WHITE PAPER oltage stresses, and vibration levels. It is a non-destructive test and does hat could adversely affect the equipment.
rupted data center operations. The only exception is when working with Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) 2 or equip- ment without external air gaps 3 , where sensors must be mounted internally. In these scenarios, the IPEC Projects Team and Field Engineers coordinate closely with the operator to plan the work, schedule access, and execute installation with minimal operational impact.For internal sensor installation IPEC has been on the leading edge of innovation, particularly with the AA-Ultrasonic with key projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[2] KEYWORDS ASM (Advanced Substation Monitor) – The ASM is a Data Acquisition unit that collects up to 128 sensor chan- nels from sub-station assets. ISM (Intelligent Substation Monitor) – Data Analysis™ site is hosted by the server and accessed via the internet, or locally if installed on the customer’s private network or inside the substation. The iSM provides the analytic en- gine for the PD Monitoring system. CC-TEV Sensors (Capacitively Coupled Transient Earth Voltage Sensors) – These sensors measure fast electrical transients generated by internal PD inside the switch- gear. Capacitively coupled to the metallic enclosure these sensors detect these fast transients as they propagate around the enclosure on the path to earth. AA-Ultrasound Sensors – The Airborne Acoustic (AA) Ul- trasonic sensor is designed for use on air insulated termi- nations where a clear sound path between the electrically stressed insulation and the sensor microphone is present. T&H Sensors – Used to provide environmental tempera- ture and humidity measurements from the room where the assets are located. PD activity has been shown to have strong correlation with temperature changes and in- creases in humidity. DCO – Data Center Operator - A company or organiza- tion responsible for managing, maintaining, and ensuring the reliable operation of data center facilities, including their critical electrical and IT infrastructure. 4. DataCenterRisks Data centers face escalating operational risk as power densities climb and electrical architectures grow more complex. Even minor insulation weaknesses or ear- ly-stage electrical defects can rapidly progress into dis-
Figure 2: Switchgear Failure Due to Undetected PD Activity, Location Un-Disclosed witchgear Failure Due to Undetected PD Activity, Location Un-Disclosed
line partial discharge (OLPD) monitoring delivers clear op- erational and financial advantages. Continuous insight into asset condition allows operators to confidently extend or defer time-based maintenance cycles, often beyond OEM recommendations, because system health is verified in real time. This enables strategic, targeted shutdowns focused only on assets that exhibit elevated PD activity or trending degradation, dramatically reducing the scope, duration, and frequency of outages. When integrated with platforms such as IBM Maximo, OLPD alarms and health indicators flow directly into existing maintenance work- flows, automatically generating work orders and escala- tion paths. The result is a highly efficient, condition-based maintenance strategy that directs resources only where and when they are needed, minimizing unnecessary downtime and delivering significant annual cost savings for DCOs. Because of our flexible and modular approach to mon- itoring, the IPEC OLPD system integrates seamlessly into both green-field and brown-field data center environ- ments. New facilities can incorporate monitoring infra- structure during construction to achieve optimal coverage and long-term efficiency, while existing sites can be retrofitted without major redesigns or disruptive infra- structure changes. Our systems are engineered for rapid installation and broad compatibility with all major switch- gear manufacturers, eliminating the need for extensive retrofitting. In the vast majority of cases, IPEC OLPD systems can be installed without requiring a shutdown, ensuring uninter-
V: 1kV to 33kV), High Voltage (HV: 33kV to 220kV), Extra High Voltage (EHV, 220kV to 760kV)
_____________________ 2: For GIS equipment when installing external amplifiers to internal UHF antennas installed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). A shutdown is required for human safety as it is not safe to connect to these OEM internal antennas whilst the GIS circuit is energized. 3. Air-insulated switchgear (AIS) where panels are sealed and do not provide a clear air-path between the high-voltage stress areas where PD is likely to form and the outside of the AIS enclosure, IPEC has successfully installed PD sensors internally inside thousands of these asset types whilst complying fully with the asset operators voltage safety regulations.
38 | Summer 2026 POWERLINE
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