Deploying Thermal Cameras to Your Utility's Best Advantage: A Two-Pronged Approach

摘要

A top-to-bottom integrated IR program for utility PM and PdM that puts the appropriate thermal technology into the right hands across the board is becoming the new industry norm. Most public utilities already have a dedicated IR team within their predictive maintenance program using advanced IR cameras for regular substation surveys. In addition, more and more utilities today are putting affordable, point-and-shoot thermal cameras into the hands of linemen and troublemen, the frontline of defense, giving them the ability to perform quick scans and safety checks on energized equipment from a safe distance. This not only helps avoid potential hazardous situations found during inspection or maintenance, it also helps teams catch anomalies sooner that may warrant further investigation either by the technician on site or by thermography groups with higher resolution cameras. Catching these problems early on permits cost- and time-effective repairs to be made, avoids downtime or possible failure, and thus increases both the bottom line and public confidence.