Equipment Life Cycle Management for Enhancing Efficiency and Reliability
One of the most important principles of asset management is Equipment Life Cycle Management. This approach emphasizes that every asset, from the design and manufacturing stage to the end of its service life, requires continuous planning, monitoring, and decision-making to achieve maximum efficiency, minimum risk, and the lowest Life Cycle Cost (LCC). The life cycle of high-voltage equipment includes the stages of design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, optimization, refurbishment, and ultimately replacement or decommissioning. The quality of management at each stage has a direct impact on the reliability of the power grid.
Sharif Power Testing Development Company provides specialized life management services for Current Transformers (CT), Capacitor Voltage Transformers (CVT), and power transformer bushings. These services are based on continuous condition assessment, aging trend analysis, identification of degradation mechanisms, and estimation of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of equipment.
In this process, data obtained from periodic tests, field inspections, operational records, environmental conditions, switching operations, overvoltages caused by lightning or network switching, online monitoring results, and maintenance history are comprehensively analyzed. Subsequently, using health indices and risk assessment models, the condition of each asset is determined, and the most appropriate decision regarding continued operation, repair, refurbishment, or replacement is made.
For high-voltage measuring transformers and bushings, factors such as insulation system quality, variations in electrical characteristics, performance under transient conditions, ferroresonance phenomena in CVTs, mechanical stresses, and environmental conditions are among the most important factors affecting equipment aging. In addition, increased dielectric loss factor (Tan δ), changes in capacitance, moisture ingress, insulation deterioration, surface contamination, and internal connection issues are key indicators used for equipment life assessment.
The company’s approach is to replace time-based maintenance with Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM). Through this approach, equipment remains in service as long as it is technically in acceptable condition, while only assets exposed to significant risks are scheduled for repair or replacement. This method not only extends equipment service life but also reduces maintenance costs, prevents unnecessary replacements, enhances grid reliability, and optimizes investment in the power industry.
By combining technical expertise, field experience, and modern asset management principles, Sharif Power Testing Development Company provides solutions that enable operators to extend the service life of measuring transformers and high-voltage bushings, reduce the risk of unexpected failures, and make investment decisions based on actual data and engineering analysis.
