Displaying items by tag: Fluke

Working with Fluke’s new online CO₂ emissions calculator, the LeakQ™ creates detailed air compressor leak reports from images captured by Fluke ii900 or ii910 acoustic imaging cameras.

Fluke, a global technology leader in the manufacture of compact, professional electronic test and measurement tools and software, has just launched a new CO₂ emission indicator to the online LeakQ reporting tool. In addition to the existing estimated leak size and costs, this new feature adds a third element: the estimated electricity-related CO₂ emission in relation to the identified leaks.

Maintenance engineers and sustainability managers who work with compressed air and gas distribution systems every day can be unaware of exactly how much gas and energy is wasted due to small leaks in the system. For compressed air applications, LeakQ used in conjunction with Fluke’s online CO₂ emission calculator enables users to quantify the financial value and environmental impact of detecting and fixing leaks in the system by creating detailed reports from images that have been captured using the Fluke ii900 Industrial Acoustic Imager and ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager.

Environmental impact

Approximately 90% of all processing companies use compressed air in some aspect of their operation, such that it is sometimes referred to as the fourth utility. It is estimated that if there were no maintenance systems in place at all, the losses due to leaks in the network would be between 25-30%. Whilst desirable, it is highly unlikely that any plant will achieve a 100% leak-free compressed air system.

Compressing air is an energy-intensive process and as such any leaks in compressed air systems mean a significant proportion of the electricity used by a compressor to compress the gas should be perceived as energy waste. Due to the energy-intensive process, and the potential environmental impact of electricity production, the ability to quantify the environmental and financial value of maintenance is helping companies drastically reduce their energy (costs) use and carbon footprint.

Detailed leak detection

Typical leaks to focus on are quick connect leaks in a joint or interface that isn’t threaded, open-end leaks in large holes or open-ended pipes, threaded coupling leaks via metallic threads or weld cracks, and leaks in rubber, flexible and plastic hoses and pipes. Standard leak detection tools only measure dB on a narrow frequency band but LeakQ carries out an automatic scan of the full frequency spectrum and captures the actual frequency range that the leak is generating. This makes estimations far more representative of the real leak rate than those that are achievable using more traditional measuring tools.

Report generator

To develop a report and estimate the potential costs of leaks, the user simply transfers inspection data from the ii900 or ii910 to a computer, where they can be dropped into the online LeakQ report generator. The user then inputs the operating variables such as gas type, pressure, cost of electricity and System Specific Power ratio, which is a measure of compressor efficiency. The report generated will include a summary of all the leaks listed as well as their estimated individual and annual volumes, costs, and emissions. Leak images are also inserted into the report which can be shared as a PDF or downloaded as a CSV file for importing into existing maintenance systems. A feedback option enables users to relay their experiences directly back to Fluke so that the company can continue to make the leak detection tool better and easier to use.

Prioritising maintenance

Tako Feron, Global Product Manager of Acoustic Imaging at Fluke said: “Being able to prioritise, quantify and cost leaks in such a simple way is a game-changer for maintenance engineers who will be able to see the full financial and environmental impact of even the smallest leak in a compressed air system. Having the ability to reduce electricity usage is clearly a major bonus at any time but particularly in this challenging climate regarding the cost of energy. At the same time, it is essential to minimise leaks in compressed air systems if we are to meet our crucially important sustainability targets.”

Feron adds: “It’s estimated that around 90% of companies use compressed air in some aspect of their operations and the majority of this is generated on-site. That means it is down to the user to keep the costs of compressed air as low as possible and the LeakQ™ leak detection reporting tool provides an extremely powerful means of helping them to achieve that goal.”

Learn more about the LeakQ™ report generator here.

About Fluke: Fluke’s mission is to be the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. The company’s products are used by technicians and engineers in service, installation, maintenance, manufacturing test, and quality functions in a variety of industries throughout the world. Founded in 1948, Fluke has offices in 13 European countries and distributes its products to over 100 countries around the globe. The company’s European revenues contribute approximately 40 per cent of worldwide sales. Fluke’s headquarters are located in Everett, Washington State and the company employs over 2,500 people internationally. Its European sales and service headquarters are located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website at http://www.fluke.com.

Rising energy costs and more stringent legislation guiding sustainable practices are spurring companies to re-evaluate processes and seek new tools and technologies to reduce waste and overcome challenges in today’s industrial environments.

Fluke, a global technology leader in the manufacturer of compact, professional electronic test and measurement tools and software, today shares the top three trends that are enhancing operational efficiency in today’s industrial environments.

