ARE ALL SINGLE-WAVELENGTH INFRARED PYROMETERS ALIKE?

Most single-wavelength infrared pyrometers are virtually identical; however, a close look reveals that most sensors are different in one critically important way – the wavelength. Wavelength is an important parameter when selecting an infrared pyrometer because some optical interferences are highly transparent only in specific wavebands. Infrared energy is an electromagnetic energy just like visible light and x-rays. Visible light does not pass through the human chest while x-rays go right through with wavelength being the only difference. In a similar way, correct wavelength selection allows an infrared pyrometer to view clearly through some types of intervening media, such as steam, flames, combustion gases, etc., without introducing an error. Where the below graph is white (shaded), steam, flames and combustion gases are highly transparent (opaque). Short-wavelength pyrometers with carefully selected wavelengths are able to view clearly through steam, flames or combustion gases (or long paths of air, for that matter). Therefore, carefully filtered single wavelength pyrometers provide a significant technical advantage whenever these interferences are present. Wavelength selection is equally critical for other types of optical obstruction.

Williamson single-wavelength pyrometers are the best when oil, water, steam, flames, or combustion gases are encountered.

THE ADVANTAGES OF SHORT-WAVELENGTH SINGLE-WAVELENGTH PYROMETERS

Williamson short-wavelength infrared pyrometers offer several advantages compared to long-wavelength pyrometers

• Available in traditional and fiber-optic configurations
• Views through common window materials
• Views clearly through steam, water, flames, combustion gases, oil, wax, glass, plastic, plasma, laser energy, and other interferences with thoughtful wavelength selection
• Measure low-temperature values rivaling long-wavelength sensors
• Measure broad temperature spans rivaling long-wavelength sensors
• Are four to twenty times less sensitive to emissivity variation compared to long-wavelength sensors
• Are four to ten  times less sensitive to optical obstruction compared to long-wavelength sensors
• Are four to ten times less sensitive to surface scale & cold spots compared to long-wavelength sensors
• Are four to ten times less sensitive to misalignment compared to long-wavelength sensor

Single-Wavelength Error Due to 10% Optical Obstruction,
Misalignment, or Emissivity Variation

Error from 10% emissivity change or 10% optical obstruction. Errors are smaller at lower temperatures and
shorter wavelengths produce smaller errors.

Normal Spectral Emissivity of Cold Rolled Steel

For low-emissivity materials, emissivity is higher and more stable at shorter wavelengths.

ARE ALL RATIO INFRARED PYROMETERS ALIKE?

Two-color sensors are an appropriate choice for many common temperature measurement applications. However, when certain conditions are present such as water, steam, scale, severe temperature gradients, severe or intermittent optical obstruction, flames, combustion gases, laser energy, plasma, small targets, and low temperatures, dual-wavelength pyrometers are a more appropriate choice.

Consideration #1: Wavelength Selection –

Viewing through optical interference

Two-color detector technology dictates a specific wavelength set, while dual-wavelength technology allows for free wavelength selection. Thoughtful wavelength selection permits dual-wavelength pyrometers to better tolerate interference from water, steam, flames, combustion gases, plasma and laser energy. Thoughtful wavelength selection also permits select dual-wavelength sensors to provide broader temperature spans and to measure lower temperature values – as low as 200˚F / 95˚C.ors.

Consideration #2: Wavelength Separation –

More tolerant of scale and temperature gradients

A bump on the floor causes a table to wobble, but the wobble will be smaller when there is a greater separation between the legs. Similarly, the stability of a ratio sensor is related to the separation between the wavelengths. Because dual-wavelength pyrometers have greater separation between the wavelength sets, they are as much as twenty times less sensitive to temperature gradients and scale compared to two-color sensors. For example, surface scale on a steel target that causes a 40-60 degree error for a two-color sensor would produce an error of only 2-3 degrees for a dual-wavelength pyrometer. Likewise, dual-wavelength sensors are twenty times better able to measure only the hottest temperature viewed. This is important for applications with a small heated area or a temperature gradient, such as welding or induction heating.

Consideration #3: Detector Design –

More sensitive to low-energy and less prone to calibration drift

The two-color detector set includes two separate detectors – one on top of the other, with the bottom detector “blindfolded” by the one above it. Therefore, most of the energy collected by the sensor never reaches the bottom detector. Without this limitation, dual-wavelength pyrometers can tolerate 20 to 100 times more optical obstruction compared to two-color sensors, allowing dual-wavelength pyrometers to better view through dirty windows and severe optical obstructions and to better measure small or wandering targets that do not fill the sensor’s field of view.

THE ADVANTAGES OF DUAL-WAVELENGTH PYROMETERS

Two-Color Wavelength Set

The Two-Color Detector Design Dictates the Wavelength Set.
Note that the two wavelengths overlap without separation. 1.0-1.1 um is a poor wavelength for water, steam, flames, combustion gases, and silicon, and the long-wavelength (bottom detector) is weak.

Williamson dual-wavelength pyrometers offer all of the capabilities of two-color pyrometers plus these added advantages:

• Select models uniquely view clearly through water, steam, flames and combustion gases with thoughtful wavelength selection
• Are twenty times less sensitive to scale and temperature gradients compared to two-color sensors
• Are twenty to one hundred times less sensitive to optical obstruction and misalignment compared to two-color sensors
• Tolerates a partially filled field of view

• Measure low temperatures – as low as 200˚F / 95˚C and above fiber-optic 400˚F / 200˚C and above
• Provide a real-time measure of temperature, ambient temperature, emissivity, and infrared energy
• Can measure single-wavelength and dual-wavelength temperature values simultaneously
• Include ESP filtering to continuously measure intermittent targets or to eliminate intermittent interferences
• Select models uniquely view through plasma and laser energy with thoughtful wavelength selection
• Select models uniquely view clearly through water, steam, flames and combustion gases with thoughtful wavelength selection
• Are twenty times less sensitive to Scale and temperature gradients compared to two-color sensors
• Are twenty to one hundred times less sensitive to optical obstruction and misalignment compared to two-color sensors
• Tolerates a partially filled field of view

Dual-Wavelength Pyrometers Better Tolerate Emissivity Variation, Misalignment, and Optical Obstruction

Optical Transmission Through Water by Wavelength

Select dual-wavelength pyrometers view clearly through water and steam without interference. Two-color pyrometers do not.

