Energy Talks

In this Energy Talks episode, OMICRON Partial Discharge (PD) Testing & Monitoring Experts Bogdan Gorgan and Patrick Zander remind us that PD is one of the best indicators of whether electrical insulation is in good or bad condition. To reduce risk of failures, Bogdan and Patrick discuss how asset managers have achieved more peace of mind after having implemented permanent PD monitoring for continuous 24/7 trending of insulation condition.

In this episode, we discuss OMICRON’s upcoming 2023 Protection Testing Online Series with the organizers, Eugenio Carvalheira and Parisa Jalalipour. They discuss the importance of keeping protection testing knowledge and skills up to date, and how they developed the concept for the online training series to help attendees add value to their daily work with the latest knowledge, practical examples and best-practice tips. This year’s series consists of five technical sessions starting February 16th and ending April 20th.

In this episode of Energy Talks, Mateus Nicoladelli de Oliveira, Digital Business Developer at WEG in Brazil, and Guilherme Pernariol, Regional Application Sales Manager at OMICRON in Brazil, discuss the significance of Industry 4.0 and its impact on the electrical power industry. They highlight the new technologies used, the opportunities and challenges Industry 4.0 presents to organizations in the power industry, and how to implement it for the best outcome.

This is the second episode of our new Energy Talks mini-series, called “Circuit Breaker Testing Around the World.” OMICRON Circuit Breaker Testing Expert Stefan Achberger is your host, and he speaks with other experts around the globe about the types of equipment used and which tests are commonly performed. In this episode, Stefan speaks with Westnetz expert Bastian Wölke about circuit breaker testing in Europe, including an outlook on how breakers might be tested in future.

This is the first episode of our new Energy Talks mini-series, called “Circuit Breaker Testing Around the World.” OMICRON Circuit Breaker Testing Expert Stefan Achberger is your host, and he speaks with other experts around the globe about the types of equipment used and which tests are commonly performed. In this episode, Stefan speaks with OMICRON expert Charles Sweetser about circuit breaker testing in the United States, including the predominant use of dead tank technology and its implications on testing.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON Field Testing Experts Mohamed Ali, Fadi Zatari and Ahmed Abdelwahab highlight the specific power system testing challenges in Middle East countries. They also offer examples of how portable, battery-powered and multi-functional testing solutions, such as OMICRON’s COMPANO 100, are helping field engineers to greatly simplify power system testing in the region.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON Power Grid Cybersecurity Expert Andreas Klien explains how vulnerability management can lead to more effective cybersecurity in power grids, including the advantages of enhanced system visibility, a comprehensive asset inventory, intrusion detection and proper risk prioritization. Andreas also describes the challenges of vulnerability management and how efficient tools, such as OMICRON’s StationGuard, can overcome these challenges and effectively secure power system networks.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON field testing experts Bernhard Engstler and Marcus Stenner talk about their practical experience with the onsite commissioning of power transformers. They also offer best practice tips, including how the use of multi-functional testing devices and following a defined testing workflow improve efficiency as well as ensure safety and reliable measurement results.

The optimal quality of power system measurement data is essential for making reliable condition assessments of electrical equipment and predicting asset lifetime. In this episode, David Gopp, Data Scientist and Digital Transformation Expert at OMICRON, discusses how artificial intelligence is effectively used to perform pattern recognition on measurement data to identify irregularities and to help users validate the accuracy of their measurements for more reliable assessments.

In this episode, Florian Fink, OMICRON expert for the testing of industrial and distribution grid applications, describes a new automated, close-looped testing approach that has been developed to speed up and enhance the safety and quality of component testing in intelligent secondary distribution substations (ISDS). He also discusses how this new automated testing method ensures more efficient maintenance and reliable asset operation in rapidly expanding power grids.

In Part 2 of our special coverage about the 2022 CIGRE conference and exhibition, OMICRON event specialist Aby-Gael Meyet and Iris Fischer from the Energy Talks podcast team speak with OMICRON application experts about important areas of focus and new solutions for power system testing and gather impressions from CIGRE 2022 visitors.

For those who were not able to attend the CIGRE 2022 conference and exhibition in Paris, France, we are devoting two episodes of Energy Talks to share various impressions of this leading power systems industry event with you. In Part 1, OMICRON exhibition specialist Aby-Gael Meyet interviews Philippe Adam, Secretary General at CIGRE, to find out more about CIGRE as an organization, the significance of this year’s event, as well as important industry topics addressed at CIGRE 2022.

