Ofil’s Eyes to Marine Oil Spill Surveillance - ORSOLAR

July 2017

Ofil has released the ORSOLAR – Oil-Spill Remote Sensing Offshore Locating
and Recording system. ORSOLAR is a passive optical sensing scanner and
recorder for aerial oil spill surveillance. ORSOLAR integrates combinations of
enhanced data acquisition technologies based on UV & IR and HD imaging.
ORSOLAR provides visual information that complies with requirements of
organizations and authorities that supervise marine contaminations, manage
oil spill emergency and publish guidelines for monitoring offshore marine oil
spill.

Oil spills have special characteristics that are attributed to both

environmental and chemical inherent processes. These factors are dynamic,
unpredicted and uncontrolled and tend to affect the oil composition and
spread. Therefore, prompt, readily and timely information about the location
and extent of the spill are required to effectively respond. ORSOLAR, due to
its compact dimensions can be mounted on UAS as well as on all sorts of
surveillance airplanes, with immediate take off from off-shore or on-shore,
nearby or remote launching locations reducing the time-to-arrive factor.
ORSOLAR presents scanning results immediately, online in a readable simple
manner.

With oil spill monitoring, there are short-term and long-term requirements.
The short-term requirements are to get videos and photographic recording of
the slick and transmit them to a control center to manage the calamity.
Control center are in need for timely information about the extent of the
slick, the location, and the effectiveness of dispersant operations. ORSOLAR,
takes videos and photos of the oil slick with radiometric IR images, polarized
UV imaging and HD imaging with GPS data. UV and IR sensors operate in
different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and provide different
indications of the oil and surrounding water. Moreover, the range of natural
ambient phenomena such as sunlight, air and water temperature, wind and
waves, give rise to 'false positives'. But each sensor is affected differently
and therefore a combination of sensors renders more reliable information for
oil detection than either sensor on its own.

They are capable of simultaneously mapping the total extent of the oil spill,
from thin layers (> 0.01 μm thick) through to thick surface oil (> 100 μm
thick). The instrument uses two different sensors:

 an optical detector sensitive to light in the near ultraviolet (UV) range, typically 320-
380 nm, and
 an infrared (IR) detector sensitive to radiation in the thermal range, typically 8-12 μm.

Corona partial discharge created in high voltage transmission, distribution and industrial settings can lead to
power losses and reduced reliability. Problems associated with corona are: components degradation, RFI
interference, noise and other compromising effects to equipment and surroundings. Corona cameras serve
to see the signals and through them to fix the problems.

Ofil’s DayCor LuminarHD presents a combined UV-visible image, accurately displaying the exact location of
the targeted corona. This provides a real-time reference as well as a recordable visual log throughout the
corona inspection session.

The LuminarHD features ergonomic design including an easy grip, large lighted control buttons, a pictorial
menu, large bright and adjustable display and a powerful zoom. These features work alongside a heavy duty
rechargeable battery to allow for extended use in the field. A full suite of sensors and detectors including
GPS, voice annotations, temperature and humidity create a wealth of valuable data stored on-board to be
later downloaded via dedicated database software, coronaWise.

When searching for corona, the OFIL LuminarHD provides a comfortable handheld detection system that can
identify, collect and store corona image and location data. It accurately pinpoints sources of corona partial
discharge, micro-arcing and arcing that lead to audio noise, radio/TV interference and electrical mechanical
failures. The HD optics, sensitive UV and visible light camera sensors and HD video recording enables fine
differentiation of inspected details for capture and later analysis. A Luminar HD product data sheet is
accessible here.
What is corona and why is it bad?

Technically speaking, corona is a luminous partial discharge from conductors and insulators due to
ionization of the surrounding air. High local electric, which exceeds a critical value, ionizes the air and cause
chemical reactions of air molecules during which excited nitrogen molecules in the air emit UV radiation. As
long as the electric field strength exceeds tolerable levels, ionization and corona discharge will occur. The
electromagnetic discharge is actually invisible to the bare eyes yet the corona camera shows the UV image
overlapping the visible image and thereby the actual corona discharge.

Partial discharge can damage the integrity of polymer insulators. It produces ozone, nitric oxides (which
yields nitric acid under conditions of high humidity) and emits ultraviolet radiation, causing the decomposition
and erosion of the insulators. Damage to mechanical and electrical properties will shorten insulator lifespan
and risk safety. Radio interference from corona (RI/ RFI) disrupts AM transmissions and smart grid
communications, and audio noise can disturb residents living in the area that these corona discharges are
occurring.

