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POWER LINES


Long lenses for safe powerlines

 

Since the early 60’s the power transmission industry has embraced aerial surveys as an efficient and effective way of patrolling their assets, both for regular scheduled patrols and in times of emergency. The Mark 2 Cineflex Multi Sensor camera system (Cineflex MSII or MS2) now brings a quantum leap in the benefits, and they can all besummed up in one word……SAFETY.

• Hugely increased stand-off distances translate into a
safer flying environment.

• Full High Definition daylight images introduce more
comprehensive detection of faults.

• Quadrupling of the Infra Red camera image pixel
definition significantly improves hot-spot detection,
thoroughly reducing the danger of fire and network
break down.

The Cineflex V14 was designed to achieve rock steady
images from a moving helicopter. When first released in 2005
it immediately became the industry standard as users became
aware of just what an enormous step had been taken when
compared to the old technologies of competing systems.
In 2006 one of the principal electricity distributors in the United States, Southern California Edison, were loaned a Mark 1 demonstration system … they never gave it back! Not only had they instantaneously doubled their fault detection rate but they had been able to do so from heights that completely eliminated the chance of ever losing another helicopter to a wire strike. Safe crews and doubled productivity meant they simply couldn’t afford to be without a Cineflex.
In early 2007 Cineflex was bought by Axsys Technologies who brought to the party their wide capabilities in thermal imaging, resulting in the release of the V14 Multi Sensor system (V14MS). Axsys have decades of experience in specialised military and civilian optical systems and were the company who fixed the flaw on the Hubble Space Telescope. They have more recently been chosen as prime optical suppliers for the James Webb
Space Telescope, the replacement for Hubble. At the end of 2007 the Multi Sensor Mark 2 (MSII / MS2) was introduced bringing:-

• stabilisation to the roll axis.

• an increase in the IR definition to 640 x 512 pixels.

• a Sony HDC1500 HD daylight camera.

• a fully customisable suite of enhancements from Troll Systems.
Helicopter operators with a serious involvement in the patrol and inspection of distribution networks are finding that the Cineflex MS2 brings them extra work that previously would have been unthinkable. They are now able to cover areas that were previously subject to flight restrictions such as animal avoidance areas, air traffic restricted areas and areas of dense population.

The Cineflex MSII (MS2) minimises the nuisance factor caused to residents along the inspection path by allowing flights to be conducted from a greater height. The weather factor is also significantly improved as flights can continue in wind strengths and turbulence levels that would previously have reduced the effectiveness of the inspection, or curtailed the
inspection altogether.

Images like those seen here are enabling skilled observers to assess the condition of the conductor, to look for signs of rust or arcing, and to check that all bolts and split pins are securely in place. With additional digital enhancement available in the helicopter the professional linesman can make an even more detailed analysis.

The extraordinary fact is that the image on the left originated from a helicopter flying at 1,000 feet above the ground and 1 km laterally displaced from the power line being inspected. (Our demonstration DVD features more astonishing zooms like this one).

The further surprise is that no post analysis is required. When a fault is found the image is exported straight to the linesman’s laptop, the GPS position (of the lens, not the helicopter) is recorded and instantaneously converted to a pole number from the grid database. The linesman enters a fault code, together with a few specific notes on his own observation. The fault is then safely filed as part of the overall report made, in this case by Australian experts Aeropower, to their client.
 

 

 

Would your current technique
have found this birds nest…
….from this height and distance?