Measuring solutions and maintenance practices can offer better power reliability

Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India. In an interview with EPR.

Deliberating on the need for performance evaluation, Prabhakaran PV, talks about the available testing and measuring solutions to upkeep reliability and efficiency in a power plant’s operations and performance. 

How do you evaluate the demand for T & M instruments at plant level? 

Previously, it was difficult to evaluate the demand for the T & M industry. Now there are various ways to figure it out. To evaluate the demand for test and measurement instruments at plant level, you need to do a survey of all departments that use T&M instruments. The results of such a survey can be used to identify priorities and develop a purchase strategy.

Fluke has a dedicated sales team, product team, and marketing team that constantly stay in touch with its clients and customers to understand their needs. What exactly is the instrument the industry needs according to their workload and expansion? We have a wide range that is suitable for plant or factory-based needs.

What are the testing and measuring solutions available for measuring power plants? Performance evaluation of plants is a crucial part of ensuring that they are running at peak efficiency. The test and measurement industry has made great strides in recent years, and there are now a number of instruments that can provide accurate, reliable measurements for plant performance, like oscilloscopes, vibration meters, pressure gauges, sensors, data loggers, etc. Some instruments from Fluke for evaluation of performance, plant maintenance, and condition monitoring are thermal imagers, acoustic imagers, power quality analysers, vibration testers, and insulation and earth testers.

What are the challenges seen while measuring the life expectancy and performance of power systems? 

Asset life expectancy and performance largely depend on the machine and operating conditions. Performance and life expectancy deteriorate over time. Combined with poor maintenance practises and insufficient data and testing methodologies adopted, assets may fail prematurely. Such failures will go against the customer’s expectation of availability and reliability of power in general. Availability and reliability are more critical for power users, and then comes the quality of power. Fluke has measurement solutions for power producers to improve availability, reliability, and quality aspects. These products, combined with better maintenance practices, can go a long way in improving the quality and reliability of the power scenario in India.

What are your measuring offerings for the plant level? 

Fluke is an industry leader in test and measurement solutions for the plant level. We offer a comprehensive range of products and services, starting from our acoustic imagers, which can help identify the partial discharges in HV assets and transmission lines in a very safe and easy manner, apart from helping the user to find air and gas leakages in the plant. Similarly, earth testers and insulation testers, as well as numerous test instruments, can aid in improving the electrical safety and general dependability of systems and plants. Thermal imagers and vibration testers help do condition-based analysis and maintenance to the next level. Our process tools and calibration solutions assist power plant engineers in ensuring that the sensors and test equipment they employ operate at the desired accuracy. We also create entire test benches to fulfil customer specifications and increase efficiency.