Fluke Calibration

Web Seminar Series

Principles and practical tips
about temperature, humidity, electrical,
flow, pressure, and RF calibration

How to Calibrate an Infrared

Thermometer

2017 Fluke Corporation

Todays Webinar

How to Calibrate an Infrared Thermometer

June 21, 2017

How do you know that your infrared calibrations are accurate? Register for this
free webinar from Fluke Calibration to learn how to improve the accuracy of your
infrared thermometer calibrations. Topics discussed will include sources of
uncertainty, calibration equipment required, overview of the calibration procedure,
review of a sample uncertainty budget, and recommendations for reporting results.
Your Presenter

Frank Liebmann
B.S. Electrical Engineering University of Utah
13 years with Fluke/Hart Scientific
Temperature Metrologist
Laboratory QA Manager
Sr. Design Engineer
Radiation Thermometry Engineer
Chairman ASTM Subcommittee E20.02 on Radiation Thermometry
20 years U.S. Army
frank.liebmann@flukecal.com
Phone: 801.763.1700
What we will be talking about

Sources of uncertainty
Calibration equipment
Traceability schemes
Laboratory setup
Calibration procedure
Uncertainty analysis
Reporting your results
Questions
Introduction

IR thermometry calibration can be accurate

Proper procedure must be followed
ASTM E2847, Standard Practice for Calibration
and Accuracy Verification of Wideband Infrared
Thermometers
Sources of Uncertainty
Major
Emissivity estimation of the calibration source
Field-of-view of the infrared thermometer
Temperature gradients on the radiation source
Improper alignment of the infrared thermometer
Calibration temperature of the radiation source
Ambient temperature
Reflected temperature

Minor
Source heat exchange
Atmospheric absorption
Noise
Display Resolution
Calibration Equipment

Mandatory
Thermal radiation source
Transfer Standard
Ambient Temperature Thermometer
Mounting Device
Distance Measuring Device

Non-mandatory
Thermal Radiation Source

Calibrated source
Flat Plate
Cavity

Provides thermal radiation

 Thermal Radiation Source

Size of the thermal radiation source

For Fluke IR thermometer models
5 (~ 125 mm) diameter is enough
Other IR thermometer manufacturers
Consult manufacturer
Testing
Transfer Standard

Contact Thermometry (Scheme I)

PRT, thermistor, or thermocouple
Non-contact Thermometry (Scheme II)
Radiation thermometer
More discussion under Traceability Schemes
Implementation
Internal
Third-party laboratory
 Ambient Temperature Thermometer

Monitor laboratory conditions

Use to control uncertainties
Reflected ambient radiation
Ambient temperature
 Mounting Device

Holds IR thermometer
Maintains alignment and measuring distance
May be any of the following
A tripod
A fixture
A hand
 Distance Measuring Device

Used to verify measuring distance

Measuring distance: Distance or distance range between the radiation
thermometer and the target (measured object) for which the radiation
thermometer is designed. IEC 62492-1
Use:
Tape measure
Measuring rod
Non-mandatory Equipment

Items that may be used on special calibrations

Aperture
Frost / dew prevention
 Traceability Schemes

Scheme I
Contact traceability

Scheme II
Radiometric traceability
Traceability Schemes

4180 and 4181 scheme

SCHEME I

SCHEME II SCHEME II
 Laboratory Setup

Laboratory temperature limits

Ambient temperature uncertainty
Reflected temperature uncertainty
 Laboratory Setup - Incorrect

A heat source
facing a flat-plate
A flat-plate facing
an exterior wall
Especially a
window
A flat-plate in the
vicinity of air drafts
HVAC vent
Commonly used
traffic way
 Laboratory Setup - Incorrect

A heat source
facing a flat-plate
A flat-plate facing
an exterior wall
Especially a
window
A flat-plate in the
vicinity of air drafts
HVAC vent
Commonly used
traffic way
 Laboratory Setup - Incorrect

A heat source
facing a flat-plate
A flat-plate facing
an exterior wall
Especially a
window
A flat-plate in the
vicinity of air drafts
HVAC vent
Commonly used
traffic way
 Laboratory Setup - Correct

Well controlled reflected

temperature
Sufficient spacing from other
instruments
Isolated from air drafts in room
Controlling Reflected Temperature
Especially a concern for lower temperature calibrations
Calibration Procedure

Preparation

Calibration Points

Procedure
 Preparation

Allow infrared thermometer time to reach room

temperature (at least 15 minutes)
Lens cleaning
Only clean if requested by customer
Clean per manufacture's instructions
Set up any special equipment
Set radiation source to desired temperature
Allow radiation source time to stabilize
Calibration Points

What calibrations point to use?

Determined by the customer
Laboratory may offer advice
Over wide range, minimum 3 points
Narrow range, 1 or 2 points may be fine
Best practice to perform calibration
from lowest cal point to highest
Calibration Procedure

Procedure for each calibration point

Set IR thermometer reflected temperature (if available)
IRT = S
S is adjustable on a 4180 and 4181
Align IR thermometer
Set distance (Z-direction)
Align side-to-side and up-and-down (X- and Y-directions)
IR thermometer should be no more than 5 from normal to target
surface
Make measurement
Make measurement 10 times IR thermometer response time
For instance: IR thermometer response time 0.5 s, make
measurement for 5 s
Procedure < 15 s
Procedure Measuring Distance
 Procedure - Alignment

Laser Alignment
Maximizing Alignment
Uncertainty Analysis
U(100 C)
Uncertainty Desig. Type
(C)
Calibration temperature U1 B 0.268
Source emissivity U2 B 0.128

Source
Reflected ambient radiation U3 A 0.031
Source heat exchange U4 B 0.012
Ambient Conditions U5 B 0.001
Source uniformity U6 A 0.163
Size-of-source effect U7 B 0.019
Thermometer

Ambient temperature U8 A 0.050

Infrared

Atmospheric absorption U9 B 0.020

Noise U10 A 0.100
Display Resolution U11 A 0.058

Combined Expanded Uncertainty (k=2) 0.364

Reporting Your Results

Every report of calibration should contain:

Title
Unique identification of the calibrated infrared thermometer
Record of the person who performed the calibration
Date of calibration
Source temperature versus infrared thermometer readout
temperature
Measuring distance
Emissivity setting of the infrared thermometer
Diameter of the source
Ambient temperature
Description of the aperture including aperture distance (if used)
Measurement uncertainties
Supplemental Information

Description of the calibration procedure

List of reference instruments

Traceability statement

Description of the uncertainty budget

Summary

Follow proper procedure

Better calibration

Happy customers
2017 Temperature
Calibration Classes
Instructor-led Training
Advanced Topics in Temperature Metrology, Sep 18-20
Infrared Calibration, Sep 21-22
Practical Temperature Calibration, Nov 7-9
Installation and Training Supplemental Services
(courses scheduled on-demand)
Future web seminars

Temperature Calibration seminars coming soon:

Introduction to Temperature Measurement and Calibration,
July 12 (presented in English)
Automating Temperature Sensor Calibration, August 9
(presented in Spanish)
How to Properly Use and Maintain Temperature Fixed-Point
Cells, August 23, (presented in English)

For the latest schedule visit

http://us.flukecal.com/training/web-seminars/current-schedule

Our seminar topics cover principles and practical tips about electrical, flow, pressure, RF
and temperature calibration
Thank you

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