The importance of monitoring electrical equipment to ensure stable and safe operation cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining the reliability and efficiency of power systems. Over the years, with the continuous advancement and widespread adoption of online monitoring technology in China’s power system, condition-based maintenance has gradually replaced traditional periodic inspections. This shift has not only been recognized by the industry but has also become an essential trend in modern equipment maintenance strategies.
Historically, China's power grid relied heavily on scheduled maintenance, where equipment was tested and serviced at fixed intervals. However, this approach often led to unnecessary overhauls and inefficiencies. As the nature of equipment defects has evolved, so too have the monitoring techniques—online partial discharge monitoring, chromatographic analysis, and SF6 gas quality monitoring have gained increasing attention. Starting from 2010, the State Grid Corporation of China emphasized the full-scale implementation of condition-based maintenance, aiming to enhance equipment intelligence, promote smart technologies, and achieve real-time safety warnings and intelligent monitoring.
Online monitoring technology refers to systems and tools that can be directly installed on power equipment to continuously track its operational status in real time. These systems typically integrate advanced sensor technology, computer processing, communication networks, expert analysis modules, and comprehensive data libraries, making them highly effective for fault detection and predictive maintenance.
For example, in smart substations, online monitoring covers a wide range of functions, including capacitance and dielectric loss monitoring for capacitive devices, full-current and resistive current monitoring for metal oxide arresters, transformer oil condition monitoring, fiber-optic temperature monitoring, ultra-high-frequency partial discharge detection, dielectric loss measurement, on-load tap changer dynamic monitoring, GIS ultra-high-frequency monitoring, micro-water detection, switch mechanical characteristics analysis, and SF6 gas density tracking.
The growing investment in online monitoring solutions reflects strong market demand. First, state-owned power companies have committed to implementing condition-based maintenance and building smart grids, leading to stricter requirements for grid reliability. Online monitoring has thus become an essential component. Second, both new substation construction and the retrofitting of existing infrastructure provide significant market opportunities. Third, the trend is shifting from single-product monitoring to integrated substation monitoring systems. Additionally, with the expansion of power equipment and a shortage of field personnel, grid operators increasingly rely on online monitoring to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.
From the bidding trends of the State Grid Corporation, it is clear that the online monitoring market is primarily focused on smart substation applications. The State Grid has included substation condition monitoring as a key element in its smart grid development plan. Intelligent substations can monitor critical equipment and parameters such as transformer oil chromatography, partial discharges in combined electrical apparatus, and lightning arrester full currents through state monitoring units. This provides foundational data for equipment management and enables real-time status analysis, supporting self-diagnosis capabilities within the station.
Several listed companies are actively involved in power equipment online monitoring, including Siyuan Electric, Polytechnic Monitor, and Tianwei New Area (with Tianwei Baoding holding a 30% stake). These companies are playing a vital role in shaping the future of smart grid technologies and enhancing the performance of power systems across China.
Wedge Anchor
Wedge Anchor
Hebei Qianmu Fastener Manufacturing Co., Ltd , https://www.qmjgjfasteners.com