Thermography: What is it and why is it important in industry?

Thermography is a noninvasive inspection technique that uses infrared cameras to determine surface temperatures and detect thermal anomalies. This analysis can be performed using drones, covering large areas in a short time. Handheld cameras are also often used to assess the temperature of string boxes, transformers, panels, and other critical equipment.

In applications targeting photovoltaic systems, uneven cell heating is recognized as the most common anomaly detectable through thermography. This failure leads to performance and economic losses for each affected string [1]. This is relevant in a context where the poor performance of the global solar industry amounts to losses of $2.5 trillion [2].

• Electrical Sector: It is used in power generation, distribution, and transmission to detect faulty connections, overloaded circuits, and overheated components.
• Mechanical Sector: Useful for identifying bearing failures, misalignment, worn parts, and inadequate lubrication.
• Energy Sector: It is used in oil and gas pipelines and related piping systems for identifying leaks, obstructions, and temperature anomalies.
• Manufacturing Industry: It is used in product inspection during manufacturing processes, detecting cracks, delaminations, and porosity.
• Construction and Building: It is used in buildings, bridges, and pipelines to detect heat leaks, moisture infiltration, and insulation deficiencies.
• Automotive and Aerospace Sector: Used in thermal analysis and mapping of critical components such as engines, braking systems, and electrical connections.

Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and convolutional neural networks are key Industry 4.0 emerging technologies for thermographic analysis. Using convolutional neural networks allows for the automation of early detection of defects and thermal anomalies in asset management [3]. For example, instance segmentation in images enables real-time and remote monitoring of equipment, structures, or facilities, achieving 99% accuracy in some studies [4].

At ITIC GROUP, we have extensive experience in thermographic analysis projects, applying international standards to ensure accuracy and reliability. We have worked with various photovoltaic solar plants in the Americas, generating significant revenue for them after optimizing their economic and operational performance through the quality of our diagnostics.

At ITIC GROUP, we offer specialized manual thermography services and drones with state-of-the-art cameras, guaranteeing accurate and efficient inspections. We have experience in IEC 62446-3 thermography, providing detailed reports that allow for the identification of facilities' faults or attention points. In addition, we also count high-resolution orthophotographs and thermographic image capture for technical analysis.

We are currently developing our computer vision models to assist our technicians in detecting thermal anomalies and ensuring a more accurate assessment of equipment and infrastructure.

[1] Å. F. Skomedal, B. L. Aarseth, H. Haug, J. Selj, and E. S. Marstein, "How much power is lost in a hot-spot? A case study quantifying the effect of thermal anomalies in two utility scale PV power plants," Sol. Energy, vol. 211, pp. 1255–1262, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1016/J.SOLENER.2020.10.065.

[2] B. Santos, "Raptor Maps indicates the growing problem of low performance in photovoltaic systems," PV magazine, 2023. https://www.pv-magazine.es/2023/03/07/raptor-maps-senala-el-creciente-problema-del-bajo-rendimiento-de-los-sistemas-fotovoltaicos/ (accessed Feb. 18, 2025).

[3] A.-K. Engineering, J. Al-Khwarizmi, E. Journal, H. N. Al-Jubori, I. Al-Darraji, and H. Jerbi, "Defect Detection Using Thermography Camera Techniques: A review," Al-Khwarizmi Eng. J., vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 70–88, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.22153/KEJ.2024.03.002.

[4] J. Liu, C. Xu, Q. Ye, L. Cao, X. Dai, and Q. Li, "Thermal Imaging-Based Abnormal Heating Detection for High-Voltage Power Equipment," Energies 2024, Vol. 17, Page 4035, vol. 17, no. 16, p. 4035, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.3390/EN17164035.

• Aníbal Alviz Meza.
• ITIC-GROUP