A massive oil spill that began with an April 20th explosion and fire caused by a Deepwater Horizon drilling rig collapse, and has truly devastated the Gulf of Mexico near the Mississippi River Delta of the United States. In the industrial camera genre, FLIR Systems, long known for its innovative work in thermal imaging for military and security applications, has developed cutting edge ways to use its imaging cameras to 'see' oil spills on the surface of the water, and detect the dangerous leakage of methane gas - comparable to that which caused the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig - quicker than rival technologies. The Flir Company began their gas and volatile organic compounds (VOC) leak detection by applying infrared technology to the application three years ago. However, the introduction of the FLIR GF320 infrared camera, which was specifically engineered to image VOCs for industrial gas detection, now presents state-of-the-art engineering and advanced, user-inspired ergonomic and time-saving features. This camera can be used for general gas detection, tracking the movement of oil (which can improve awareness resulting in the transportation of wildlife to safe havens), record and trace, and is fully radiometric, with the ability to see, measure and visualize temperatures. Maintaining FLIR's determination to provide its customers with the very best return on their investment, the FLIR GF320 camera certainly produces results. FLIR knew that their cameras could already distinguish oil and water because each one reflects the temperature of the sun differently. Without a thermal camera, though, humans can typically only see oil-on-water during the day and in calm waters - however, if the waters become turbulent or the sun goes down, it becomes much harder to see oil on the surface of the water. After testing its Star Safire thermal camera at sea, FLIR realized that their cameras could identify where the oil is - in choppy waters and at night - and could determine the overall size of a spreading spill. The Gulf Coast tragedy became a perfect arena for this camera's use.   [caption id="attachment_2390" align="aligncenter" width="126"] Flir GF-320[/caption]  

FEATURES

As a benefit of this second generation line of infrared cameras, the FLIR GF320 is lightweight at just slightly over 5 pounds, and looks for wavelengths of infrared "heat" emitted by the gas it has been set up to detect, visualizing those leaks in real time. With the ability to detect, record, and trace gas leaks to their source, this camera can scan numerous potential leaks in a short time. Incorporating new technology, the advancement of infrared cameras has quickly progressed to a whole new level. New advanced features complimenting the design of this new camera include built-in video recording, digital camera, laser pointer, and embedded GPS data, allowing a technician the capability of pinpointing the location of a leak or hot spot. Additions to the camera include the choice of automatic (one-touch) or manual thermal focus with 8 to 1 continuous digital zooms, a high-resolution, LCD (800 x 480) viewfinder that delivers clear, vivid images in poor lighting or bright sun light, a tiltable, flip-out high contrast color LCD widescreen viewfinder, direct access buttons designed from the end-user's perspective, and a rotating handle. Images are stored in JPEG format onto removable SD or SDHC memory cards.

LEAK DETECTION

Using its build-in GPS, the Flir GF320 infrared camera provides a complete picture of the leak, allowing the Service Team to be directed quickly to the source. With the GF320 camera's sensitivity of <25mK, potential gas leaks can be monitored from several miles away, without any compromise in human safety. By adhering to environmental and regulatory compliance, it is able to reduce product and revenue loss due to fugitive gas leaks. Utilizng its ability to look at anything from a worn bearing or faulty electrical connection to a leaking or missing pipe insulation, this camera is indispensable in tracking oil leaks. This camera is fully calibrated for temperature measurements from -40C to +350C (or -40F to 662F) +/-1C of accuracy. Using the FLIR GF320 camera, gas emissions are characterized as smoke plumes. When a leak has been detected from a safe place using the camera, a further test procedure can be executed to determine the concentration of the escaping gas. Inspections using infrared cameras typically present a number of advantages over conventional technologies. The use of hand-held infrared camera offer a quick and non-contacting test instrument that also permits inspections to be made in locations that are difficult to access. The FLIR GF320 camera is a preventative maintenance solution to spot leaks in piping, flanges and connections in petrochemical operations. The camera can rapidly scan large areas and pinpoint leaks in real time. Detection of Benzene, Ethanol, Ethylbenzene, Heptane, Hexane, Isoprene, Methanol, MEK, MIBK, Octane, Pentane, 1-Pentene, Toluene, Xylene, Butane, Ethane, Methane, Propane, Ethylene and Propylene, as well as Acetic Acid (C2H4O2), Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2), Dichlorodifluoromethane "FREON-12" (CCl2F2), Ethyl Cyanoacrylate "Superglue" (C6H7NO2), and Ethylene (C2H4) are possible using the FLIR GF320 camera. These "gas finding" cameras can optically image methane gas when leaking from a pipe in other applications, as well. Broadening the use of gas-imaging technology may, in the future, help eliminate disasters such as that facing the Gulf coast. President of FLIR Systems, Andy Teich, stated, "Remember, the whole thing began with a methane gas explosion."
Gail De Salvo Ages Electronic Group http://www.aegis-elect.com