In this episode, OMICRON partial discharge experts Bogdan Gorgan and Patrick Zander discuss the advantages of using temporary online monitoring to trend PD activity and track developing insulation defects between diagnostic measurements. Specifically, they describe the importance of observing PD activity when electrical equipment is in operation. They also highlight the differences between PD monitoring and PD diagnosis and explain how they complement each other to assess the insulation condition of electrical assets.

In this episode, guest experts Renny Vandewege, Vice President of Weather Operations at DTN, and Denton McGregor, Senior Reliability Center Manager at Black Hills Energy, discuss how fire-weather forecasting supported with advanced data intelligence is helping electrical utilities effectively plan their response before wildfires start and spread. They also offer practical tips for implementing fire-weather forecasting tools to take the guesswork out of wildfire prediction and resource allocation.

There is an increased need for protection testing at electrical utilities, but there are fewer staff members and less time to do it. In this episode, OMICRON protection testing expert Michael Albert discusses the advantages of standardizing and automating protection testing practices. He describes how standardization and automation can improve protection testing quality and decrease testing time. He also suggests best practice examples for implementation.

Energy Talks is the OMICRON electronics podcast series with various topics related to power system testing. Our main goal is to share knowledge with you and that's why experts, users and industry peers give us insights into different topics and valuable tips & tricks for your daily work. Communication and exchange is key to understanding customer and user needs. For this reason, we invite you to subscribe to Energy Talks and to enter into a dialog with us: podcast@omicronenergy.com. Enjoy listening!

Growing organizations in the power industry are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain talented employees. In this episode, OMICRON human resources experts Cordula Böhmer and Ruben Fuentes share their experiences and insights. They also describe how OMICRON endeavors to expand its talent pool by offering inspiring working conditions based on core values that keep the company focused on developing innovative solutions and creating a great place to work.

Regular tests of inductive voltage transformers (VTs) and capacitive voltage transformers (CVTs) ensure reliable operation for both protection and metering purposes. In this episode, OMICRON instrument transformer testing experts Thomas Bischof and Felix Feustel talk about how automated workflows and a new method for determining CVT capacitances with the same testing device help to make voltage transformer testing safer and faster than before.

In this episode, OMICRON data transformation experts David Gopp and Lukas Klingenschmid talk about the importance of measurement data validation and how it is used to check different factors that can influence the consistency and quality of measurement data. They also emphasize the necessity to validate measurement data before it is processed, distributed and used for asset condition assessments and maintenance planning.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON field testing expert Marcus Stenner shares his many years of practical experience in instrument transformer testing at power substations all over the world. Marcus describes the various tests performed on current and voltage transformers, how they are set up in the field, and which testing solutions apply. He also offers best practice tips for ensuring safety and reliable measurement results.

We focus on the topic of cybersecurity in Part 3 of our Energy Talks miniseries called “Digital Transformation in the Power Industry”. In this episode, OMICRON cybersecurity experts Thomas Friedel and Eugenio Carvalheira discuss the importance of cybersecurity in the digital transformation and how it plays a critical role in power system infrastructures. They describe recent cybersecurity directives in Europe and North America and their implications for power system organizations around the world. They also discuss the challenges these organizations face when implementing cybersecurity and offer tips to meet these challenges.

In this episode of Energy Talks, Robert Wang, Recloser Control Solutions Product Manager at OMICRON and Justin Henson, Distribution Line Technician Specialist at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, discuss how the reliable operation of recloser controls in the power grid plays an important role in wildfire mitigation at electric utilities. Justin also describes how PG&E implements its zero-tolerance policy for wildfire sparks caused by downed power lines.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON PD application expert Ulrike Broniecki discusses how partial discharge (PD) measurements performed in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) range can be a reliable complementary or alternative solution to conventional PD testing in noisy onsite testing environments. She also highlights the benefits of using the UHF PD measurement method on gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), gas-insulated lines (GIL), oil-filled transformers and high-voltage power cable terminations.

In Part 2 of our Energy Talks miniseries, OMICRON digital transformation experts Juan Carlos Sánchez and Lukas Klingenschmid discuss the specific challenges companies in the power industry are facing in making a successful digital transformation, and what solutions are available to overcome them. They highlight success factors, such as using digital technologies and processes to simplify data gathering and accessibility to reliable data, employing cyber security practices, improving digital skills and fostering an organizational culture that welcomes change.

Conventional protection testing methods cannot keep up with the growing demand in evolving power systems, as they are very time consuming, but advanced protection testing approaches can greatly improve this situation. In this episode, OMICRON advanced protection testing advocate Till Welfonder discusses how companies in the energy sector can take protection testing to the next level to save not only time and costs, but also optimize the safety, quality and reliability of their protection systems.

