Infrared Process Furnace Inspections
Process Furnaces are routinely inspected in many oil, gas, and chemical facilities. The most common infrared inspections performed on process furnaces are for:
- Refractory
- Furnace or Heater Tubes
This is a specialized field of infrared thermography and not only requires thorough knowledge of the components being inspected, but also speciality inspection equipment. As with other types of infrared inspections, when inspecting furnace refractory or heater tubes, safety is always a priority and so the hazards associated with these types of inspections must be understood.
Also important for successful process furnace infrared inspections is selecting proper equipment.
For example, refractory inspections can be completed with many of the high-resolution thermal imagers available through manufacturers such as FLIR and Fluke. However, the proximity of the components being inspected can affect lens choice. Often refractory inspections on furnaces are completed on platforms that don’t allow for standing far back from the walls. In these situations, a wide-angle lens can be helpful.
Internal furnace tube inspections are an even more specialized application of thermography and require speciality thermal imaging equipment, such as the FLIR GF309 Furnace Inspection camera.
With proper training and equipment, refractory and furnace tubes can be inspected regularly while the furnaces are operating. This allows repairs to be prioritized and scheduled for planned shutdown periods, resulting in increased uptime, decreased costs, and improved safety and reliability.
Proper methods and factors to consider for the effective infrared inspection of process furnaces is a topic covered in the Infraspection Institute Level-I Certified Infrared Thermographer® course. This course and the certification exam can be completed online and at your own pace via Distance Learning. A relevant non- certification course titled Infrared Thermography for Petrochemical Facilities is also available. To register for either of these courses, visit Insight Infrared Training at www.infraredtraining.ca.
