EQOS Energie Österreich invests in new measurement technology

Measurement and analysis system preserves customers of high costs due to partial discharges

EQOS Energie has recently used a new, transportable high-voltage test system for measuring partial discharges. Partial discharges (PD) can permanently damage the insulation of electrical equipment or cause serious and electrical faults with major consequential damages. In order to prevent this, EQOS Energie carries out and evaluates diagnostic measurements. Using these measurements, repairs or replacements can be arranged at an early stage and thus an unexpected system failure can be avoided. This allows customers to save unnecessary costs. The new test system has a high output, it is light and transportable. Therefore, measurements can be carried out at the customer’s premises.

If the tests are carried out directly after installation or during commissioning, they enable the detection of faults caused during the production process, transportation or installation. Furthermore, diagnostic measurements can be carried out on systems which have been in operation for a long time. “This has the advantage that the operator receives information about the condition of the equipment or system”, according to Gerald Bernsteiner, team leader in the area of energy technology. “Default risk, remaining useful life or service life extending measures can be determined on this basis.” Regular checks are particularly useful if partial discharges have already been measured previously on the relevant system or an equivalent system in terms of make and year of manufacture, of if resulting faults occurred.

The measurement techniques offered by EQOS Energie range from system tests and the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers through to cable and protection tests. In this respect, the company offers its customers the periodic inspection of commercial or private electrical installations prescribed in the electrical engineering law, it takes over the mechanical maintenance as well as the inspection of electronic trip units with the latest equipment. EQOS Energie has been able to expand its range in the area of earthing measurements. The new measurement technology and the know-how of employees has allowed the company to offer earthing measurements in the rail sector and substations, in addition to simple earthing measurements in the building installation area and on high-voltage pylons.