ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the advanced capabilities of infrared (IR) techniques applied to high voltage than any other documentary published to date on the subject. It provides selected data and IR testing results of over 1700 diagnosed and documented electrical faults. Utilities worldwide are realizing phenomenal paybacks from implementing IR testing programs for predictive maintenance. Reflections from surrounding temperature sources generally appear as well-defined thermal anomalies. Induced electrical heating is characterized by hot areas on components of adjacent equipment, that are not established electrical current carrying circuits. Rain and wind can often cause components with minimal circuit heat to become extremely close to ambient air temperatures. Transmission lines are the main artery of the electric power system. Qualitative IR deals with the quality of the image, meaning the information that can be derived from the picture (thermograph). Colorization of IR imagery has been utilized for decades as an analytical procedure in thermography.
