What is Thermal Imaging?
We are going to discuss those marine thermal cameras are a huge benefit out on the water. Thermal imaging (also called thermal scanning, thermography, infrared imaging, or infrared thermal imaging) is the way individuals can observe the infrared part of the light spectrum. Every object radiates some amount of thermal energy, so thermal imaging is excellent for finding temperature anomalies, which are abnormal in machinery, electric equipment, and in solids like wood, aluminum, steel, and fiberglass.
Thermal imaging doesn’t require light to see thermal radiation, so thermal cameras can see in complete darkness. Thermal imaging is used majorly in law enforcement, security, army, air and sea navigation, firefighting, private industry, surveillance, medicine, and mathematics.
Thermal Imaging Camera
The instrument used for thermal imaging is the thermographic camera. It is similar in appearance and performance of a portable digital camera. A trendy one is the Flir® brand infrared cameras.
An infrared camera works are by detecting electromagnetic waves within the given light spectrum wavelength between around 0.9 and 14 micrometers (visible light that can be observed by the human eye is between .4 – .75 micrometers). A special lens directs the infrared light released by all of the objects in view.
The directed light is scanned by a phased pattern of infrared detector components. The detector elements produce a unique temperature pattern known as a thermogram. It takes around one-thirtieth of a second for the sensor array to get the temperature information to provide the thermogram.
This data is obtained from several thousand points in the Field Of View of the sensor array. The thermogram is translated into electrical impulses.
The impulses are transmitted to a signal processing unit. This unit is a circuit board comprising a dedicated chip that converts the information from the elements into data for the display.
The signal processing unit transmits the information to the color display monitor on the camera. It resembles various colors based on the intensity of the infrared emission. The amalgam of all the impulses from all of the elements produces the infrared image.
These impulses will record the surface temperatures of this picture taken. It is possible to adjust the infrared cameras for optimum imaging by setting the distance to the humidity, object, and air temperature before the image is taken.
We can use specialized software to adjust the thermal image, search and label precise temperatures beyond the spot size ratio (the center crosshairs on the infrared picture), correct the thermal tuning scale, and edit and crop the image based on how little the thermal anomalies could be.
Infrared Cameras Employed in Inspections and My Marine Surveys
The Flir® brand has high definition professional-grade thermal infrared cameras for engine surveys, marine surveys, and inspections. These cameras are calibrated infrared imaging cameras with a minimum of 320 x 240 pixels with an image frequency of 60 Hz. The cameras can detect a minimum of 43,200 individual temperature shots per video or digital image.
The cameras’ minimal thermal range is between-4 degrees Fahrenheit – 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees celsius – 650 degrees celsius), which implies you can observe thermal variations in cold temperatures as well as in scorching temperatures.
Each infrared thermal image is tuned based on the environmental conditions of this inspection with special software to accurately reveal thermal anomalies.
Advantages of Imaging
There are numerous advantages to thermal imaging in several industries. In the marine sector, there are many benefits to thermal imaging. Some of these benefits are:
- No contact is necessary. Keeps the user out of danger.
- It’s two-dimensional. Temperatures can be measured Even a hundred or at one stage or more points on an image.
- It’s real-time. Thermographic temperatures can be determined at one point or a hundred or more points in a single thermographic image.
- Thermal patterns can be viewed. This helps reduce the time and money spent on a mechanic or technician that would need to spend hours to disassemble and troubleshoot a part or go through miles of wiring on a boat or yacht to discover the issue. The thermographic picture can find the temperature anomaly quickly.
- Enhances the marine survey report. Thermal imaging can be contained in the survey report on components such as engines, transmissions, electrical equipment, electronics, tanks, and hulls to search for heat variations that may ascertain if malfunctioning elements, leaks, past fiberglass repairs or delamination exist within the vessel.
Thermography and The Way It Makes Your Vessel Safer
Thermography can make your boat (or potential vessel you’re planning to buy) a safer investment. Thermography can inspect the heat, which may prevent an electrical fire. Thermal imaging can detect leaking water or gas from tanks, which prevent water damage or an explosion to the inside of the vessel.