On-load tap changers, also known as O-L-T-Cs, are devices fitted on to power transformers that regulate the output voltage to required levels to maintain a stable voltage level in the electrical grid. To check the reliability of OLTCs, a variety of advanced diagnostic methods have been developed, including the new vibro-acoustic measurement (also known as VAM), which uses vibrations to assess OLTC condition. In this episode of Energy Talks, OLTC diagnostic experts Dr. Karsten Viereck from Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen and OMICRON applications engineer Christoph Engelen talk about the origins and development of the vibro-acoustic measurement, how and when it is performed, how it compliments other OLTC diagnostic methods, as well as how the data is analyzed.

Digital Transformation in the Power Industry is the theme of our new Energy Talks podcast miniseries with various episodes about the process of using digital technologies to enhance business processes and customer experiences in the power industry. In Part 1 of this miniseries, OMICRON digital transformation experts Juan Carlos Sánchez and Martin Pfanner share their general outlooks and insights into this topic and describe the steps to take now to ensure a successful implementation into the future. We welcome your questions and feedback. Simply send us an email to podcast@omicronenergy.com

In this episode of Energy Talks, Fabian Öttl, OMICRON expert for diagnostic testing on rotating electrical machines, and Patrick Zander, OMICRON expert for PD testing and monitoring, discuss which diagnostic tests should be regularly performed on rotating electrical machines used on cruise ships and other vessels. They also highlight the testing challenges on ships as well as the types of measurement equipment that help make diagnostic testing easier in small, limited spaces and noisy environments.

Current transformers (CTs) used for metering purposes in medium-voltage power systems must have a high accuracy to ensure accurate billing. In this episode, SENSELEQ Business Development Engineer Roland Bürger and OMICRON product manager for instrument transformer testing Felix Feustel discuss how current transformers are used in the metering process, why their accuracy is so important and how to avoid errors that can lead to inaccurate billing and revenue losses.

In this episode, OMICRON partial discharge (PD) testing experts Christoph Engelen and Dr. Alex Kraetge discuss the importance of performing off-line PD measurements on cast-resin transformers used in wind park turbines to prevent their in-service failure. They also describe how the related measurement challenges of limited space and surrounding noise can best be overcome with the right diagnostic methods and tools.

Building up a well-orchestrated teamwork is the key to performing powerline testing over greater distances more efficiently and safely in quickly expanding power grids. This is the recommendation of Gustav Lundqvist, the founder and CEO of Kraftdiagnos in Sweden and our guest in this episode of Energy Talks.

The successful operation of expanding power grids, PAC systems and IED networks is based on how well their data management systems enable users to easily access consistent, up-to-date and traceable data. In this episode, OMICRON data management experts Stefan Schöner and Will Scheibe discuss the importance of centralized data management, how to develop a data management strategy and plan, as well as which technology best achieves present and future data management goals.

Earthing systems, also known as grounding systems, ensure that persons in and around electrical substations are not exposed to dangerous, electric voltage shocks. In this episode, OMICRON product manager and earthing/grounding system expert Josef Schmidbauer discusses how regular testing of earthing or grounding systems can ensure the safe and reliable operation of electrical power systems.

In this episode, Thomas Schossig, an expert in the field and product manager for the StationScout testing solution from OMICRON, discusses why substation automation system (SAS) testing is essential and describes the various tests performed. In addition, he addresses the challenges faced by testing engineers up to now and how to make the testing process faster and more efficient.

In this episode, Florian Fink, OMICRON product manager and circuit breaker testing enthusiast, talks about the importance of medium-voltage circuit breaker testing. He describes, for example, how medium-voltage circuit breaker testing differs from high-voltage circuit breaker testing, what are the typical tests and how often should they be performed. Florian also offers insights into what should be considered during off-line as well as in-service testing on medium-voltage circuit breakers.

The growing trend for cloud-based data management solutions is improving how power system testing data can be centrally stored in a safe location and easily shared among teams. In this episode, Martin Pfanner, product manager for OMICRON’s Primary Test Manager software, describes how such cloud-based data management solutions can ease the daily work of commissioning and maintenance teams and how cyber security demands can be met.

Partial discharge (PD) measurement and analysis are highly effective for assessing the condition of electrical insulation. In this episode, OMICRON PD measurement and analysis experts Bogdan Gorgan and Ulrike Broniecki highlight the differences between AC and DC PD testing as well as what you should consider when performing these tests. Lastly, they describe the tools available that make AC and DC PD measurement and analysis easier than before.

