State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power: “Intelligent Monitoring + Manual Special Inspections” Build Safety Barrier for Power Grid Equipment During Summer Peak Load Period

In the sweltering midsummer heat, staff of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power are glued to electronic screens in the monitoring room of Wenxi Substation in Qingtian, Zhejiang. Streams of dynamic data clearly show real-time temperature changes of contacts in the substation’s high-current cabinets. Amid sustained high-temperature stress, a newly commissioned intelligent temperature rise monitoring system is providing robust technical support for the stable operation of the power grid.

“Right now, the temperature is 46℃, and everything’s running normally,” a staff member noted during a routine inspection by Team One of the company’s Power Transmission and Transformation Operation & Maintenance Center on the morning of August 15. Gesturing at the flickering data on the screen, they added, “This intelligent temperature rise monitoring system is like an ‘all-weather health tracker’ for power equipment. It lets us keep tabs on how the core components are performing in real time.” During the critical summer peak load period, power equipment operates under prolonged high load; contact parts are prone to abnormal overheating due to increased contact resistance, which in severe cases could even lead to equipment damage or failures.

It is understood that traditional detection methods are constrained by the enclosed structure of equipment. Operation and maintenance personnel can only measure cabinet surface temperatures with infrared thermometers, failing to accurately obtain real-time data from key internal components. In contrast, the newly commissioned intelligent temperature rise monitoring system adopts advanced embedded sensing technology. Via high-precision temperature probes, it directly monitors contact temperatures, with measurement errors controlled within ±1℃, thus achieving precise control over internal equipment temperatures. The system features an intelligent early warning function: when abnormal temperatures are detected, a multi-level alarm mechanism is triggered within 30 seconds. It is nearly five times more efficient than traditional manual inspections, significantly reducing fault response time.

To address the summer electricity peak, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power has innovatively adopted a dual-protection model of “intelligent monitoring + manual special inspections.” On one hand, an all-weather monitoring network is built using digital tools such as online monitoring systems, remote intelligent substation inspection systems, smart inspection robots, and drone patrols. On the other hand, professional teams are organized to conduct manual infrared temperature measurement and partial discharge detection on key equipment during peak electricity usage hours. By establishing an operation and maintenance system characterized by “human-machine collaboration and multi-dimensional protection,” potential equipment hazards are ensured to be identified and eliminated promptly, striving to guarantee safe and stable power supply for residents and enterprises across the province during the summer peak load period. (By Hu Qian)