaker, power supply and controller; connection box with cable; and sensors with adjustable mounting apparatus. It utilizes the field-proven technology of the Raytek Compact Series MI3 sensor. Small in size, the system fits in hard-to-reach or enclosed locations and monitors temperature ranges of -40°C to 600°C (1112°F). The control box and sensors are IP65 (NEMA 4) rated to ensure long life in harsh environments.

Developed with personnel safety in mind, this solution allows temperatures to be read from a safe location by anyone on active systems without additional equipment or special training. Users can manually program audible alarm settings through the integrated push button panel located on the control module or easily communicate remotely from a central location via RS-485 serial interface and DataTemp software. For full factory or machine control, an ASCII protocol allows the system to communicate with an internal control network.

The DataTemp Multidrop software provides simultaneous viewing of multiple points and can be set to monitor up to 32 systems, providing the ability to see the temperature of, and set early warning alarms on a total of 256 individual monitor points. These early alarms provide the time needed for further investigation or maintenance by qualified personnel. The software allows operators to easily record and store data for trend analysis; remotely adjust sensor parameters; customize screen views; change sensor from reading object temperature to ambient; change emissivity; and turn filters on/off to scale the range, graph or average.