Infrared thermal cameras improve transformer utility performance

Highlighting the efficiency of T&M instruments, TP Singh, Sr. Sales Director at Teledyne FLIR, discusses the need to maintain an ambient temperature in high-voltage electrical systems and utility transformers.
How are advanced T&M instruments adding efficiency to power equipment performance?
Regular predictive maintenance is one of the critical parameters for increasing power equipment efficiency. Teledyne FLIR adds substantial value to the same. Our advanced T&M instruments assist in assessing the health of power equipment without shutting it down, touching it, or even approaching it. Based on the infrared temperature measurement principle, these instruments give precise results about the temperature this equipment produces and its connections. Whenever any issue starts, the first thing that changes is temperature; hence, these infrared-based T&M Instruments add immense value for the electricians in the field. That’s why these instruments have been widely used around the globe by many utilities.
Which monitoring solutions are required to monitor power transformers and electrical units?
This list can be long, but many utilities use infrared-based thermal cameras as the first instrument to make precise temperature measurements of transformer bodies and electrical connections. From a safe distance and under running conditions, one can measure the temperature of the connections with an accuracy of +/- 1 oC. Several studies have been done on how to use this technology effectively for power transformers. One of the papers written is available as per the link below.
https://www.flir.in/instruments/utilities/application-spotlight-distribution-transformer-inspections/ 
There are numerous portable or handheld options and fixed-mount solutions, depending on the need for 24 x 7 monitoring of critical equipment.

How safe are your instruments for use in electrical substations?
Thermal cameras can give precise readings from a safe distance of even 100 meters without touching the equipment or requiring a shutdown, making them a safe option to use in the field.
Which new products and solutions do you offer to minimise power outages and maintain voltage fluctuation in electrical units and transformers?
For electrical utilities, we have multiple innovations. To start with, for all electrical utilities, we have a new product called Si124-PD. The FLIR Si124-PD is an easy-to-use, stand-alone system for detecting partial discharge problems in high-voltage electrical systems.
This lightweight, one-handed solution is designed to help engineering professionals identify issues up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. With 124 microphones, the Si124-PD produces a precise acoustic image that visually displays ultrasonic information, even in loud environments and long distances.
The acoustic image is overlaid in real-time on a digital camera picture, which allows the user to pinpoint the source of the sound accurately. Users can then apply the FLIR Severity Assessment analysis to classify the severity of the issue and provide guidance on recommended actions to resolve the problem.

For transmission utilities, we have a product called T1020. With its remarkable range, up to 3.1 M resolution (UltraMax®), and an elegant, new user interface, Teledyne FLIR’s flagship T1020 is designed to streamline your workday and make you the hero. For the sharpest images, the truest temperatures, and the most flexibility, the T1020 is the ultimate result of five decades of infrared expertise. The FLIR T1020 comes with onboard Inspection Route mode, so you can download and survey plans to your camera from FLIR Thermal Studio Pro with the Route Creator plugin (3-month subscription included). The T1020 has a 120° rotating optical block and bright, high-resolution LCD viewfinder, putting any target within comfortable viewing range and offering an agile new GUI that responds like a smartphone, plus live image enhancements such as 1-Touch Level and Span. The FLIR OSX™ Precision HDIR optical system for transmission utilities, we have a product called T1020. With its remarkable range, up to 3.1 M resolution (UltraMax®), and an elegant, new user interface, Teledyne FLIR’s flagship T1020 is designed to streamline your workday and make you the hero. For the sharpest images, the truest temperatures, and the most flexibility, the T1020 is the ultimate result of five decades of infrared expertise. The FLIR T1020 comes with onboard Inspection Route mode, so you can download and survey plans to your camera from FLIR Thermal Studio Pro with the Route Creator plugin (3-month subscription included). The T1020 has a 120° rotating optical block and bright, high-resolution LCD viewfinder, putting any target within comfortable viewing range and offering an agile new GUI that responds like a smartphone, plus live image enhancements such as 1-Touch Level and Span. The FLIR OSX^TM Precision HDIR optical system provides continuous autofocus and crisp resolution for precise measurements even at a distance.
For more details visit: https://www.flir.in/