EFD system (Early Fault Detection)

The Early Fault Detection (EFD) system, created by IND Technology, is an online sensing package designed to monitor overhead distribution and sub-transmission systems for issues such as line defects, equipment degradation, and line contacts. The package includes: A group of radio frequency sensors, each having a standalone data acquisition system A mechanism where each sensor can transmit monitored data back to a cloud-based data repository. A cloud-based analytics platform that can evaluate the monitored information and identify anomalies in the data that signify than an envent of interest has occurred. According to the company representatives, the system can find broken conductor strands, cracked insulators, arcing switches, and a number of other asset pre-failure signatures where the common pre-failure signature includes radiated emissions in the 1-MHz to 130-MHz spectrum. The sensors are typically installed a safe distance beneath the energized line conductors while being close enough to pick up radio frequency (RF) noise. One sensor must be installed approximately every three circuit-miles to attain sufficient signal strength to discern the RF spectrum of interest. According to the company reps, the location of the line defect or arcing equipment can be determined within a few hundred feet by comparing signal strengths from multiple sensors along the line.

Software/App