Modern industries use high-voltage electrical systems to power everything from manufacturing facilities to data centers. If not detected, partial discharge can degrade insulation, cause equipment failure, and lead to costly downtime. Of all the tools used to detect PD, one of the most effective is the ultrasonic partial discharge detector.

Ultrasonic detectors allow maintenance teams to detect and fix electrical defects and flaws early and stop them from leading to full-scale failures. These innovative devices are a must-have for industries that rely on equipment with a high voltage to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency.

In this blog, we will explore the industries that most benefit from a partial discharge ultrasonic detector and how these industries use them to maintain uninterrupted operation.

Power Generation and Distribution

Power generation and electrical networks use equipment that is prone to insulation degradation over time. Partial discharge in power cables, switchgear, transformers, and circuit breakers leads to inefficiency and failure.

How They Help

Avoid Transformer Failures: PD detection ensures that insulation defects are found early on and avoided.

Minimizes Power Outages: Power blackouts are minimized by detecting PD in switchgear and substations.

Ensure Grid Reliability: Continuous monitoring ensures an efficient and reliable electricity supply.

Real-life example: Utilities employ ultrasonic detectors to perform routine inspections on substations to identify PD activity before it develops into equipment failure that can trigger wide-scale blackouts.

Manufacturing and Heavy Industry

Industrial equipment and manufacturing plants rely on equipment at high voltage to stay in operation. PD can occur in motors, control panels, and electrical cabinet windings, leading to unscheduled downtime and costly repair.

How They Help

Avoid Downtime on Equipment: Preventive maintenance through early detection of PD avoids equipment downtime.

Improving Workplace Safety: Detection of electrical defects lowers equipment fires and arc flashes.

Increase Energy Efficiency: Reduced electrical losses mean lower energy expenses and greater sustainability.

Actual example: The plant uses ultrasonic detectors to inspect its switchgear and high-voltage motors, which allow it to catch potential issues early and avoid costly production shutdowns.

Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas sector operates under severe conditions where electrical failures can be disastrous. Offshore platforms, treatment plants, and refineries require uninterrupted electrical power to power safety equipment, drilling equipment, and refining processes.

What They Gain

Avoid Costly Shutdowns: Early PD detection prevents costly shutdowns in risky conditions.

Explosion Prevention is enhanced: Electrical fault detection reduces sparking, resulting in fire in explosive environments.

Maximise Equipment Longevity: Avoid premature insulation failure by regular PD monitoring.

Actual example: An ultrasonic PD detector is used in an offshore drilling rig to inspect electrical equipment so that failures that would otherwise cause costly shutdowns in drilling activities are avoided.

Aerospace and Defense

High-voltage electrical systems are critical in aerospace and defense applications, from aircraft power distribution to radar in the military. Breakdowns in electrical insulation in such systems can compromise safety and mission success.

How They Help

Ensure Reliability of Aircraft: Detection of PD in electrical equipment guarantees safe and effective aircraft operation.

Strengthen Defense Infrastructure: Military bases use PD detection to augment radar and communication systems.

Minimizes Maintenance Expenditures: Preventive maintenance through PD monitoring prolongs the lifespan of critical electrical equipment.

Real-World Example: Aerospace firms use ultrasonic detectors to scan aircraft wiring and high-voltage components to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

Data Centers and IT Infrastructure

The data centers have millions of dollars worth of servers and networking equipment that always need power. Any electrical failure due to PD can result in downtime and loss of data as well as revenue loss.

How They Help

Avoiding Server Downtime through Early Detection of PD in UPS Systems and Switchgear

Increase System Reliability for Cooling: PD detection guarantees that electrical components in cooling systems are defect-free.

Optimize Power Efficiency: Electrical fault detection conserves power and operational costs.

Actual example: A significant cloud provider uses ultrasonic PD detectors to survey its power infrastructure and reduce the likelihood of costly service downtime.

Railway and Transport

High-voltage systems are used by rail networks, metro systems, and electric vehicles to power their operation. Insulation breakdown in these systems results in train delays, electrical fires, and safety hazards.

How They Help

Ensure Safe and Reliable Transport: Preventing PD in traction systems eliminates sudden train stoppages.

Increase Passenger Safety: Electrical defects are identified to reduce underground metro train fire risks.

Minimizes Emergency Repair Requirements: PD monitoring regularly minimizes emergency repair needs.

Actual example: The business uses ultrasonic detectors to identify overhead power substations and power line insulation and prevent sudden power outages.

Healthcare and Medical Facilities

The functioning of medical laboratories and hospitals depends on high-voltage power for medical equipment such as MRI machines, ventilators, and life support. Sudden electrical failure can be life-threatening.

How They Help

Ensure a Sustained Power Supply: Early diagnosis of PD avoids power outages in ICUs and ORs.

Extend the life of medical equipment: Electrical insulation monitoring protects delicate medical equipment.

Enhance Patient Safety: Removing electrical hazards guarantees patients and staff a safe working and treatment environment.

Actual example: A hospital installs ultrasonic PD detectors in its backup power systems to maintain a continuous power supply to critical care departments.

Properly caring for partial discharge ultrasonic detectors leads to precisely detecting electrical insulation faults because of their optimal functioning. Regular calibration should take place to preserve sensitivity precision, while early insulation breakdown detection can suffer from minor calibration errors. Ultrasonic signal detection can be protected from interference by adequately cleaning the device’s sensor and microphone from dust or debris.

A functional detector depends on battery checks and software updates to function efficiently by providing real-time diagnostic information without system interruptions. Devices should undergo periodic tests on known PD sources to measure operational effectiveness, and the storage environment should maintain controlled conditions that shield PD hardware from harsh temperature and moisture conditions.

The preventative maintenance system prolongs detector operation while delivering dependable fault identification during system voltage phases through its organized maintenance scheduling approach. Partial discharge is a concealed threat that can lead to equipment failure, operation downtime, and safety hazards. Does your company have protection from electrical failures? Contact the experts today to learn more about ultrasonic PD detection and how it can help protect your company and improve system reliability!