Challenges posed to industrial operations managers by the pandemic have now been superseded by the rising cost of energy, and the need to deliver on net zero ambitions. As the price of energy continues to increase, the need to reduce costs and deliver on shared sustainability goals intensifies for small-to-medium-sized enterprises through to large corporations.

Paul Feenstra, Vice President Fluke EMEA, at Fluke said: “We are working together with our customers to help drive new initiatives to improve operations, increase efficiencies, and take reliability to a new level in the 21^st century.”

Fluke's ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager has dual uses for the detection of compressed air leaks and partical discharge

• Reducing energy costs with upgraded technology and cloud-based data monitoring

Approximately 90% of all companies use compressed air in some aspect of their operation, such that it is often referred to as the fourth utility. Recent developments in industrial acoustic imaging technology have enabled the fast identification of leaks in compressed air systems used in industrial and manufacturing environments. Fluke’s ii900 Industrial Acoustic Imager features an array of microphones, providing visualisation of sound field within an expanded field-of-view and at a distance of up to 70 meters, which enables maintenance teams to visually locate air leaks very quickly and accurately in compressed air systems.

Beyond the improvement of rugged handheld tools, monitoring practices are also evolving with the use of internet-connected instruments. Analysis and data is captured on a cloud platform allowing operators to monitor the key performance indicators (KPI) of compressed air systems including energy, electric power, flow, pressure and leakage flow. Fluke’s LeakQ™ Report Generator creates detailed air compressor leak reports from images captured by Fluke ii900 or the ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager and calculates the energy savings once the leaks are repaired.

• Using data to deliver predictive maintenance

For generations, maintenance professionals have used preventive maintenance to avoid equipment failures and turned to reactive maintenance when assets failed. With the emergence of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies, maintenance professionals can now connect tools, software and sensors to collect, store and analyse multiple data sources in one place. The pandemic accelerated investment in technologies that make remote monitoring possible. The technology enables reliability and maintenance teams to meet up-time requirements no matter how fluid on-site staffing might be. The trend for remote monitoring will continue, with small-scale operations turning to remote condition monitoring services.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have held the promise to quickly identify trends and adapt quickly to changing operational conditions. Software armed with prescriptive analytics is finally meeting up with modern condition monitoring hardware to spark a revolution in the use of AI/ML in maintenance operations.

Now a new race has emerged to pair that hardware and software with ML and AI algorithms. Companies, like Fluke, are working to combine technologies so that the software can identify trends, recognise data patterns and make specific recommendations for equipment maintenance.

Fluke's ii900 Industrial Acoustic Imager captures still and video images of compressed air leaks at a facility

• Digital SI speeds integration of critical equipment measurements

The accelerated uptake in digital measurement solutions for industrial applications can save time and money, whilst facilitating a shift towards predictive maintenance for systems. Although modern measurement digital devices are typically not fit-and-forget solutions, the increase in digital measurement solutions paves the way for verification technologies that can help to reduce the maintenance burden on personnel, without compromising on accuracy or reliability.

Digital SI (International System of Units), an initiative created as part of the industry 4.0 revolution, relates to the creation of a globalised system to transmit calibration certification information electronically. This is critical as the exchange of data and the data itself are the basis of highly automated industrial processes. The system ensures measurement traceability from all calibrations performed and enables sharing of information in a paperless manner. This speeds up the integration of measurements that can be performed using critical test equipment as part of an integrated factory enhancing maintenance efficiency and plant efficiency.

“The tests we have faced within the last 24-36 months is delivering a growing awareness among top management that fundamental changes in maintenance best practice need to occur in order to protect the bottom line,” said Paul Feenstra.  

“This is music to the ears of progressive industrial managers who have been advocating for investments to improve efficiencies and reliability of systems. Now is the time to make the case to adopt innovative technologies, tools, and processes to ensure your company maintains a competitive edge and thrives in this new environment.”

For more information about Fluke’s specialist products and services, go to: https://www.fluke.com/en.

About Fluke: Fluke’s mission is to be the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. The company’s products are used by technicians and engineers in service, installation, maintenance, manufacturing test, and quality functions in a variety of industries throughout the world. Founded in 1948, Fluke has offices in 13 European countries and distributes its products to over 100 countries around the globe. The company’s European revenues contribute approximately 40 per cent of worldwide sales.

Fluke’s headquarters are located in Everett, Washington State and the company employs over 2,500 people internationally. Its European sales and service headquarters are located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website at http://www.fluke.com.

