The importance of monitoring electrical equipment to ensure its stable and safe operation cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the reliability and security of power systems. With the continuous advancement and widespread adoption of online monitoring technology, especially in China's power system in recent years, condition-based maintenance has gradually replaced traditional periodic inspections. This shift is now widely accepted and recognized within the industry, marking a clear trend in modern equipment maintenance strategies.
For many years, China's power system relied on a scheduled maintenance approach, where equipment was tested and maintained based on fixed time intervals. However, this method had limitations, such as unnecessary overhauls and inefficiencies. As the nature of equipment defects evolved, online monitoring for partial discharges, gas chromatography, and SF6 quality began to gain traction. In 2010, the State Grid Corporation of China officially emphasized the need to promote condition-based maintenance comprehensively. The goal was to enhance equipment intelligence, integrate smart technologies, and achieve real-time safety warnings and intelligent monitoring of power equipment.
Online monitoring technology for power equipment refers to measurement and diagnostic systems that can be directly installed on the equipment to continuously record its operational status in real time. These systems typically consist of advanced sensor technology, computer data processing, communication networks, expert analysis systems, and a comprehensive database of equipment information.
In substation primary equipment, several online monitoring systems are commonly used. These include capacitance and dielectric loss monitoring for capacitive devices, full-current and resistive current monitoring for metal oxide arresters, transformer oil monitoring, fiber-optic temperature monitoring, ultra-high-frequency partial discharge monitoring, dielectric loss monitoring, on-load switch dynamic characteristic monitoring, GIS ultra-high-frequency monitoring, micro-water monitoring, mechanical characteristics monitoring of switches, optical fiber temperature monitoring for switchgear, and SF6 gas density monitoring.
The investment value in the field of online monitoring for power equipment is becoming increasingly evident. The demand for online monitoring products is expected to grow steadily. First, state-owned grid companies have committed to implementing condition-based maintenance and building smart grids, leading to stricter requirements for grid reliability. Online monitoring has become an essential part of the infrastructure. Second, beyond new substation construction, there is also significant potential in upgrading existing facilities. Third, the trend is shifting from single-product monitoring to integrated substation monitoring systems. Additionally, with the increasing number of power equipment and a shortage of personnel, the grid increasingly relies on online monitoring solutions to improve operational efficiency.
From the perspective of the State Grid Corporation’s procurement activities, the current market for online monitoring products is primarily focused on smart substations. The State Grid has included substation condition monitoring systems as a key component in its smart grid development plan. Intelligent substations can monitor critical equipment and parameters such as transformer oil chromatography, partial discharges in combined appliances, and full current in surge arresters through state monitoring units. This provides essential data support for grid management. Real-time status information, after analysis by an expert system, enables initial decision-making and supports self-diagnosis capabilities of intelligent devices within the substation.
Companies involved in online monitoring of power equipment include Siyuan Electric, Polytechnic Monitor, and Tianwei New Area (Tianwei Baoding holds a 30% stake).
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