Thermal imaging: Just a note, not the whole tune

A rigorous thermal monitoring regiment is considered standard by those responsible for maintaining critical electrical infrastructure. As thermal imaging technologies mature and infrared (IR) cameras become increasingly ubiquitous, it becomes necessary to understand any limitations that may be imposed by methods that capture data infrequently. This paper will frame the benefits of thermal monitoring in an industrial process environment, including thermal imaging, and contrast them with continuous thermal monitoring. Attention is focused on medium and low voltage switchgear due to their prevalence in these industrial conditions. In particular, continuous thermal sensing with fiberoptic based sensors will be reviewed, along with installation considerations and methods for analyzing data.