BBS-200 Blackbody Source
The BBS-200 Blackbody Source is a reference source of infrared radiation similar in geometry to the primary standard of the National Physical Laboratory (UK). The blackbody is designed to emit the maximum possible flux at any given temperature. It is used to make a range of important measurements in the 2-14 μm thermal wavebands and is particularly useful for calibrating thermal imagers and radiometers.
The BBS-200 Blackbody is heated and cooled by a recirculating water bath connected to it with insulated hoses with self-sealing quick-disconnect connectors. In an improvement over similar designs, the BBS-200 features a double-helix water jacket in which water is circulated in the cylindrical heat exchanger from the front to the back and from the back to the front simultaneously so as to minimize thermal gradients along the cavity. Additionally, the BBS-200 features for the first time a separate water jacket for heating and cooling the reentrant cone at the base of the cavity, thereby improving both the uniformity and ramping rate of the source over similar designs.
Applications
- Used to calibrate thermal imagers, infrared radiometers, and infrared detectors.
- May be used with suitable infrared radiometer or thermal camera to measure atmospheric transmission, lens and window transmission and mirror reflectivity.
Benefits
- Provides an absolute radiometric reference to the International Temperature Scale.
- Supplies a primary point calibration standard for traceability to national laboratories.
- Maintains calibration of the RAD-900 Radiometer. Compatible with the ACCURad facility in the RAD-900 ScanIRR software.
Features:
- Very high effective emissivity from re-entrant cone geometry with high emissivity coating
- Double-helix water jacket for high uniformity and stability
- Closed loop control system
- Minimum central hot spot design
- Precision platinum resistance thermometer
- Removable motorized aperture shutter with manual override