Digital transformation helps improve the operational efficiency of transmission grid in the South Central - Central Highlands region

Power Transmission Company 3 (PTC 3) is managing and operating the transmission grid of 9 provinces in the South Central region - Duyen Hai and the Central Highlands. Over the past years, the unit has applied many scientific and technological achievements, digital transformation to improve operational efficiency.

Using technology to replace human power

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Thang, Director of PTC 3, renewable energy power plants in the South Central region, the Coastal region, the Central Highlands and hydroelectric power plants are generating high load to the grids, which has caused the transmission grids managed and operated by PTC 3 operate at full load and overload, the risk of breakdown due to high generating heat.

Image of AI camera recognizing fire smoke near the transmission line corridor under management by PTC 3

In order to prevent problems in operational management, PTC 3 has applied UAVs equipped with thermal cameras capable of generating heat, which has brought a number of effects such as: helping operators quickly check hard-to-reach places such as conductor joints in the middle of columns over mountains, lakes; completely inspecting points at risk of heat generation in the substations, detecting heat generation points at many aspects, short testing time, full coverage, shortening the time of heat generation measurement compared to handheld thermoscope, and so on. 

Another application deployed by PTC 3 is to successfully assemble and test a device running on conductors to clean the grease and dirt outside the surface of the  Tuy Hoa - Nha Trang 220kV transmission line (circuit 2). When deploying this device, the conductor is cleaned of grease and dirt outside, helping to reduce power loss, improve labor productivity compared to manual options. In addition, the application limits the risk of unsafety when PTC 3 workers perform the cleaning for the wires.

Electrical technicians of PTC 3 looking up the circuit breaker records  of 232 Krongbuk 220kV circuit breakers by QR code

AI application for image recognition

In order to improve the capacity of the management force in operating the line, promptly identifying potential factors that can cause grid failures, PTC 3 has used AI smoke and fire alarming cameras to help monitor the system a wide range, operate continuously 24/7, automatically alerting signals to smart mobile phones to let the operator know about it.

Technological solutions using AI, with outstanding features to help proactively manage and operate the transmission grid in fire prevention and fighting.

The image of people entering and leaving the headquarters is recognized and transmitted to the screen at the security guard room

In addition, AI application has been used by PTC 3 in temperature monitoring of unmanned equipment at  Quy Nhon 220kV Substation; facial recognition to monitor people entering and leaving unmanned substations at  Van Phong 220kV Substation; Facial recognition with an integrated temperature sensor at PTC 3 headquarters has shown efficiency in the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic.


  • 02/01/2022 09:33
  • evn.com.vn
  • 243