Inspection of Energy Systems
Drones offer decisive advantages during the inspection of energy systems. Less accessible areas and areas of potential danger can be reached in an easier and more secure manner using drones. With drones, professional pilots can fly sensor systems such as infrared cameras and coronary cameras to the place of inspection to create precise aerial photographs with pinpoint accuracy.
Inspection of Energy Systems with drones
L.A WWIC (TIANJIN) CO,.LTD assists you during the inspection of energy systems in a professional manner. Experts in the areas of inspection and thermography will support you every step of the way during the planning phase and offer you comprehensive advice regarding the possible use of drones when investigating heat leakages, damaged spots, hairline cracks, etc. to the energy systems. Our experienced pilots, camera operators, and certified thermography experts support your thermography project with project management, flight missions, and data analyses.
Our professionals attach thermal imaging cameras to the drones to gauge the extent of the damage. Subsequently, the results of infrared photographs can be evaluated by experts and documented in inspection reports. We can also provide the thermal images to customers wishing to perform their own evaluation.








Challenges during the inspection of Energy Systems
The inspection of energy systems is a demanding task. The areas of the energy system to be inspected can often only be accessed with considerable effort. A further issue is that many inspections entail risks for the inspectors.


Finding the causes of energy losses with drones
Nevertheless, in order to find damage, special sensors are used. Various sensor systems can be introduced into inaccessible or dangerous areas of a plant with drones. Appropriate measurements can then be performed with the help of the sensors.
Drones allow, for example, spectrometers, medium-wave cameras, coronary cameras and infrared cameras to be affixed, which can be transported quickly and flexible in the air in a hazard-free manner and without the expensive use of industrial climbers etc. Thus, various measurements can be performed on each respective energy system.


Guaranteeing safety and efficiency
In addition to the safety of the energy system, the efficiency of the system is crucial to the operator. Losses during the conversion or transport of energy mean financial losses on the one hand and negative impacts on the environment and people on the other hand.
The cause of the energy loss is usually a defect within the system. Some damage can be visually detected and documented using high-resolution full-format cameras (corrosion, leaks, building component detachments etc.). In many cases, however, the cause of the energy loss cannot be unequivocally determined with conventional measurement techniques.


Possible applications with drone-supported sensors
This method can be used to inspect, for example, power electronics, high voltage power lines, insulation systems, valves, pipelines, building envelopes, flanges, sleeves, tank systems, chimneys, underground district heating pipelines etc. Gas leaks, energy losses in power lines, cracks, damage to the corrosion layer, increased contact resistances, thermal bridges, other forms of deformation and damage can be ascertained and documented.
Better results due to competent and experienced drone pilots
Flying over wind energy installations is one of the most challenging tasks for a drone pilot. Professional training and years of experience as a UAV pilot are, therefore prerequisites to carry out the inspection to the client’s satisfaction. Our competent pilots at have both technical background knowledge, as well as aeronautical capabilities to inspect wind energy installations in a professional manner. They are able to create expert reports and documentation independently and prepare these documents according to the respective customer requirements. Damage in the submillimetre range can be identified in a reliable way due to the camera technology and the aeronautical abilities of the pilots. Even damage under the surface can be visualized with the help of infrared cameras.
Inspection of solar modules, insulation systems and other fields of application
An inspection from the air offers enormous advantages, especially during the inspection of solar roofs. The loss of individual collectors leads to lower yields during electricity generation. This can significantly reduce the profitability of a photovoltaic system. Drones equipped with a thermal imaging camera have been used successfully during the examination of both facade insulation and gas pipelines as well as during the search for missing persons. The high compatibility with electromagnetic fields also enables the safe examination of overhead power lines. Defective insulation on buildings, hairline cracks on rotor blades or damage to insulators can be detected with drones at an early stage. This prevents energy losses, technical failures, and accidents
Faster and more cost-efficient inspections with drones
The inspection of wind energy installations from the tower to the engine pod and the individual blades is a challenging task. The use ofan altitude climber is time-consuming, requires extensive safety measures and is, therefore costly. Drones offer a fast and cost-effective alternative for a simple visual inspection. The downtime of the plant can be reduced many times over through the use of drones. Our experts are able to examine the blades subjected to high stress for erosion damage, lightning strikes, delamination and other defects.