“Taking Pulses” by Night, Guarding Coolness for Every Household

At 8 p.m. on July 15, the night grew thicker in the mountainous area of Lin’an. Chen Lu, a special patrol officer from the Second Transmission Inspection Team of State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company, and his colleagues were busy under the 78th iron tower of the 110kV Longgang Line, holding flashlights. An infrared thermometer was pointed at the connection of the iron tower, with numbers constantly jumping on the display screen. “The temperature of the phase A wire clamp is 32.5℃, which is normal,” Chen Lu recorded the data while reminding his colleagues, “Check the arrester again.”

Since mid-June, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company has been carrying out regular night patrols for more than a month. To cope with the summer peak of electricity consumption, the company has organized professional forces from transmission, transformation and distribution sectors to conduct comprehensive inspections on the transmission and distribution lines and substations within its jurisdiction during the electricity peak period from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

“During peak electricity usage, the line load is at its maximum, which makes it the best time to detect problems through temperature measurement,” Chen Lu said. These days, he and his colleagues have been rushing around the mountainous areas of Lin’an, covering places from Longgang to Changhua, then Yuqian, Taiyang, Tianmu, and more, inspecting at least 5 spots every night.

A drone hummed softly in the night sky, with its red indicator light standing out sharply in the darkness. Operator Wu Mingming stared intently at the screen, observing the line conditions through an infrared camera. “Drones can reach positions that are difficult for humans to access, and they can conduct both visible light and infrared photography simultaneously, which is much more efficient,” he noted. With the assistance of drones, the inspection time for one spot has been shortened from the original half an hour to ten minutes.

To ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid during the summer peak season, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company has adopted a refined inspection mode with classification and grading. For overloaded lines, a “daily inspection” mechanism is implemented, where dedicated personnel are arranged daily to conduct comprehensive inspections using equipment such as infrared thermometers and drones. Key focus is placed on monitoring the operating temperatures of critical components like conductor joints and insulators, ensuring that potential hazards are detected and addressed promptly.For substations with dense outgoing lines, “differentiated inspections” are carried out. Inspection cycles are scientifically formulated based on factors such as line load conditions, service life, and historical fault records, with rational allocation of inspection resources.

During inspections, staff make full use of intelligent means such as autonomous drone cruising and infrared thermal imaging to improve efficiency, while combining with meticulous manual inspections to ensure no potential defects are overlooked.Through this inspection mode of “key guarantee + scientific allocation”, the reliable power supply of critical lines is ensured, and the optimal allocation of operation and maintenance resources is realized, providing a solid guarantee for the summer electricity peak.

Going forward, the company will dynamically adjust its inspection plans according to changes in load and increase the frequency of inspections in areas vulnerable to extreme weather. At the same time, it will strengthen the building of emergency repair teams to ensure 24-hour rapid response capability, making every effort to guarantee power supply during the summer peak period. (Text / Fu Yunxiao  Photo / Wu Chen)