Online thermography can reduce the risk of electrical disruption and cut maintenance costs. Thermography is a technique that makes it possible to detect thermal energy in a given area using infrared radiation, which is an electromagnetic frequency band, and to identify different temperature levels. Today, thermography plays a very important role in the area of preventive maintenance, since through its use it is possible to identify and program the elimination of possible production stoppage problems and even possible failures in electrical installations, for example.

Thermographic inspections of electrical panels detect the infrared rays emitted by electrical components, busbars, connections and other materials that may be heated. For this reason, thermographic inspections of electrical systems are widely used, since they allow a diagnosis of the electrical panel, bringing safety to maintenance services and mitigating risks predictively.

Castellane Ferreira from Varixx, a power electronics manufacturer, explains that there are currently two main types of thermography, qualitative and quantitative. “Qualitative thermography is a method of diagnosing the distribution of heat using thermal imaging, not exclusively temperature values. Through qualitative analysis, it is possible to effectively interpret and identify the temperature difference between points on a piece of equipment for problems such as thermal insulation deficiencies, failures in mechanical transmissions and bearings, problems in electrical cable insulation and other malfunctions that can be recognized through the temperature difference.

As for quantitative thermography, he adds that it is possible to define the level of gravity generated by the heating of the material or surface in numerical values. It is widely used in predictive analysis of electrical panels, as temperature is one of the main signs of failure in these systems.

However, Varixx has decided to innovate and bring yet another generation of these sensors, through online thermography, which is replacing manual measuring guns and conventional thermographic cameras, since the new NR-10 standards, Safety in Electrical Installations and Services, inhibit the opening of energized electrical panels for any category of measurement.

In this option, a given system monitors temperatures remotely, most of the time without contacting buses or electrical power components. These systems are made up of at least one network of sensors, which take temperature measurements of the desired targets and then send the data to the relay, which can connect to other systems and databases, in line with the transformations and innovations proposed by the advent of Industry 4.0.

“Problems occurring in switchboards, motor control centers or other electrical installations are usually caused by oxidized connections, such as tightening problems, overloads, component failures or even natural vibration in electrical drive panels and the opening of contactors and circuit breakers. Using online thermography, it is possible to diagnose problems related even to the design of the installation, the lack of preventive maintenance and imperfections during assembly that were not diagnosed during commissioning, all of which cause electrical equipment to overheat,” explains Ferreira.

Furthermore, when applied to high, medium and low voltage electrical systems such as substations, transmission lines and transformers, it becomes an essential item in predictive maintenance programs, as it identifies potential failures in these systems.

In this way, Zyggot Temperature, the name given to Varixx's newest online thermography system, dispenses conventional thermography, avoiding the opening of an energized panel, increasing safety, minimizing damage to equipment and protecting workers' lives.

Among the benefits offered are cost savings, as it reduces the number of corrective maintenance jobs and the risk of an unplanned electrical outage, identifying and correcting hot spots in a planned manner, providing safety for employees, as it eliminates the need to open the energized panel to perform thermography, among other advantages.

“These are some of the values that the innovations in Varixx's Zyggot range can add when it comes to protecting human capital and assets, especially for large consumers of electricity and those who need reliability and an uninterrupted supply of electricity. It's solutions like this that strengthen Varixx's pioneering characteristics on the world market,” he concludes.

About Varixx: Varixx is a leading Brazilian manufacturer of solutions for power electronics, semiconductors and LED lighting. Holder of numerous technological patents, the company has been reinventing itself in recent decades based on three pillars: safer environments, intelligent operations and responsible production.