An Analysis Software Utilizing Thermal Image, Emissivity Calibration and Maintenance Rules

The objective of this work was to implement a software to utilize available thermal images and maintenance rules in order to classify the urgency of maintenance action in electrical distribution systems. To achieve such purpose, the implemented software consists of two parts. The first part analyzes and calibrates the true temperature of a pixel of interest in the thermal image. The software can also compare temperatures between any two pixels in the thermal image. The assigned ambient temperature can be manually entered from a known value or selected from any pixel of the thermal image. The resulting calibrated temperature could be used to further evaluate the degree of maintenance required for abnormally heated electrical equipment. The second part determines the maintenance action timeline based on criteria guidelines. Both parts require a user with background knowledge of the corresponding electrical distribution system, such as type of material of the component or similar component in normal working condition necessary for comparison. The developed software had an average absolute error of only 1.70% in comparison with PCIRMeter and its features performed their functions as designed.