Infrared sensors are commonly used to monitor temperature and control it in countless industrial processes. Machinery of all sizes take advantage of them because of their applications in motion detection systems, critical process plants, quality control products, and electrical equipment.
Simply put, an infrared sensor will locate hot spots. This is possible without intervening in the actual production process. True temperature is measured and the sensors also work in very challenging industrial applications.
The problem is there are different types of infrared sensors you can buy. Choosing the right one for your application requires a full assessment of the following things.
Wavelength
Infrared temperature sensor quality is directly affected by wavelength. This is due to the fact that it impacts target object emissivity, which is how much infrared radiation is being emitted by the analyzed surface. The highly reflective materials (for instance, metals) have changing or very low emissivity. With such materials, the wavelength of the infrared sensors used need to be between 0.8 and 1 micron.
It needs to be highlighted that emissivity varies with the surface type changing temperature. This makes it challenging to select the best possible sensor. Thankfully, the process is simplified since manufacturers do give access to product guidelines that are very detailed. They highlight the proper wavelength needed for most possible surfaces.
Temperature Range
When using infrared sensors, temperature measurement can easily go as high as 2000 degrees Celsius and under freezing point. As an example, when you need to measure temperatures in laboratories or cooling chains, the infrared sensor you choose has to accommodate the range. You have to choose the option with the widest temperature range when you want to monitor cool-down and start-up temperatures. A failure to do this would lead to inaccurate measurements.
When you need better resolutions, the best infrared sensor for the job has a narrower temperature range. For instance, when looking at heat-treating applications, the working temperature has to be fully maintained throughout use. The sensor needs to reliably measure that specific range over a long time throughout continuous operation, and that can happen even through the use of smartphones, according to Forbes.
Target Size
The infrared sensor has a field of view where the average temperature is measured. If the field of view is smaller than the target by around 50%, measurement errors are minimized. Always choose smaller FOV and pyrometer options for very small objects.
The thermal imager is the tool you use to get temperature data for an entire body. A clear line between the target and the sensor is needed so that objects like gas, dust particles, contaminants, and steam do not cause a measurement error.
Response Time
Last but not least, infrared sensors used to measure objects that move fast, says Wikipedia, like in production lines, need to have very fast response times. A high-speed pyrometer will always be mandatory when users have to capture transient thermal behaviors as the heating process is very fast. The best example for that is pyrolysis.
At the end of the day, choosing the very best infrared sensors is all about being aware of what factors to take into account. And if you are confused, the indications of the manufacturer can help you make better choices.
