Validating substation’s performance and power transmission efficiency through T&M

Leading T&M experts across the power and energy sector briefly discuss the vitalities of performing rigorous operational maintenance in a power substation through advanced T&M products and technologies. 

The demand supply gap in India’s energy industry remain With increasing government thrust on green tech generation and an efficient transmission and distribution system, we will be able to plug the gap to a great extent. Accelerating development can be accomplished by utilising current capacity and minimising waste.

Demand for energy generation and supply, and network extension at substations 

According to Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India, “With rising demands for energy generation, supply, and network extension on substations, you need a partner that can deliver the proper test equipment to keep your systems up and running.” You should also make sure that your equipment is well-maintained and calibrated so that you can maximise uptime and minimise losses. That’s where we come! We supply key testing equipment for generating, transmission, and distribution, as well as asset management and a comprehensive suite of calibration services. 

Aaroy Yu, Product Manager at IRay Technology Co., Ltd., states “New challenges emerge for substations with the development of energy generation. Not only is the new intelligent substation equipment needed, but the equipment should also be ensured to operate under a higher load. So it’s necessary for the patrol staff to keep a record of qualitative and quantitative data for the equipment faults, and the inspection data should be processed more efficiently.” 

“One of the impacts of the increase in demand for energy generation is more exploration of efficient ways to generate energy from renewable sources of energy to meet the demands,” says Narendra Goliya, Managing Director, Rishabh Instruments Pvt. Ltd. This will also boost the green revolution, e.g., the solar sector, which also has its own substations. We definitely see this as a growth in demand for the T & M products and also as an opportunity for us to introduce more products in this sector to meet demand. 

“Due to rapid industrialisation, demand for microgrids has increased and sub-stations carry the most load of a power supply system. The rapid rural electrification schemes gave rise to numerous sub transmission and distribution networks. Further, inappropriate network maintenance will lead to With the rise in demand, regular power audits and predictive maintenance of sub-stations are required to ensure reliable supply and customer satisfaction,” explains Piyush Patel, Head of Strategic Business, Testo India Pvt Ltd. 

Power is the backbone of infrastructure and urbanisation, which should not falter under any circumstance. This is where system testing and measurements come into play, as well as regular inspections to ensure that the supply is operating efficiently and that it is not being overloaded.

According to M.N. Ravinarayan, Chairman, Taurus Powertronics Pvt Ltd., “Following the 2005 Electricity Rules, power utility companies across the country began to connect their transmission networks in order to transmit electricity over longer distances from larger, more centralised power generation plants. This entire power system now consists of thousands of kilometres of transmission lines and lakhs of kilometres of distribution lines.” 

The sole reason behind this was that global energy consumption was increasing on a daily basis, resulting in an energy crisis with significant consequences for the power sector. Some of the consequences that these utilities are already facing include line loss occurring during power transmission; routine upkeep and operations at plant level; and periodic maintenance of old and ageing infrastructure.

Maintaining the substation’s efficiency through T & M 

Efficient testing and measurement are key components of maintaining clean and reliable power in the industry. Noting this, Prabhakaran argues that the right test instruments and the right maintenance practices will increase asset life, as well as availability and power quality. Improper equipment usage and insufficient and unreliable test equipment lead to unanticipated breakdowns and quality issues, widening the demand supply gap.” 

Aaroy Yu, on the other hand, emphasises that InfiRay offers several power inspection products targeted for different application scenarios in the power industry. Thermal cameras such as M200, M300, M600, T300, and T600 are applicable in substation scenarios, and the above mentioned products have been widely used in a large number of substations.

Narendra provides a brief overview of the various products available in the T & M sector, like digital insulation testers, which play a crucial role in diagnosing the health of the insulation and analysing the need for maintenance of devices installed in the substations, winding resistance meters. This lets us know the resistance of windings offered for current flow and if any losses are occurring in the same. These T&M products are in place to maintain efficient T&M practices in a power substation.

Through automated data capture, data analysis, and effective output tools, we at Taurus Powertronics assist power utilities in deploying products and practises that assist every decision-maker in power utilities in dealing with situations more effectively. “We help customers assess asset health, performance, and delivery by deploying technology, tools, and processes that improve the effectiveness and predictability of operations and maintenance activities through faster decision-making processes,” Ravinarayan says. LIDOR-UPD is one of the products used to keep T&M practises running smoothly. It’s a two-piece non-destructive testing system with advanced analysis software. It’s a comprehensive tool for doing a primary health check on essential switchyard assets like as transformers, circuit breakers, CT, and PT. A successful deployment of the LIDOR-UPD testing and monitoring technique prevents a substation and switchyard equipment and panel failure in the field.

