Dak Nong Power Transmission is managing and operating more than 537km of 220kV - 500kV lines stretching across the province locality, most of them passing through mountainous, rugged locations, with many deep abysses, with 2 voltage stations with a total capacity of 1,600MVA.
Talking to reporters from Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Hung Cuong, Deputy Director of Dak Nong Power Transmission, said: "UAVs installed with thermal sensor cameras can observe inspection objects at a close distance, thus the inspection results are very reliable, especially for locations that are hidden, it is difficult to reach by standing measurement on the ground, or where there is no convenient measurement location.
With the application of the UAVs, the unit has detected and promptly handled high-heat incidents; thereby planning, monitoring, replacing, and promptly preventing the risk of transmission grid incidents due to broken wires or porcelain, contributing to ensuring stable, safe, and continuous power supply.
Control UAVs with thermal sensor camera, analyzing results and recording images at scene. Photo: H.T
In 2023, with the application of such UAVs, Dak Nong Power Transmission detected and promptly handled 2 dangerous contact points of the 220kV Dak Hoa - Dak Nong line; 3 strings of Composite insulators on the Pleiku 2 - Chon Thanh 500V line and 5 strings of Composite insulators on the Pleiku - Dak Nong 500V line with high heat generation.
In addition to using the UAVs, member units of Power Transmission Company No. 3 (PTC3) have also installed AI camera systems at many key locations, thereby saving a lot of manpower and improving efficiency in inspection and supervision.
For example, at Phu Yen Power Transmission, AI image-processing cameras have been installed on top-of-line posts in some special locations. Mr. Tran Dinh Tho, Deputy Director of Phu Yen Power Transmission Company, said that the unit has actively focused on applying scientific and technological achievements and digital transformation applications to operational management, thereby saving nearly half the time and labor compared to manual inspection methods, practically improving efficiency and increasing labor productivity.
At Tuy Hoa 220kV Substation, the unit is applying a management system using smart devices, along with using electronic operating log books on the PMIS system, completely eliminating paper books, saving costs, storage space, optimizing interaction among operators, direct inspection and technical management departments, improve the quality of equipment inspection.
Phu Yen Power Transmission workers installing safety surveillance cameras at intersections with North-South expressway. Photo: H.T
Sharing with reporters from Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Dinh Van Cuong - Deputy Director of PTC3 said: The entire unit determined to apply scientific and technological achievements in operation management and investment, construction investment is of decisive significance.
Therefore, recently PTC3 has completed the database, ensuring correct and complete data on the system; completed conversion of 220kV substations to unmanned mode as planned; applying AI in image processing and recognizing technology; data is collected fully, accurately, and ready for the application of Big data and AI technologies; application of UAV flying equipment in line operation management, installation of cameras using solar energy at key locations of transmission lines, GIS maps, etc., especially for lines that are frequently operated at full load or overload have applied UAV’s with thermal cameras with capability of detecting heat emission in the management and operation of these lines.
The movement of research and application of science and technology is always focused on, in which a number of topics independently researched by PTC3 have been widely applied such as the scientific topic of cleaning power substations with high-pressure water; project of researching and building a substation management system using smart devices, and so on.