Why Monitoring Partial Discharge in Electrical Equipment is Essential?
Electricity is a crucial part of our life, while we may not spare time to ponder on that thought, it certainly plays a critical role in our lives. With that being said, even a few minutes of interruption or worse power outage can result in hefty loss.No utility company wants to endure that. This is why, when it comes to the world of electrical engineering, ensuring efficiency and safety of equipment is paramount. One of the crucial aspects of it that often goes under the radar however it deserves much attention is partial discharge monitoring in insulated electrical assets.In this blog, we will focus on why monitoring of partial discharge in electrical equipment should matter. Read on to learn about its importance.
What is Partial Discharge?
Before we even begin to decipher the importance of partial discharge, let us understand what is actually partial discharge. In layman terms, it can be described as a miniscule spark that occurs within the insulation material of the electrical equipment.While this tiny activity feels harmless initially, not paying attention can quickly lead to failure risks in insulated electrical equipment. In fact, PD can be traced to be one of the primary root causes behind failures in such equipment.
What Triggers Partial Discharge Activity?
Now, you may wonder what exactly triggers PD activity in the first place? Here’s a breakdown -The insulated material of electrical equipment acts as a protective element that safeguards the conductive parts from unwanted interactions. But there are many factors that impact this material and make insulation imperfect. These factors include impurities in the material, ageing, mechanical stress, etc.When voltage is applied, these imperfections transform into hotspots ultimately triggering PD events. While PD activity may look small, it can definitely weaken the entire structure.
Reasons Why PD Monitoring Becomes Important
Monitoring of partial discharge becomes more than necessary. Some of the compelling reasons are –
Catastrophic Failure Prevention: PD activity might trigger with small impact but if left unchecked it can quickly be the reason behind causing major issues. Regular monitoring, especially real-time data can help catch these early signs before any escalations. Therefore, preventing the situation from turning into catastrophic failures.Ensures Reliability: Sudden failure equipment only happens due to lack of proper PD monitoring. Failure risks during extreme weather conditions only doubles when PD activity is not tracked. With consistent PD monitoring, you can ensure your equipment’s reliability throughout its service.
Prolonged Equipment Lifespan: PD monitoring at regular intervals helps to keep your equipments’ health in check. This means you extend their lifespan which helps in reducing maintenance and repair costs.The Middle East Energy Exhibition 2024 is approaching fast and one of the exhibitors of the event, Dutco Tennant will feature a cable partial discharge monitoring system. This product is by their partner Ampacimon and part of their patented solution – BlueBOX Technology.
The system is capable of tracking online PD activity consistently producing real-time data that enhances the monitoring process. Make your way to their Booth D10, Hall 5 from 16-18 April in Dubai World Trade Centre where you can meet the partner and discuss more on partial discharge and their solution to control its triggers.
