Beyond the basics of condition monitoring

In the previous article, published in Volume 4 Issue 1, we reviewed the basics of an effective condition monitoring program: the forethought, planning and response required for success. Condition monitoring can provide signifcant benefts and value, but to achieve a return, it must truly be part of the organization – it is not an isolated technical challenge but an integrated component of the overall organizational asset management strategy. This article will go beyond the basics, diving into detail around proactive risk management and the specifc questions teams need to ask themselves to make informed and confdent decisions

Think of a number…

An asset health index (AHI) summarises a lot of disparate data into a single value in order to estimate the condition of the asset, such as a transformer. The big question is: does everyone understand what the AHI really means? Technical information used to derive an AHI is lost. At the same time, looking at the AHI value, the end-user can get a feeling that they know all they need to know, which sometimes can be misleading

Condition monitoring: Dissolved Gas Analysis for transformer health management

Complex studies have led to the development of powerful methods to assess the health of the insulation system, and even the entire transformer, by periodically analyzing samples of the transformer oil. By far the most important of these diagnostic methods is dissolved gas analysis (DGA), which was introduced in the 1960s. Our ability to measure and interpret the dissolved gases has improved tremendously over the last 50 years

Digital twin reliability

Digital twins, reflecting physical assets, rely on rigorous data accuracy, clear purpose, and continuous validation. This column delves into potential pitfalls, including data security and model maintenance, emphasizing the balance between model and reality

Data dilemma

The transformer under investigation was the Federal Pioneer 230/72kV, 83 MVA autotransformer unit, which was one of two ‘merchant’ units serving an international tie-line. The SFRA tests were performed, and the results were inconsistent. Careful application of the ABC rule (Assume nothing, Believe nobody, Check everything) eventually solved the problem