Infrared Imaging of Power Electronic Converters

Thermal management of electronic devices and packaging is important when dealing with high-voltage high-power systems as excessive device heating can have a catastrophic affect on the performance of a system and can lead to premature device and system failure. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately assess and characterize the thermal performance of power electronic components.
The use of thermal imaging equipment (infrared cameras) allows us to see beyond the visible into the invisible infrared. Our eyes are capable of detecting visible radiation but not infrared radiation. Infrared radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation as are: visible light, radio waves, ultraviolet, and X-rays. Infrared radiation is longer in wavelength than visible light and is classified in a different waveband. Although few objects emit in the visible waveband, in the infrared waveband all objects emit. It is only that it cannot be seen with the physical eye. An infrared camera, therefore, becomes the "infrared eyes" into the infrared world. Infrared radiation is absorbed and emitted by objects. Absorptivity is the measure of how well an object or material absorbs radiation. Emissivity is the factor that correlates to the ability of an object to radiate infrared energy. In the way that visible light reflects off a mirror, infrared radiation reflects off many objects. For example, infrared radiation reflects clearly off metals such as aluminum. The fact that metals are good reflectors makes them poor emitters.

Manufacturing and process engineers boost efficiency and cut costs by turning to machine-vision systems like automated infrared (IR) imaging. The technique is being used in a host of industrial production applications, including process monitoring and control, quality assurance, asset management, and machine-condition monitoring.