There are practical methods to mitigate corona such as using proven

high voltage design practices, maximizing distances between
conductors, using large radius conductors and avoiding the use of
components with sharp corners and edges. In the accompanying
image, corona rings are being used to distribute electromagnetic field
gradient along insulators to protect corona-prone material and
connections.

How to detect corona?

When corona occurs, our senses perceive some of the created by-
products. Our ears can hear the hissing and cracking, at our eyes
detect a faint purple glow of corona, our noses detect the distinct smell
of ozone. However, these senses are not fine-tuned enough to locate
the discharge source, especially when keeping a distance from the high
power electric equipment. Partial discharge emits noise, ultraviolet and
high frequency radio waves. These energies can be detected and
pinpointed using instruments designed for the particular energy emission. UV systems perceive corona UV
and convert it into visible light to allow pinpointed visual identification. Ultrasound systems receive
ultrasound waves and provide directional indication. Ultrasound location is less accurate and when detecting
from a distance, special microphones are needed. IR is another visual location technique that lacks the
ability to detect corona UV due to the fact that corona produces very little—if any—heat.

Conventional UV sensors and filters are “blinded” by normal daylight. Using solar blind filters, detection of
weak UV signals is enabled in full daylight. Pinpoint location makes UV visualization the most effective way
to inspect for corona discharge.

Shrinking remote aerial corona inspections

An irony of electric power is that electricity is often produced great distances from where it is used.
Transmission lines span long distances and are often in remote locations. An important task of electrical
utilities is to maintain transmission line reliability and reduce energy and revenue losses. Hard to reach
transmission line inspection can present problems. Aerial inspection is an efficient way to monitor the grid
when considering labor cost, time consumption, distances, topographic barriers and safety. Originally,
handheld units were carried to inspection locations by helicopter. Later, a gyro-stabilized gimbaled system
with a UV camera, IR camera and an HD TV camera were mounted under the helicopter.

While helicopter inspection works for long spans of remote

lines, costs of using a helicopter to inspect nearby, out-of-
reach equipment is comparatively high. Advancement of
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and the
miniaturization of cameras and controls allow line and
equipment inspection in hard and perhaps dangerous to
access places not a great distance away. Ofil has introduced compact and lightweight corona imagers for
UAV aerial inspection systems. This miniaturized inspection system transmits the inspected data to a base
unit. Additionally, Ofil also offers a complete UAV platform, called aviROM, that flies autonomously along
predetermined routes and uses a special "Follow Mode" feature to keep the installed cameras on target. The
system is quickly assembled and collapsed and fits in the trunk of a car. Specifications such as 30 minute
flight time, 1.5 km flight radius and a 150 m altitude ensure that it will be embraced by inspection teams.

Ofil, your source for corona detection equipment

UV inspection is used for locating faulty equipment and for predictive maintenance of high voltage
apparatuses. The value proposition of UV inspection is its ability to pinpoint corona. Ofil developed Solar
Blind visible bi-spectral imaging to overcome daylight confounding issues. They offer a complete range of
devices for finding corona. In addition to LuminarHD and UAV systems, they also provide additional UV
inspection solutions. Superb OD/XD is a very robust, sensitive, handheld, bi-spectral, visible-UVc detection
camera with high pinpointing resolution. UVollé-X corona cameras are light in weight, have a slim silhouette
and extended LCD display, and are designed to be comfortably held in the hand.Ranger vehicle-mounted
corona detection camera. Scalar is a high value, low cost,
affordable corona detection camera for indoor inspection of
motors and switches. Ranger is a tilt-and-pan vehicle-mounted
corona inspection system for driven applications and Rail
provides fully automatic stand-alone corona inspection system
dedicated to high speed railway use.

Ofil’s systems are renowned for having the highest sensitivity to

UV discharge and are used in the power transmission industry
globally. DayCor® corona cameras are used by electrical
utilities for inspection of high and medium overhead
transmission lines, distribution, substations, lab and industrial locations. Ofil research and development
investments enable product line expansion, new accessories and software upgrades. CITI, the Corona
Inspection Training Institute, sponsored by Ofil, offers training worldwide in UV inspection techniques.