Wanted : Thermal Imaging Camera

SamT

SamT

Moderator
Long shot - but you never know.

Does anyone have or have access to, a Thermal Imaging Camera I could loan. I'm about to launch into my Thesis experiment for my MSc which involves studying Heat Loss from DHW cylinders/thermal Stores and having access to a T.I.C. would be just awesome. I want to prove/disprove some theories about some specific heat loss mechanisms and a T.I.C. would make life a whole lot simpler. I realise they are bloody expensive and would be treating it with the upmost respect, you break it, you pay for it etc etc.

Just casting the net wide so to speak.

Here's hoping.


 
If you manage to get one Sam I have a job for one locating buried cave entrances on cold days.  :thumbsup:
 
The really good ones are very expensive, furthermore they are subject to numerous export and controlled use restrictions.  The one I had at Loughborough University was supposed to be kept under lock and key and not removed from the lab where it was used.  Depending on where you are doing your research it might be possible to make and approach to them - PM me if relevant.

Try looking up FLIR Systems.  Lots of nice software to extract temperature-time profiles from video captures.

They can be used to locate other entrances besides caves since they can see through clothes.
 
I think that part of the spectrum is just below red light and is not in the "thermal" part of the spectrum. I don't think a conventional CCD will do thermal. As the abstract says "as low as 280?C".
 
khakipuce said:
I think that part of the spectrum is just below red light and is not in the "thermal" part of the spectrum. I don't think a conventional CCD will do thermal. As the abstract says "as low as 280?C".
Click to expand...

Conventional CCD cameras will work in the near-IR.  If you point a remote control at a digital camera in a darkened room on a time exposure you can see a faint spot where the IR diode output is.  The IR optics are the expensive park since glass blocks a lot of it.

The OP really wants a camera that can measure temperature distributions and I suspect absolute temperatures with some accuracy.  The types of camera used by the emergency services just detect temperature variations - not sure how good they would be at measuring absolute temperatures.  For the latter you need to know the emmissivity of the surface under question which can vary for polished metal (low) to matt black (high).
 
That isn't entirely correct. There is a UV/IR filter in front of most camera sensors. This has to removed for taking IR pictures (unless you accept extremely long exposures). Older cameras typically have weaker IR-filters.

If you replace the UV/IR filter with a filter that cuts off visible light, you don't need a filter in front of the lense, meaning that you can compose the shot without having to remove the (very dark) filter.

Some lenses produce hot-spots when used for IR, as they are usually only corrected for visible light. Focus can also be slightly off when shooting IR/UV (some lenses have a focusing mark for IR).

http://www.jenoptik-inc.com/coastalopt-standard-lenses/uv-vis-nir-60mm-slr-lens-mainmenu-155.html is an example of a lense that is corrected for IR, visible and UV light.

Francis
 
Quote from Duncan:  "not sure how good they would be at measuring absolute temperatures.  For the latter you need to know the emmissivity of the surface under question which can vary for polished metal (low) to matt black (high).
"
  "Years ago I tried using an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of toffee but had lots of trouble with the emissivity.  You can get infrared thermometers quite cheaply these days - see, e.g. http://www.foodsafetydirect.co.uk/acatalog/Infra_red_thermometers.html or http://www.peaksensors.co.uk/acatalog/Infrared_Thermometers.html?OVRAW=non-contact%20thermometers&OVKEY=non%20contact%20thermometer&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=897818531&OVKWID=7730102031&OVCAMPGID=45616031&OVADGRPID=422604419

Sorry, Sam - I do realise you're looking to borrow rather than buy.
 
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