<p>Electrical maintenance surveillance device (EMSD) technologies refer to condition-based monitoring technologies and equipment used every day to inspect electrical distribution assets. These surveillance and inspection systems determine the condition of the individual asset or system being inspected and include, but are not limited to, infrared thermography, airborne ultrasound, motor current analysis, partial discharge testing, corona cameras, and visual inspections. The implementation challenge is that the inspection and surveillance equipment used yield their most valuable results when inspecting electrical distribution equipment that’s operating under full load conditions. Doing so while working within the confines of CSA Z462 guidelines can be challenging when the equipment is both of danger to maintenance personnel and of value to the process they’re powering. The surveillance equipment implemented normally requires direct access or direct line of sight to the energized components inside the electrical system. This requires panels to be open, which is extremely dangerous. In this workshop, we’ll show you how EMSD technologies maintain the energized compartment’s closed and guarded condition, ensuring that personnel are not endangered. You’ll learn how the design allows the required test equipment to be used safely at any time, especially when equipment is under full load conditions. We’ll also present a case study from an Ontario beverage bottling facility, demonstrating how these devices can be easily retrofitted on existing electrical distribution equipment to become the nexus for an electrical infrastructure reliability program.</p>
<p>Rudy Wodrich is an electrical engineer whose career has revolved around designing electrical distribution systems for industrial, commercial, and power generation applications for both high efficiency and reliability. Rudy spent more than 20 years at Schneider Electric and ABB. He now leads new product development at IRISS Inc. in Bradenton, Fla., working on EMSD and CAST to provide early warnings of potential electrical equipment failure and to automate maintenance recordkeeping with IoT technologies. Rudy holds an MBA from the University of Toronto. Most recently, Rudy became a CRL through the Association of Asset Management Professionals.</p>
