METHOD AND ASSEMBLY FOR DETECTING CORONA DISCHARGES OF A SYSTEM COMPRISING EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A method and a corresponding assembly for detecting corona discharges of a system of equipment includes a sensor assembly that is guided along the system by a vehicle, a first camera for detecting UV radiation is used with a daylight filter for blocking daylight for the sensor assembly, and images of the system are captured by the sensor assembly. The captured images of the camera are provided with a three-dimensional position using an analysis device. Possible corona discharges are detected in each individual image using the analysis device and are transferred into a single three-dimensional space using the respective three-dimensional position. A spatial statistic regarding the frequency of possible current discharges is generated using the analysis device, and the spatial statistic is used to detect actual corona discharges as occurring frequently and at a fixed location in contrast to random noise.

Claims

1. A method for detecting corona discharges of a system comprising equipment, the method comprising: moving a sensor assembly by means of a vehicle along the system comprising equipment, using a first camera for registering UV radiation with a daylight filter for blocking out daylight for the sensor assembly, recording images of the system by means of the sensor assembly, labeling, by means of an evaluation device, the images of the camera with a three-dimensional position, detecting and transferring, by means of the evaluation device, possible corona discharges in each individual image into a single three-dimensional space with the aid of the respective three-dimensional position, and compiling, by means of the evaluation device, a spatial statistic relating to the frequency of possible corona discharges, with the aid of which actual corona discharges are detected as stationary and occurring more frequently in comparison with noise.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: additionally using a second camera for registering visible light for the sensor assembly, with images of the system being recorded with the camera and labeled with a three-dimensional position.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: verifying the status and/or repairing of equipment at the positions of which actual corona discharges are detected.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein information relating to equipment at the positions of possible and/or actual corona discharges is provided by means of a geoinformation system.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatial statistic is formed by assigning a number of entries in a quantized three-dimensional counter state array to each possible corona discharge in the three-dimensional space, visual lines in the three-dimensional space being established with the aid of a viewing direction of the sensor assembly, a frequency being entered in the counter state array in the case of intersection of a plurality of visual lines from a plurality of time-offset individual images of the sensor assembly at the same three-dimensional position.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatial statistic is formed by detecting respectively possible corona discharges in the images and projecting them into chronologically subsequent images, an increased probability of an actual corona discharge being assumed in the event of a match with a possible corona discharge detected in the subsequent images.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatial statistic is compiled while taking into account a previously known three-dimensional model of the system, so that a search space for corona discharges in the three-dimensional space is restricted to the close proximity of the system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aircraft is used as the vehicle.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein an airplane, a helicopter or a drone is used as the aircraft.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is provided in the vehicle.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is provided as a central server.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional position is respectively determined with the aid of Global Positioning System data.

13. An assembly for detecting corona discharges of a system comprising equipment, the assembly comprising: a vehicle which is configured to move a sensor assembly along a system comprising equipment, the sensor assembly comprising a first camera for registering UV radiation, and the first camera comprising a daylight filter for blocking out daylight, and the sensor assembly being configured to record images of the system, and the vehicle comprising a position determination device, an evaluation device which is configured to label the images of the camera with a three-dimensional position, and to detect possible corona discharges in each individual image and transfer them into a single three-dimensional space with the aid of the respective three-dimensional position, and to compile a spatial statistic relating to the frequency of the possible corona discharges, with the aid of which actual corona discharges are detectable as stationary and occurring more frequently in comparison with noise.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a second camera for registering visible light, images of the system, recorded by means of the camera, being labelable with a three-dimensional position by means of the position determination device.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle is an airplane, a helicopter or a drone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] For better explanation of the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a first superposition of an individual image in the visible light spectrum with an individual image in the UV spectrum, and

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a second superposition, occurring chronologically after the first superposition according to FIG. 1, of an individual image in the visible light spectrum with an individual image in the UV spectrum, and

[0039] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0040] FIGS. 1 and 2 show known published images. A mast 1 with cables 3 and equipment, for example insulators 2, is shown. Numerous white or bright points, which are registered as UV sources by means of the UV camera and are superimposed on the visible image, may be seen clearly. These bright points are possibly corona discharges. The same mast 1 is shown somewhat later in FIG. 2, no bright points being visible any longer.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention. A system 17, an overhead line having a first mast 1 and a second mast 4, insulators 2 and cables 3 are represented. There are cables 3 on the masts 1, 4. A drone 16 which moves a sensor assembly 18 along the system is used as the vehicle. The sensor assembly 18 comprises a second camera 19 for registering visible light and a first camera 20 for registering UV radiation. The first camera 20 additionally comprises a daylight filter 21 for blocking out daylight. Images of the system 17 are recorded with the sensor assembly 18 and processed on-board the drone 16 with an evaluation device 22. The images of the two cameras 19, 20 are labeled with a three-dimensional position which is established by means of a GPS satellite and a position determination device 23. With the position determination device 23, a timestamp and an exact position of the drone 16 is assigned to each individual image, from which the exact position of possible corona discharges 5-15 may later be calculated in the three-dimensional space with the aid of the viewing direction or the visual line 25 of the sensor assembly 18.

[0042] The evaluation device 22 detects possible corona discharges 5-15 in each individual image of the second camera 20 as bright points. With the aid of the respective three-dimensional position of the bright point, the latter is transferred into a single three-dimensional space. This makes it possible to analyze the information from a sequence of images. The evaluation device may compile a spatial statistic relating to the frequency of the possible corona discharges. With the aid of the spatial statistic, actual corona discharges 5-8, 10, 13-15 may be detected as stationary and occurring more frequently in comparison with noise. In the example shown, the corona discharges 5-8, 10, 13-15 which lie in the immediate vicinity of the system 17 have thereby been identified. That is to say, the actual corona discharges are imaged more frequently in a sequence of images than random noise, which repeatedly occurs at other positions while not being identifiable at a single position for a long time over several individual images.

[0043] A geoinformation system (not represented) may provide information relating to equipment 2, 3 and the positions of possible 5-15 and/or actual 5-8, 10, 13-15 corona discharges.