APPLICATION OF THERMAL IMAGING IN ASSESSMENT OF EQUIPMENT IN POWER PLANTS
Reliable and quality supply of electricity is a basic requirement that consumers of electricity place in front the power system. The reliability of the power system is to a large extent affected by the state the of high-voltage equipment in the substations. Characteristics of the high-voltage equipment are irreversibly changing during operation due to a number of factors. Economically most appropriate methods for assessing the condition of the equipment are the ones implemented without supply interruption. Although less reliable, their use can provide a preliminary picture of the equipment state based on which further steps are undertaken, such as implementation of field and laboratory tests. Thermal imaging (thermography) testing is a procedure that is increasingly used in the monitoring of the elements of high voltage substations. This paper presents the basic principles of the thermal imaging, the results of inspection of certain power plants in operation, as well as the issues of occupational health and safety of the workers.