Fluke has just announced the launch of a new clamp meter designed to measure solar installation voltages at the new standard of 1500 V, while offering high safety specifications and being easy to use in congested solar combiner boxes. The Fluke 393 and 393 FC are the world’s first True-rms solar clamp meters to be rated at CAT III / 1500 V DC according to the latest safety standard for clamp meters IEC/EN 61010-2-032:2019.

The clamp meter is capable of measuring up to 1500 V DC compared to standard instruments for this application, which are restricted to 1000 V DC.

This makes the Fluke 393 the ideal choice for the installation and maintenance of utility scale, large industrial and commercial scale solar farms. With solar generation growing in importance to meet renewable energy demand, the new clamp meter is a major addition to Fluke’s range of instruments for solar applications, such as the insulation multimeters Fluke 1577/1587 or the IP67 rated multimeter Fluke 87V MAX.

New clamp meter offers solar testing at 1500 V while providing the highest safety rating at this voltage and offering improved ease of use.

Enhanced safety

A high level of safety for users is guaranteed through the use of CAT III rated insulation at 1500 V, the only solar clamp meter to offer this level of protection for solar installation technicians and engineers. The meter’s insulated test leads are rated to CAT III 1500 V, while the meters offer CAT IV protection to 600 V AC.

The instrument’s IP54 rating makes the Fluke 393 clamp meter suitable for testing solar installations in a variety of climates and a wide range of weather conditions, protecting the instrument from both dust and rain ingress.

Easy to use

The ability to make quick, easy and accurate measurements allows maintenance technicians to keep solar installations producing energy. The challenge is that solar combiner boxes are often small and congested, making it difficult to attach meters to make measurements. The Fluke 393 meets this challenge with a 25% thinner jaw than previous Fluke clamp meter models, making it easier and faster to take measurements in restricted spaces.

The jaw design is durable, rugged and reliable and meets the stringent CAT III requirement for creepage and clearance.

The 393 FC offers connectivity to Fluke Connect, eliminating the need for handwritten notes.  Fluke Connect allows maintenance technicians and service staff to document values and share them with their team. Up to 65,000 data points can be recorded and uploaded.

Beside voltage and current measurements, the new clamp meter provides DC power measurement and data logging to improve work efficiency.

Productivity is enhanced by an audio beep that indicates correct PV polarity, as well as visual continuity indication to make continuity testing easier in low light conditions. Additionally, the meters offer a dual line display for simultaneous measurements.

Hans-Dieter Schuessele of Fluke says: “As the world’s first solar clamp meters to offer CAT III safety at 1500 V, the new 393 and 393 FC clamp meters set a new standard in solar installation testing. Designed to be supremely safe and easy to use, they are a major contribution to helping installers and maintenance staff get solar farms online rapidly and keep them producing renewable energy.”

For more information on the Fluke 393 and 393 FC Non-Contact Voltage True-rms AC/DC Clamp Meters, visit: https://www.fluke.com/en-gb/product/electrical-testing/clamp-meters/393-fc

About Fluke:

Fluke’s mission is to be the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. The company’s products are used by technicians and engineers in service, installation, maintenance, manufacturing test, and quality functions in a variety of industries throughout the world. Founded in 1948, Fluke has offices in 13 European countries and distributes its products to over 100 countries around the globe. The company’s European revenues contribute approximately 40 per cent of worldwide sales. Fluke’s headquarters are located in Everett, Washington State and the company employs over 2,500 people internationally. Its European sales and service headquarters are located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website at http://www.fluke.com

Fluke Process Instruments, a global leader in infrared imaging and thermal profiling solutions for industrial applications, releases the latest Datapaq® Furnace Tracker System – complete with the TP6 data logger, thermal barriers and intuitive software.

The Datapaq Furnace Tracker System is designed to be used repeatedly, in-process in the most hostile manufacturing environments, providing accurate and reliable through-process temperature surveys. Each system can help users improve process performance, decrease downtime, reduce temperature uniformity survey (TUS) reporting times and more.

The first component of the system is the Datapaq® TP6 Data Logger, which can withstand the longest, most-demanding operating conditions. The Datapaq TP6 features a 316-grade, stainless-steel case and a IP67 rating, making it water resistant. This datalogger is available with either 10 or 20 thermocouple inputs and can be specified for use with base or noble metal thermocouples.

The latest thermal barrier models are ideal for high-temperature heat treat processes and have been designed to provide maximum thermal protection – including applications such as vacuum and controlled atmosphere, slab reheat and solution aging, among others. The new patented quenchable thermal barriers eliminate the need for fiber blankets. Fluke Process Instruments also offers bespoke design services to create a solution that specifically fits a customer’s process.

