Expanded applications of thermal cameras in electrical utilities

The thermal camera by Hikmicro has an ergonomic design, rotatable optics, and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring ease of use during extended inspections.

- Ashish P. Dhakan

Like those offered by Hikmicro, thermal imaging cameras have a wide range of applications in electrical utilities. These tools are vital for proactive maintenance, safety enhancement, and operational efficiency in power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Below are examples of their applications in electrical utilities:

Transformer monitoring

Transformers are vital in power grids, and thermal imaging ensures their reliability by detecting overheating in windings and bushings, identifying hot spots from loose connections or insulation breakdown, and preventing catastrophic failures. This proactive approach enhances safety and efficiency by addressing potential issues early, minimising downtime and costly repairs.

Inspection of overhead transmission lines

Thermal cameras are invaluable for surveying high-voltage overhead lines and identifying issues like loose connections, damaged insulators, and sagging lines. They detect localised heating from high-resistance joints, hot spots caused by faulty insulators, and weakened conductors prone to sagging due to excessive heat, enabling proactive maintenance and enhancing grid reliability.

Substation maintenance

Thermal imaging surveys in substations detect overheating in circuit breakers, arcing or corrosion in switchgear panels, and loose connections in busbars. This proactive approach enhances equipment reliability, prevents failures, and ensures optimal performance, safeguarding the substation's critical operations and longevity.

Electric motor monitoring

Thermal cameras assess motor health by detecting overheating in windings or bearings, identifying voltage or load imbalances, and pinpointing mechanical misalignments through temperature anomalies, ensuring early fault detection and prevention.

Solar power installations