The infrastructure of the power supply company is gradually aging, and the risk of power outages and continuous low voltage is increasing. Continuous low voltage refers to the voltage drop in the power supply, so named because the low voltage usually causes the brightness of the light to dim. Power companies are also facing costly unplanned maintenance and soaring costs. In order to improve the reliability of power transmission and reduce costs, the power supply company has tried to solve the above problems. Using FLIR thermal imaging cameras and automation software, potential equipment failures and safety hazards in remote monitoring stations can be detected at any time of day and night. The resulting net effect is increased reliability and reduced costs. Causes and Impacts of the Failure Due to the aging of the transmission network infrastructure, the substation and other areas of the grid lack an automated system to monitor the operating status of critical equipment, so the risk of power outages and continuous low voltage is increasing. For example, a transformer liquid leak or an internal insulation failure can cause the equipment to overheat, causing a malfunction. But most power companies are not equipped with automated thermal detection systems that detect these points of failure. Regardless of the cause of the failure, a major substation failure may evolve into a series of concurrent failures. As a result, large-scale failures in banking facilities, security systems, manufacturing plants, food refrigeration, communication networks, and traffic control systems can occur. Undoubtedly, the relevant power supply company may suffer huge loss of revenue, which will also increase the cost of restoring the normal operation of the system. Thermal imaging cameras help save costs Thermal imaging technology increases the reliability and safety of substations. Although power companies have been using portable thermal imaging cameras to monitor substation equipment for years, many power companies are now turning to permanent thermal imaging systems. Using an automated thermal imaging camera and innovative software, FLIR and its partners have jointly developed a monitoring system that provides early warning of potential equipment failures.
These monitoring systems use advanced sensing and measurement techniques, control methods and digital communications. Ability to predict, detect, and respond quickly to points of failure, reducing maintenance costs, failure rates, reducing power outages, and increasing productivity. As an example, a large power supply company found that the connecting rod bushing on the substation transformer was red hot, and the repair cost only 12,000 euros. Prior to the establishment of the thermal imaging project, similar problems had caused failures and cost more than €2,250,000. The thermal signals from some substation components are precursors to faults. These components include: Transformers (oil level and pump operation) On-load tap-changers (oil level, other internal points of failure) Insulation bushings (oil level and poor connection) Support insulator (water vapor, pollution, degradation) Lightning rod (degradation of metal oxide disk) Circuit breaker (oil leak or SF6 leak) Mechanical connection disconnected (poor connection, contamination) Control cabinet (fan, pump and other components wear) Battery heat Imaging Principles The first principle of thermal imaging is that "many components are heated before the fault occurs and the temperature rises." Second, each object emits infrared spectral heat radiation that is invisible to the naked eye. Third, the thermal imaging camera converts this radiation into a sharp thermal image from which the temperature value can be read. This non-contact thermal data can be displayed on the monitor in real time or sent to a digital storage device for analysis. The thermal imaging camera produces images without the need for light, and can detect hot spots before the device is overheated or the insulation is broken. The thermal imaging camera can be installed in an all-weather housing and placed above the azimuth/tilt head to detect large areas of the substation. Because FLIR has a wide range of lens options with different focal lengths, the range of options is wide. Therefore, these thermal imaging cameras support 24/7 monitoring of all locations. The FLIR thermal imaging camera identifies the temperature differences in the thermal information of electrical components and the surrounding environment (such as the sky or clouds) and compares the temperature values of the same components with each other. Built-in logic, memory, and data communication allow the camera to compare temperature values in images with user-defined settings and send temperature data to a central monitoring station for trend analysis, triggering alarms, and generating anomaly reports. The thermal imaging camera can even notify the equipment manager in the remote office of an anomaly by triggering an email message. Therefore, thermal imaging cameras are ideal for unattended monitoring of substation equipment.