Williamson places a strong emphasis on dual-wavelength pyrometers because of their better ability to tolerate a wide range of common application issues with little or no maintenance. Dual-wavelength sensors are used every day to make measurements that are traditionally considered impossible to make.

Dual Wavelength Applications

•  Induction Brazing
• Plasma Diamond Growth
• Plasma Ion Nitriding
• Carbon Densification
• Engineered Ceramics
• Silicon CVD
• Fly Ash
• Flames

• Molten Metal Stream
  (Al, Cu, Fe, Ag, Au, etc…)
• Sinter Furnace
• Coke Guide
• Continuous Caster
• Reheat / Heat Treat Furnace
• Rolling Mill Descaler
• Rolling Mill Stands
• Rolling Mill Cooling
• Rolling Mill Coiler
• Annealing Line Wedge
• Forging Die
• Wire and Rod
• Ultra-Fine Wire
• Oilfield Tubular Products
• Induction Heating
• Severe Optical Obstruction
•  Induction Brazing
• Plasma Diamond Growth
• Plasma Ion Nitriding
• Carbon Densification
• Engineered Ceramics
• Silicon CVD
• Fly Ash
• Flames

WILLIAMSON’S UNIQUE MULTI-WAVELENGTH TECHNOLOGY

Multi-wavelength pyrometers are used for a variety of applications where traditional infrared pyrometer technologies prove inadequate. Multi-wavelength sensors use application-specific algorithms to adjust for the unique emissive character associated with the specific measured material or measurement condition to produce an accurate measure of temperature and emissivity. Different algorithms exist for different materials and for different measurement conditions. The algorithms work by first measuring the spectral emissive character of the measured material, and then a measure of both temperature and emissivity is calculated. Each Williamson multi-wavelength sensor can hold as many as eight algorithms, meaning one pyrometer can be used for multiple applications.

A Long History of Multi-Wavelength Measurement

Williamson multi-wavelength infrared pyrometers represent the culmination of over four decades of refinement and perfection to the world’s first and most robust commercial multi-wavelength product line. Originally introduced in the 1970s, the Williamson multi-wavelength is precise, accurate, robust, reliable, versatile, innovative and easy to use. The Williamson multi-wavelength can measure a wide range of materials in a wide range of environmental conditions over a wide range of temperature spans. There are a number of temperature measurement applications for which the Williamson multi-wavelength pyrometer represents the only viable and accurate solution.

Some of the more popular multi-wavelength applications include the following materials:

Glass & Plastic

• Molds
• Plungers

Comparison of Single, Ratio, and Multi-Wavelength Infrared
Pyrometers on Steel Annealing Lines

Non-Greybody: Emissivity is different and changes at different wavelengths.

Williamson specializes in advanced technologies to compensate for the low and variable emissivity character associated with many industrial applications.

Williamson multi-wavelength infrared pyrometers offer several advantages and as a result, multi-wavelength sensors can make “impossible” measurements of challenging materials (Aluminum, Zinc, Stainless Steel, Copper, High Alloy Steel, Electrical Steel, Cold Rolled Steel, Molds and Plungers, etc.).

Williamson Multi-Wavelength Pyrometers:

• Measure broad temperature spans ideal for most
  heating applications
• Select models uniquely view clearly through water,
  steam, flames and combustion gases
• Select models uniquely view through plasma and laser energy
• Tolerate misalignment and dirty optics (select
  algorithms)
• Tolerate non-greybody emissivity variation and
  optical interference
• Store as many as eight algorithms per unit for extreme versatility

• Produce a highly accurate temperature reading for
  all low emissivity materials
• Are available in traditional and fiber-optic configurations
• View through common window materials
• Measure low temperatures – as low as 300˚F / 150˚C and above; fiber-optic 400˚F / 200˚C and above
• Provide a real-time measure of temperature,
  ambient temperature, emissivity and signal dilution
• Can measure single-wavelength and dual or multiwavelength temperature values simultaneously
• Include ESP filtering to measure intermittent targets
  or to eliminate intermittent interferences
• Measure broad temperature spans ideal for most
  heating applications
• Select models uniquely view clearly through water,
  steam, flames and combustion gases
• Select models uniquely view through plasma and
  laser energy
• Tolerate misalignment and dirty optics (select
  algorithms)
• Tolerate non-greybody emissivity variation and
  optical interference
• Store as many as eight ESP algorithms for use in as
  many as eight applications for extreme versatility

Single, Dual, and Multi-Wavelength Readings Compared to a
Reference Thermocouple

Single-Wavelength Error vs. Emissivity Steel Strip
Annealing Line, Emissivity Setting =0.460

• Iron & Steel
• Nonferrous Metal
• Industrial Heating, Thermal Surface Treatment
• Engineered Materials, Semiconductor
• Glass and Ceramics including Bricks, Cement, Glass, and Refractory
• Incinerators, Boilers, Rotary Kilns, Flares, Thermal Reactors
• Paper, Textile, Plastic, Rubber
• Pharmaceutical
• Food
• Aggregate, Ores, Soil, and Asphalt