In this episode, Florian Fink, OMICRON product manager for industrial and distribution power grid applications, describes what is driving change in the power grid and how resulting challenges can best be mastered. He highlights how trying new ways of working and sharing experiences with colleagues are essential for preparing for current and future demands.

Protection systems play a key role for the safe and reliable operation of today’s electricity power systems. Protection systems should be tested on a regular basis to ensure power system reliability. In this episode, OMICRON protection testing experts Cord Mempel and Christopher Pritchard explain the differences between settings-based and system-based testing approaches and how they can be effectively combined. They also offer their insights on the future of protection testing.

Protecting the power grid against cyber attacks requires a security strategy throughout the substation network. In this episode of Energy Talks, we speak with Thomas Friedel, expert for cybersecurity at OMICRON. Thomas describes what it takes to implement a successful cybersecurity program in substations. He also discusses cybersecurity trends and what substations should be doing now to ensure reliable cybersecurity into the future.

Protection testing plays is a very important role in ensuring the reliability of power systems. In this episode, we speak with protection testing expert Saravanan Balamurugan. He is the CEO and founder of Minaatral Power Systems in southeast India. Saravanan describes what is important to consider for ensuring protection testing success, he shares his experiences in the field, and describes what he sees as future trends.

Even though safety awareness has increased over the years, serious accidents can still occur. How can you prevent them? In this episode, OMICRON safety expert David Gopp and safety communications expert Lia Thum explain how to ensure safe electrical testing on high-voltage equipment and what OMICRON does to ensure safe electrical testing practices when using its diagnostic equipment.

In this episode, Martin Pfanner, OMICRON product manager for Primary Test Manager software, discusses what contributes to making electrical testing on primary assets faster, easier and safer. One important aspect of testing efficiency is having a single, automated software platform that provides users with guided workflows as well as central data management and reporting for all recommended tests on electrical assets. One such platform is OMICRON’s Primary Test Manager software.

In this episode, Dietmar Gehrmann, head of OMICRON Calibrations, addresses the importance of standard-compliant calibrations of testing equipment, how often they should be performed and the difference between ISO 9001 and IEC 17025 standard calibrations. Dietmar also highlights the services of OMICRON Calibrations, which was founded in 2020 as a globally recognized, accredited calibration laboratory to meet the growing worldwide demand for IEC 17025 standard compliant calibrations.

Partial discharge (PD) measurements are a highly effective onsite diagnosis tool for the detection and localization of potential failure-causing insulation weak spots in power transformers. In this episode, OMICRON PD measurement experts Michael Krüger and Udo Ranninger describe the importance of onsite PD testing on both oil-filled and dry type power transformers, as well as how it is performed to effectively pinpoint insulation defects not revealed by other testing methods.

The next OMICRON Diagnostic Forum takes place on March 24-25, 2021. This event is scheduled every 2 years, and has become an OMICRON tradition of sharing knowledge, experiences and best cases with industry peers about diagnostic testing on power system equipment. In this episode, OMICRON organizers Verena Rein and Tobias Schmutzhard describe how this year’s event will be presented completely online with a comprehensive, interactive program of diagnostic topics.

In this episode, we speak with OMICRON product managers Andreas Nenning and Lukas Klingenschmid about portable high-voltage power sources used for energizing electrical assets during off-line testing. They highlight available OMICRON solutions and what should be considered based on the testing application. In particular, they discuss the development and particular advantages of OMICRON’s 70 kV power source for off-line testing on air and gas-insulated switchgear among other electrical assets.

In this episode, we speak with Oliver Janke, Training Manager at OMICRON Academy. He discusses how OMICRON Academy has been developing webinars and online training courses on power system testing topics to make them just as interactive as traditional classroom trainings, and even more accessible to participants worldwide.

OMICRON customer Gustav Lundqvist is the founder and owner of Kraftdiagnos, a measurement service provider based in northern Sweden. Gustav has created a unique lifestyle for himself – he has found a way to combine his love of the outdoors with performing grounding and other diagnostic measurements for electrical utilities at remote sites all over the country.

Rotating electrical machines are critical for power generation and running critical industrial processes. However, machine reliability can be compromised over time due to operational stresses and aging. In this episode, Fabian Öttl, OMICRON’s rotating machines testing expert, identifies essential electrical tests that should be regularly performed to assess machine condition and detect potential failure-causing defects.

Partial discharge (PD) is a very reliable indicator of potential failure-causing faults in electrical equipment insulation. Regular PD testing and PD monitoring are used to reliably assess insulation condition throughout equipment lifetime. In this episode, two of OMICRON’s PD experts – Patrick Zander and Samuel Scheller – describe the differences between PD testing and monitoring, when they are used and how they complement each other.