Bushing Diagnostics: From Mains Frequency to Advanced Assessment #131

Bushings may look like simple, low-cost power transformer components, but they are among the most critical assets in the high-voltage network. Statistically, around 40 percent of all power transformer failures involve bushings, often leading to catastrophic consequences like fires, explosions, and widespread grid outages.

In this episode of Energy Talks, OMICRON product managers and bushing testing experts Hannes Rothleitner and Jakob Hämmerle highlight the importance of bushing diagnostics to catch early signs of degradation caused, for example, by moisture ingress and insulation aging, whose warning signs are often difficult to detect easily with individual 50 or 60 Hz tests.

To meet this diagnostic challenge, Hannes and Jakob describe how the industry is shifting toward multi-faceted diagnostics, using a combination of various testing methods, including Tan Delta, Dielectric Frequency Response (DFR), and voltage sweeps, to expose these hidden flaws early.

Hannes and Jakob share practical tips for troubleshooting testing challenges and offer a glimpse into the next ten years of bushing diagnostics with the emergence of newer resin insulation technologies and the use of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, for data interpretation. More specifically, they explain why the future is not about gathering more data – but about high-quality interpretation to support better decision making.