Thermal imaging can sense temperature anomalies in the transmissions or engines, which could prevent a lot more expensive engine or transmissions repairs in the future. Previously we discovered overheating electric motors stemming from branch breakers, which wouldn’t stay on and temperature anomalies in several motors, electric engines, and hydraulic motors, which would have lead to more expensive repairs had the thermal camera not been utilized to find them.
As thermal imaging can reveal various things that may not have instead been determined using standard marine surveying methods. This is a wonderful technology, and integrating infrared thermal imaging to any marine survey or damage inspection report provides the boat owner or prospective buyer a far better idea about what they are handling.
When Things Heat Up Because of Fire
Many captains even tout using thermal imaging cameras to detect fires on board. The high-profile fire catches the catamaran Seafaris in Australia. It brought the risks any vessel faces when these incidents happen out of reach of help. The 135-foot (41.1-meter) charter yacht burnt to the water with crew and passengers rescued by a cargo ship.
Fire is the least frequent, but the most severe property claim, according to industry experts. Your fire alarm device will sound telling you there’s an issue, but to combat with fire, you will need to find it. It’s necessary to save money, time, and lives by discovering the location of the fire, and that requires a thermal imaging camera.
Here’s an example of a team that took 28 minutes to find a fire on a 295- foot (90-meter) yacht. By that point, it had reached through the master suite and took six hours to escape. The fire could have been found in minutes and extinguished in a far shorter time using a thermal imaging camera.
While various yachts have self-indulgent breathing equipment on board, a fire-specific thermal imaging camera (TIC) is now a valuable, military-tested addition to a yacht firefighting arsenal. A TIC can detect hot spots, including the location of fires or individuals in smoky and dark spaces.
While a flashlight is worthless, bouncing light off smoke particles, a TIC senses only heat and will help to determine the fire and guests requiring rescue. It can also monitor the success of the firefight as the heat subsides.
Numerous high-resolution thermal cameras can manage high heat. Still, no equipment is useful unless the entire crew is trained to locate and use it. AIG recommends staff training, such as the fire and safety program. The captains are also invited to carry out realistic drills and to check fire alarm systems frequently since wiring or issues breakdowns could arise over time.
As yachts become more dependent on electronic instruments and services, a lot of wiring concealed between walls and the superstructure makes the particular location of a problem more difficult to locate. With a TIC, a crew member can identify the fire’s hot spot, easing and shortening the detection process, and immediately subdue what otherwise might be an out-of-control fire.
While a TIC can discover warmth, even indicating where a person was—if they escaped from a bed or chair to another location, for example—it cannot see through glass or water. It may diverge from stainless-steel flash. These limitations imply the value of guest directions to stay clear of glass during an emergency.
Additionally, while thermal imaging cameras are touted to assist with “man overboard” scenarios, they won’t see someone totally submerged, just the body parts above water.
The TIC is the yacht crew’s most potent asset in finding a fire, as evidenced by its use on every warship and sub in the U.S. Navy. That is an excellent testimonial to the tool’s value.
As onboard fires can be traced to a variety of sources—from engine overheating, electrical wiring, a tipped iron, welding, overloaded circuitry, an accumulated dryer lint, or overheated air conditioner catching fire. If anything seems out of place, – if it doesn’t taste right, smell right, or feel right—report it. If you are aware of and trust your own senses, we have extra sets of alarm systems onboard.
Best 6 Handheld Flir Cameras
(no particular order)
1. FLIR BHM X+ (request quote from FLIR)
The BHM-X produces pictures from heat, not light, making you see other obstructions, boats, buoys, land, and floating debris in complete darkness and through smoke, haze, and light fog. With a high-resolution 640 × 480 thermal sensors, these imagers the best search and rescue device on the water, giving you the capacity to look for people and disabled vessels in the water regardless of lighting.
There are 3 options for this model: (a.) 35mm, (b.) 65 mm, (c.) 100mm.