To complete the system, Fluke Process Instruments offers the Datapaq Insight™ Software which transforms raw data into actionable analytics, clear user interface, context sensitive help screens and assistance options for infrequent users. Three software options are available and the complimentary Datapaq Insight for mobile is offered for free. This mobile application allows users to reset, download and analyze right on the factory floor and check thermocouple operation before a thermal profile run. The advanced TUS software also provides full temperature profiles and traceable reports for industry regulations like AMS2750 and CQi-9.

“The latest Datapaq Furnace Tracker System offers customers a robust solution that is designed for harsh environments like quenching and high temperatures,” says Rob Hornsblow, Product Manager at Fluke Process Instruments. “Whether users are working with raw materials or finished products, measuring product and atmosphere temperatures throughout the furnace is critical in ensuring both product quality and process efficiency. Datapaq continues to provide real-time, repeatable temperature data that can help improve performance and system accuracy, decrease downtime and much more.”

“We’ve really focused on what customers wanted in when engineering this new system and we are excited to introduce the patented quenchable thermal barriers, an IP67 rated data logger and the Insight for Mobile application that will allows users to check thermocouple operation before each run”.

The Datapaq Furnace Tracker System – including the new TP6 Data Logger and thermal barrier models – are now available. To learn more, or to speak with a specialist in your region, visit this page.

About Fluke Process Instruments
Fluke Process Instruments designs, manufactures, and markets a complete line of infrared (IR) temperature measurement and profiling solutions for industrial, maintenance, and quality control applications. Distributed worldwide under the Raytek, Ircon and Datapaq brands, the products reflect the combined experience of over 150 years in manufacturing the world’s finest temperature measurement tools and devices.
About Fluke
Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, and metrologists who install, troubleshoot and manage industrial, electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes.

Teams operate more safely and pinpoint air, gas and vacuum leaks with greater sensitivity.

The new Fluke™ ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager uniquely enables the detection of corona and partial discharge from a safe distance of up to 120 meters. Teams can operate safely, minimise the risk of fires and help reduce outages. The Fluke™ ii910 also offers greater sensitivity to detect compressed air, gas, and vacuum system leaks, reducing downtime which can cost up to EUR 1000,- per minute.

Regular routines – no training required
Electrical discharge detection or leak checking can be carried out as part of a regular maintenance routine. The handheld imager enables users to quickly, and visually, pinpoint the location of faults from a safe distance and record data for later analysis. Even small, low-pressure or low-density leaks are now detected easily. The rugged ii910’s intuitive operation means no training is required – it is simple to learn and easy to use. The straightforward, intuitive interface allows technicians to isolate the sound frequency of the leak and filter out background noise in even the noisiest environments.

Fast and visual leak and discharge detection
The rugged, handheld casing of the Fluke ii910 has a seven-inch LCD touchscreen which overlays a SoundMap™ on a visual image for rapid identification of discharge or leaks between frequencies of 2-100 kHZ. The array of integral microphones converts ultrasound signals into clear visual images on the backlit touchscreen. Captured data can be transferred via an integral USB-C socket directly to a PC. From here, the data can be uploaded to the Machine Learning PDQ Mode™ Reporting Platform. This will provide the most important partial discharge insights, including partial discharge type identification. The ii910 provides video recording of up to 5 minutes and has a battery life of at least 6 hours.

Power generation, production or maintenance added value
Fluke’s innovative SoundSight™ technology now enables corona and partial discharge to be easily located. For technicians working with high voltages in power generation and transmission and with industrial high voltage equipment, the Fluke ii910 provides more sophisticated detection than standard ultrasonic tools while offering the visual performance of more expensive UV cameras. It detects, locates and provides visual reporting and severity assessment of corona and partial discharges. Technicians in production locations can isolate the sound frequency of the leak and filter out background noise in even the noisiest environments. Industrial maintenance technicians can identify leaks at a safe distance considerably faster than using traditional diagnostic methods, even during peak production periods.

For more information about the new Fluke ii910 Precision Industrial Imager, please visit www.fluke.com

About Fluke:

Fluke’s mission is to be the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. The company’s products are used by technicians and engineers in service, installation, maintenance, manufacturing test, and quality functions in a variety of industries throughout the world. Founded in 1948, Fluke has offices in 13 European countries and distributes its products to over 100 countries around the globe. The company’s European revenues contribute approximately 40 per cent of worldwide sales. Fluke’s headquarters are located in Everett, Washington State and the company employs over 2,500 people internationally. Its European sales and service headquarters are located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website at http://www.fluke.com