Is technology great or what?! Jobs that are too dangerous for humans are easily and sometimes more reliably performed with machines. Their nemesis though is that they are controlled with electronics which are susceptible to heat.

I was approached by a customer who designs and builds vision systems. They had installed a camera to monitor a furnace but the heat radiating from the furnace cooked their camera.

Before installing a new camera, they needed to come up with a method to protect the camera from ambient as well as radiated heat from the furnace. I suggested that he put an insulating bag, with a reflective silver surface, around the camera to provide protection from radiant heat. 

Then using a model 3230 Vortex Tube, with its cold end inserted through the bag, cold air was introduced inside to maintain ambient temperatures surrounding the camera well below the operating temperatures the camera was designed for.

This was a quick and easy solution to an expensive problem.

Joe Panfalone
Application Engineer
joepanfalone@exair.com