Remote sensing technology is fundamental when it comes to providing greater reliability and efficiency to electrical systems.
With population growth and the expansion of cities, there has been an increase in energy demand over the years, making generation, transmission, and distribution operations increasingly complex. One of the innovations that assist in revolutionizing predictive maintenance of grids, easing the work of concessionaire , is remote sensing.
This technology allows real-time monitoring of the conditions of the equipment constituting the electrical grid, as well as providing information about its integrity, allowing for fault prediction and anomaly identification.
Such data facilitates quick predictive and corrective actions, preventing larger problems from seriously affecting the system, or at least mitigating these issues. In a scenario where interruptions in electricity supply are unacceptable, remote sensing emerges as an indispensable tool to ensure reliable supply of electricity to homes, businesses, and industries.
Benefits of Remote Sensing
Real-Time Monitoring: Remote sensing technology allows assets of electrical grids, such as transmission lines and transformers, to be constantly monitored. This facility provides control to utilities, which can check the condition of equipment at any moment and act more quickly, efficiently, and assertively in the face of faults or imminent risk of them.
Anomaly Detection: Remote sensing can detect anomalies in the grid, such as temperature variations, vibrations, voltage fluctuations, frequency, and abnormal currents. Analyzing the collected information, preventive maintenance can be scheduled to prevent larger problems from developing.
Fault Prediction: Combining sensor technology with data analysis allows the creation of algorithms capable of predicting potential system failures, facilitating the work of maintenance teams and avoiding interruptions in energy supply.
Preventive Maintenance: As mentioned in the previous points, the ability to monitor the conditions of the grid in real-time allows for predictive or preventive maintenance, both of which are more desirable than cases of corrective maintenance, saving resources and extending equipment life.
Cost Reduction: Early identification of problems avoids unscheduled interruptions, reducing costs, including operational expenses, emergency repair costs, potential fines for supply interruptions, and loss of revenue during the interruption period.
Increased Reliability: By ensuring the good condition of grid assets, it is possible to better meet the growing energy demands, maintaining continuity in supply and increasing system reliability.
Power Quality: Proper asset management, aided by remote sensing, also helps ensure uninterrupted power supply quality and the proper balance between power flow, generation, and load, mitigating issues such as unexpected abrupt variations (such as long-duration voltage variations – VTLDs), ensuring that grids quality indicators (FEC, DEC, FIC, DIC, DICRI, and DMIC) are decreasing.
Safety: Early warnings about hazardous conditions in the grid reduce risks for maintenance teams performing repairs.
There are several benefits brought to electrical systems with the implementation of predictive sensing. Expansion requires technological innovation, and with the increasing energy demand, these tend to emerge more and more, fostering future Smart Grids and Smart Cities scenarios.