Upgrading T & M products and technologies through R & D 

The world of testing and measurement moves at a breakneck pace. The demand for precise testing and measurement grows as new technologies and applications are created. Prabhakaran argues that the test and measurement sector has been involved in R&D projects for decades in order to stay up with evolving technological needs. The current T&M product improvements are centred on three primary areas: scalability to satisfy increased demand for testing capacity, real-time data analysis, and hardware updates to improve accuracy.

InfiRay thermal cameras have made more breakthroughs in software functions, such as smart image and video capture, smart database management, image search and comparison/analysis, and smart diagnosis; according to Aaroy Yu, these have solved users’ pain points in the power industry and improved work efficiency and quality. Rishabh’s R & D continuously works to upgrade its T & M products to match customer expectations and provide products that enhance user safety and ease of use. As a result, Rishabh’s product is the smartest and best option for the customer to purchase. We work on the principle of “Go to the Field” so as to understand the actual user related problems and needs before starting work on a product. This really differentiates us from the competition, as T & M products are mostly on-field usage products. 

The whole DNA of Rishabh R&D breathes innovation and culture. A very apt example would be the clamp metres introduced by Rishabh, where we understood that whenever a customer measures the current in physically awkward places with a clamp meter, the display also rotates and the user is not able to see the readings. As a result, we developed the patented rotating jaw clamp meters, which solve this problem. Similarly, among Indian manufacturers, Rishabh is the first to bring Bluetooth communication enabled multi-meters with a mobile App. In recent developments, Rishabh introduced its 5kV and 10kV digital insulation testers with an audio readout facility, which was a unique offering in this sector. No one would have imagined the metre having a speaker, which reads out the readings and makes it so user-friendly. Rishabh R & D continuously looks for newer technologies or ways in which it should design the product, e.g., we worked successfully on a technology to measure lower currents as low as nA (Nano-Amperes) in our newly launched digital insulation testers, “adds Goliya.

The testing and measurement industry’s research and development is primarily focused on improving monitoring techniques while keeping preventive maintenance in mind. Due to increasing automation on shop floors and in industries, the measuring instrument must be really smart to identify even the smallest of variations and deviations. And so, the sensors become vital for these measuring devices, as the accuracy and efficacy of any system depend severely on sensor specifications.

Ravinarayan goes on to say that Taurus Powertronics concentrates on research and development, product development, and production of testing and measurement equipment that helps power utilities ensure the health of transmission lines and substations in all scenarios. “We are developing a product line specifically for metro rail, such as in metros during maintenance, as one of our most recent breakthroughs. We should obtain proof that there is no electricity in the line to safeguard the safety of the linemen who are working on it. We’re working on a non-contact voltage detector with our development team that can detect both voltage and induced voltage from 230V to 765kV,” he concludes.

The demand for smart sensors grows as they provide more data and help in increasing the efficiency of operations. As a result, a significant upgrade in the T & M segment is devoted to sensor technology. Highly precise sensors with unique monitoring abilities have become the need of the hour. From their size to their measurement range, these sensors undergo a lot of R & D before they are approved for usage. Now, when the industry sees that the demand for multifunction instruments is at its peak, the need to have advanced sensors is even more necessary.

Scalability to satisfy increased demand for testing capacity, realtime data analysis, and hardware updates to improve accuracy. Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India

InfiRay thermal cameras have made more breakthroughs in software functions for smart imaging and smart diagnostics. Aaroy Yu, Product Manager, IRay Technology Co., Ltd.

Rishabh introduced its 5kV and 10kV digital insulation testers with an audio readout facility, which was a unique offering in this sector. Narendra Goliya, Managing Director, Rishabh Instruments Pvt. Ltd.  

Regular power audits and predictive maintenance of substations are required to ensure reliable supply and customer satisfaction. Piyush Patel, Head of Strategic Business, Testo India Pvt Ltd.

Our development team is working on a non-contact voltage detector that can detect both voltage and induced voltage. M.N. Ravinarayan, Chairman, Taurus Powertronics Pvt Ltd.