Monitoring of states and preventive maintenance [of distribution networks]

GEC Alsthom T&D is satisfying the increasing demand for monitoring of states by the use of modern sensors made intelligent and capable of communication by means of electronic progress. These sensors are used for a wide variety of purposes including temperature measurements and the measurement of magnitudes such as the rate of movement of breaking devices useful for preventive maintenance, and are placed at judicious locations within medium voltage distribution cubicles. Information output from these sensors may be transmitted directly in “on-off” form, or in coded form through a standard field bus. Communicating remote inputs-outputs are used for this purpose. Remote inputs-outputs can be configured by software, by an operator without computer experience. This software is installed onsite, and displays the state of breaking devices and can also remotely control them. The preventive maintenance plan is adapted as a function of information originating from these sensors. This adaptation can be done by specialists in the factory who make use of the remote contents of a database updated by information originating from these sensors