Monitoring harmonic levels are critical for transformer efficiency

When emphasising the necessity of maintaining transformer efficiency, Prabhakaran P.V., Product Management Head at Fluke India, emphasises that overloading and harmonic circumstances can heat network components and cables, further degrading transformer quality and performance.
How are advanced T&M instruments adding efficiency to power equipment performance?
Test and measurement are important functions for any engineer to ensure the best quality and quantity from design to production to maintenance. So, using accurate and reliable T&M products in every stage of product development and deployment is critical. Especially in the power and energy industries, small measurement errors and uncertainties can cause a larger impact on the energy losses and performance of accurate and reliable T&M products in every stage of product development and deployment. Especially in the power and energy industries, small measurement errors and uncertainties can cause a larger impact on the energy losses and performance of accurate and reliable T&M products in every stage of product development and deployment. Especially in the power and energy industries, small measurement errors and uncertainties can have a large impact on energy losses and asset performance. Appropriate T&M instruments with the right methods of measurement and practices can reduce such uncertainties and errors and improve equipment performance and reliability.
Which monitoring solutions are required to maintain and manage load conditions in power transformers and electrical units?
The power transformer is a critical component in a power network, and it is beneficial to regularly monitor multiple conditions and parameters of the transformers. Apart from basic parameters like voltage, current, and frequency, the power factor, loading conditions, demand, and load patterns are vital to monitor load management. With power electronics loads coming into the system and Greentech solutions being a part of the network, it is advisable to monitor and verify the power quality conditions at the PCC levels for every customer. High harmonic levels in the network can degrade the performance and life of transformers and other network components. If unchecked, such situations can lead to catastrophic failures of costly parts and assets. This led to enormous losses for the utility and the users alike.

Apart from monitoring direct load and power quality conditions, it is good to have temperature monitoring of the transformers. Temperature variations may warn the technicians and engineers early to take corrective action. Both overloading and harmonic conditions can heat network components and cables.
What measures have you taken to ensure optimum power and electrical safety through your T&M products?
No T&M equipment alone can ensure optimum power and electrical safety. T&M instruments can help the authorities take appropriate actions by providing the correct information. However, Fluke designs and manufactures the entire range of products according to the highest specified standards and gets the products tested by multiple agencies for their safety, reliability, and accuracy. So, Fluke products give the user confidence to use any of their instruments in an electrical system where potentially dangerous voltages and currents are always present. Fluke has a range of products, from earth and insulation testers to power quality and PD testers. Choosing the right tools and adopting correct maintenance practices can help the utilities ensure optimum power and electrical safety.
Which innovations are underway to support India’s need for uninterrupted power supply in smart cities?
Fluke is working on various sensing technologies that can help the green technology segment in a significant way by improving efficiency and performance. Going forward, smart cities will face many more challenges from the quality of power than from the availability of power. We have also launched a few products to address such challenges in the solar and EV segments. There are many such innovations in the pipeline, and we are sure that engineers and technicians will soon find Flue the preferred and safest product for their challenges and day-to-day work.

Which products and solutions do you offer to minimise power outages and maintain voltage fluctuation in electrical units and transformers?
Power outages and voltage fluctuations can happen due to various reasons, like improper designs, maintenance issues, the reliability of components, natural calamities, etc. What we offer are effective T&M tools to monitor the conditions of electrical and physical parameters like temperature, etc. Fluke power quality analysers and recorders are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and meet the latest standards like IEEE 519-2014 and IEC 61000-4-30 Ed3. These power quality analysers can detect voltage fluctuations and various other events occurring within sub-cycle or microsecond time intervals.
Similarly, partial discharge in high-voltage lines and components can create a “spot and lead to failures and prolonged outages. We have introduced state-of-the-art acoustic imagers, which can safely detect partial discharges from a distance without shutting down any systems. This technology is becoming preferred for partial discharge detection, even in India. Early detection and elimination of partial discharges in the systems can not only avoid outages but also prolong the life of costly assets.
Using precisely designed earth testers and designing and maintaining good electrical earth in the electrical system also goes a long way toward maintaining the reliability and output of the power utility. Fluke earth testers can help engineers assess soil resistivity, design appropriate grounding systems, and maintain them in the long run. Using Fluke products with best practices can help customers improve their facilities to world-class standards.
For more details visit: https://www.fluke.com/en-in