Size: (a.) 10.5” × 6.5” × 2.6”, (b.) 11.5” × 6.5” × 2.6”, (c.) 13.0” × 6.5” × 2.6”
Weight: (a.) .84 lb (1290 g, (b.) 3.05 lb (1380 g), (c.) 3.06 lb (1390 g)
Field of View (FOV): (a.)13° × 10°, (b.) 7° × 5°, (c.) 5° × 3°
Thermal Resolution: (a. & b. and c.) 320 x 240
2. FLIR BHM XR+ (request quote from FLIR)
BHM-Series imagers produce pictures from heat, not light, making you see other obstructions, buoys, boats, land, and floating debris in complete darkness, as well as through smoke, haze, and light fog. Available with 640 × 480 thermal sensors, these imagers would be the best search and rescue tools on the water, giving you the capacity to look for people and disabled vessels in the water regardless of light. With potent interchangeable lenses, BHM-Series cameras are the battery-powered, most influential, handheld thermal night vision cameras available, making them the ideal option for vessels of any size, and providing you with the edge in all of your nighttime journeys.
There are 3 options for this model: (a.) 35mm, (b.) 65 mm, (c.) 100mm.
Size: (a.) 10.5” × 6.5” × 2.6”, (b.) 11.5” × 6.5” × 2.6”, (c.) 13.0” × 6.5” × 2.6”
Weight: (a.) .84 lb (1290 g, (b.) 3.05 lb (1380 g), (c.) 3.06 lb (1390 g)
Field of View (FOV): (a.)18° × 13°, (b.) 10° × 8°, (c.) 6° × 4°
Thermal Resolution: (a. & b. and c.) 640 x 480
3. OCEAN SCOUT 240 ($1,999.00)
The Ocean Scout 240 is a compact, handheld thermal camera that enables you to see other vessels, buoys, landmarks, and floating debris in complete darkness. The Ocean Scout 240 allows you to see clearly, drive confidently, and react quickly in an emergency.
Size: 6.70″ x 2.31″ x 2.44″
Weight: 12oz (340g)
Field of View (FOV): 18° × 14°
Thermal Resolution: 240 x 180
4. OCEAN SCOUT 320 ($2,499.00)
The Ocean Scout 320 is a compact, handheld thermal camera that enables you to see other vessels, buoys, landmarks, and floating debris in complete darkness. The Ocean Scout 320 provides the tools you will need to see clearly, steer confidently, and react quickly in an emergency. With the industry-leading thermal sensor technologies of FLIR and its high-resolution LCD screen, Ocean Scout makes your time on the water more relaxing and safer.
Size: 6.70″ x 2.31″ x 2.4
Weight: 12oz (340g)
Field of View (FOV): 17° × 13°
Thermal Resolution: 336 x 256
5. OCEAN SCOUT 640 ($3,499.00)
The Ocean Scout 640 is a compact, handheld thermal camera that enables you to see other vessels, buoys, landmarks, and floating debris in complete darkness. The Ocean Scout 640 provides the tools you will need to see clearly, drive confidently, and react quickly in an emergency. With the industry-leading thermal sensor technologies of FLIR and its high-resolution LCD screen, Ocean Scout makes your time on the water more relaxing and safer.
Size: 6.70″ x 2.31″ x 2.44″
Weight: 12oz (340g)
Field of View (FOV): 18° × 14°
Thermal Resolution: 640 x 512
6. OCEAN SCOUT TK ($599.00)
The Ocean Scout TK is also a compact, handheld thermal camera that enables you to see other vessels, buoys, landmarks, and floating debris in complete darkness. The Ocean Scout TK provides the tools you will need to see clearly, drive confidently, and react quickly in an emergency. With the industry-leading thermal sensor technologies of FLIR and its high-resolution LCD screen, Ocean Scout makes your time on the water more relaxing and safer. This one has the best price compared to all the other ones we mentioned. You will need to decide it this handheld thermal camera meets your needs.
Size: 4.0″x 1.5″ x 1.5″
Weight: 6 oz (170 g)
Field of View (FOV): 20° × 16°
Thermal Resolution: 640 x 480
Check out some of our other FLIR thermal camera reviews to learn about more options.