State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company: UAV inserts 'wings of wisdom' into distribution network inspection

On July 19, 2024, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company's Typical Experience in Promoting the Large scale Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Distribution Network was selected into the typical experience collection of the State Grid Headquarters, and the typical experience collection and display board were selected into the on-site promotion meeting for large-scale application of intelligent patrol inspection of unmanned aerial vehicles in the distribution network held by the State Grid Corporation in East Inner Mongolia, and were publicized and displayed on behalf of Ningxia Company.

The company is responsible for the inspection of 337 10kV distribution lines with a total length of 4,827 kilometers. With the development of local economy and society, providing more accurate and efficient support to ensure the quality of power supply service has become a "must answer" for the company's grid operation and maintenance work.

In 2024, the company insisted on leading high-quality development with scientific and technological innovation, focused on the innovative application of artificial intelligence, deeply implemented the working policy of State Grid Corporation of China on accelerating the large-scale application of UAVs in equipment management, based on reality and seeking practical results, solidly promoted the integration of UAV Intelligent Inspection Technology and traditional inspection technology in distribution network, built a new distribution operation and maintenance management system of "air space integration" and "human-machine cooperation", and continuously improved the power supply service ability and distribution network management level.

Open a new mode of distribution network inspection. Implement "independent+manual" three-dimensional inspection, complete the full collection of laser point clouds on overhead lines, plan independent flight routes, and the route verification rate reaches 100 percent, which greatly improves the ease of use and safety of UAVs; Manual inspection is used for unseaworthy airspace such as line crossing and adjacent no-fly zones to achieve full coverage of line inspection. Man machine linkage carried out 157 inspection lines, covering 816 kilometers of lines, found 371 defects, and the defect detection rate increased significantly.

Provide a new construction method for distribution network construction. Aiming at the "three span" special section and complex terrain such as mountainous area, the company carries out distribution line erection by carrying UAV airdrop device and dragging traction rope. A total of six projects have been set up and 64 poles and towers have been erected. Compared with manual operation, the efficiency has increased by more than 40 percent and the construction quality has been greatly improved.

Open up new scenarios for distribution network applications. Focusing on live detection, UAVs are equipped with special equipment to carry out infrared live detection of UAVs for 29 lines, so as to grasp the operating conditions of equipment in an all-round way and prevent problems before they happen. Focusing on safety publicity, carrying public address equipment to carry out UAV anti-electric shock safety warning publicity. For six lines close to rivers and ditches, involving 7.3 km airspace with high and low voltage on the same pole, 16 fishing intensive points, from the previous posting of "fishing off the line" signboard, spraying the "high-voltage danger" slogan, the three-dimensional warning and publicity filled the gap in the field of UAV power supply service publicity, and effectively avoided accidents such as fishing and anti-electric shock. Focus on emergency lighting, use unmanned aerial vehicles to carry lighting devices, light up the complex environment of the site, provide lighting guarantee for the distribution network emergency repair site, and ensure the safety of the emergency repair operation. Focus on project acceptance, keep records of line equipment, hardware fittings and other components as well as construction process quality, accelerate project acceptance progress and improve acceptance quality.

Based on the management of distribution network equipment, the UAV uses laser radar and visible light technology to carry out three-dimensional reconstruction of the line and low-voltage station area, draw the line channel, tower, metering box and user distributed photovoltaic topology information, generate the digital model of the line station area, establish the digital three-dimensional model archives of distribution network equipment, identify the parameters such as the number and area of photovoltaic panels, intelligently analyze and generate the line report and the physical examination report of the station area, and effectively improve the digital and refined operation and maintenance management level. Based on on-site control, video encryption technology is applied to transmit the UAV image to the security control and emergency command center in real time for large-scale operations, emergency repair and other complex sites, supplemented by microphone equipment, to achieve remote real-time command, and provide "full perspective" monitoring guarantee for on-site security control and emergency command decision-making.

The company's UAV equipment is intensively, standardized and intelligently managed through the UAV warehouse. The UAV warehouse contains the main control battery cabinet and equipment storage cabinet. The battery cabinet has strong compatibility and multi-layer safety protection. It is equipped with a 15.6-inch visual interface to intuitively understand equipment information. One thing, one code, data synchronization, automatic registration of requisition and return, creating a closed-loop system for intelligent, safe and efficient management of UAVs, batteries and load equipment, and realizing scientific management of equipment throughout its life cycle.

Next, the company will consolidate the foundation, standardize management, deepen reform, and focus on implementation, continue to expand the application of UAVs in the operation and maintenance of distribution networks, accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into new quality productive forces, promote the construction of new power systems by strengthening the grid with digital intelligence, and strive to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of power grids.