Online Partial Discharge (OLPD) testing provides valuable information for condition-based asset management. Over 80% of power equipment failures and losses are attributed to insulation failures. Conventional tan delta, infrared, and DGA testing are very effective at discovering a portion of the problems which lead to failures. The remaining unexpected failures are the result of localized insulation defects which are not detected by tan delta measurements, they do not produce significant heat, and they do not produce dissolved gasses unless the defect is in oil. OLPD testing is the methodology of detecting and locating these common insulation problems. It can conveniently be performed online while the power system is energized and in service. OLPD testing time varies depending on the type of asset under inspection. OLPD tests can be conducted on Transformers, both internally and externally, including the bushings, utilizing all types of sensors used by our equipment.  Additionally, every insulator and insulating material in any power apparatus, in the entire substation can quickly and conveniently be screened for PD. Every switch, lightning arrestor, PT, CT, SF6 breaker, cable termination and splice can all be tested in a short time. OLPD is the future of power testing and our partners, PMDT and Sparks Instruments are the companies dedicated to the manufacture of powerful, efficient test and diagnostic instruments, providing expert PD test services, and engineering support.

In line with our vision to become Africa’s leading supplier of medium voltage power plant reliability solutions founded on insulation health management, we have identified training as an essential vehicle to facilitate a smooth and prompt realisation of this ideal. Although there has been a notable upsurge in the overall level of interest and awareness in insulation health management products and services from several companies in Africa recently, a significant number of power plant owners and maintenance personnel in the industry remain oblivious and continue to experience untimely failures due to lack of knowledge and expert assistance. Thus, a considerable amount of revenue is lost on a regular basis and safety of personnel and equipment is constantly compromised.

This unfortunate manifestation is largely attributed to the absence of high-level insulation health management training at industry level in the whole of Africa in addition to, among others, high cost of products and services in this realm of electrical engineering as well as the complexity of the PD spectacle. We aim to address this challenge by promoting a culture of research and development through our high-level training course aimed at empowering modern power plant maintenance personnel aspiring to enhance their skills in the art of medium voltage asset condition-based maintenance by employing strategies consistent with insulation health management.

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