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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_SHET_0019
Title	Automatic Thermovision Surveys (ACTS)
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 April 2016
End Date	01 July 2017
Duration	15 months
Total Grant Value	£141,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	Scotland
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD) (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SHET_0019
Objectives	The objectives for the project are;; To complete a field based trial of the thermal imaging system at Tealing substation; gather the data from the winter period and compare to data obtained from manual thermovisual inspection. ; Develop preferred system settings and rule based condition monitoring for SVCs. ; Evaluate the system’s suitability as a condition monitoring tool for BAU adoption and its impact on asset management. The project will be successful if it can be determined whether or not the fully automated thermal survey system is able to provide timely and accurate condition monitoring for improved asset management efficiencies. Successful evaluation of the system’s performance on an operational SVC is key to the overall success of the project.
Abstract	A requirement of SHE Transmission asset management procedures is to complete a live thermovision survey of all exposed substation busbars at least once annually. These surveys are undertaken to identify hot spots which could lead to failures if undetected. Surveys are ideally undertaken during winter months when loads are high and thermal differentials are at their highest; however surveys cannot be undertaken when it is wet or sunny. The surveys are therefore rarely undertaken under ideal conditions and hot spots may be missed. The Static Var Compensator (SVC) at Tealing and Beauly substations is surrounded by high wooden fences because of large magnetic fields and personnel cannot enter the compounds when the equipment is live to carry out a thermovision survey. This combination makes it virtually impossible to complete a thermovision survey under load on these assets. SVCs are high value assets c. £12m each, which operate at high temperatures and are therefore susceptible to thermal faults. This project will install a fully automated thermovision survey system by the use of pan tilt zoom (PTZ) thermal imaging cameras and system management software to store data and issue alerts if any fault conditions are met. The PTZ thermal imaging cameras are installed in positions where they can be moved to bring all equipment required to be surveyed into the field of view. The system will be programmed to follow pre-defined routes along connection points measuring the temperature at each position. The system is designed to operate completely unattended. When combined with system management software, each camera is capable of monitoring multiple regions of interest and performing an automated "tour" of the substation with unique alarms checked at each tour stop. Image frames can be acquired at scheduled intervals rather than continuously or viewed live via web based access. Acquisition can also be triggered remotely or by temperature alarms tied to individual regions of interest and communicated via the security bureau.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	10/07/18