Thermography using drones and thermal imaging cameras enables industrial facilities to be inspected, such as wind turbines , hall roofs, buildings, production facilities, photovoltaic systems and high-voltage elements . Normal operation does not have to be interrupted, it continues to run parallel to the thermographic inspection. Civilian areas of application can also be checked with a drone and thermal imaging camera. It could be used by the fire brigade, mountain rescue service and the police. A thermal imaging camera can be used to examine and monitor sources of fire. In addition, a drone with a thermal imaging camera has no problem with smoke and fog. Furthermore, the use of a thermal imaging camera on a drone ensures that expensive operations such as helicopter operations can be dispensed with when searching for people. There are many areas of application for a drone in combination with a thermal imaging camera. These include, for example, locating animals, counting animals, locating environmental damage, examining high-voltage pylons, discovering sources of fire and locating missing persons.
Building thermography via drone and thermal imaging camera
With building thermography, heat losses at windows, walls and heating systems can be determined quickly and easily. Thermography by drone is used especially when modernizing old buildings. This makes sense to save costs, because if the heat loss is determined, more precise renovations can be carried out without having to invest in expensive, unnecessary measures. The greatest energy consumption in Germany is due to hot water treatment and the use of heating systems.
Technically, a thermal imaging camera is capable of recording infrared radiation. The temperature of objects is related to infrared radiation. You send them out. Differences within temperatures are usually shown in different colors. This enables people to recognize differences better. There are other specifications for thermography with a thermal imaging camera. This applies not only to the creation of images, but also to the fact that the temperature of each pixel can be stored. The degree of recording of the temperature differences is in a high range. That is why the resolutions of a thermal imaging camera and a normal camera are very different. The data information of the pixels of a thermal imaging camera is significantly higher.
What are the advantages of a thermographic inspection of photovoltaic systems using a drone with a thermal imaging camera?
Drones with thermal imaging cameras have become indispensable when inspecting photovoltaics and solar systems . A photovoltaic system should usually be used for several decades. Of course, it ages, which means that a photovoltaic system suffers damage over time and failures can occur. The defects in a photovoltaic system cannot be seen with the naked eye, which is why thermal imaging cameras are used to detect temperature differences. In particular , open-space systems, so-called solar parks , can only be inspected with increased effort due to their large area. The visual inspection of such solar parksis associated with extremely high costs, especially in financial and personnel terms. In contrast, drones with thermal imaging cameras are an efficient solution. If there is local damage to a photovoltaic system , the total resistance in a cell increases. Cells are usually connected in series to achieve high voltage. Therefore, the same current flows through all cells. With defective cells, the resistance is higher, which results in higher thermal emissions. If individual modules do not work properly, this not only reduces the profit, in the worst case it can lead to overheating or a fire.Dirty or defective modules are detected by the thermographic recordings of the thermal imaging camera and can be cleaned or replaced in a targeted manner.
The advantages at a glance:
can be used quickly, safely and effectively
More efficient yield performance
Live image transmission and storage of photo and video data
Minimizing security and liability risks
Documentation of damage and contamination
What are the advantages of drones with thermal imaging cameras?
Examination by drone is more cost-effective than using helicopters. In addition, the use of drones is cheaper than thermographs with manual devices. In addition, its use is more time-consuming than using a drone to inspect entire buildings or systems. This time costs money. The larger buildings and systems are, the more money has to be invested. Drones offer significant cost advantages here. In addition, the datasets that drones can collect are more accurate because the viewing angles are better from the air than from ladders or scaffolding. In addition, the use of thermographers is less dangerous because they no longer have to go to great heights. Last but not least, damage can be detected in good time so that maintenance can be adjusted.
Thermography in forestry and agriculture?
Thermography from the air with a thermal imaging camera using a drone is also useful in forestry and agriculture , as well as when hunting. Measures to prevent wildlife protection, such as finding game and fawns , are also possible with a thermal imaging camera.