Proposal of a predictive and preventive maintenance plan in electrical substations through the use of thermography

The objective of this study was to make a proposal for a predictive and preventive maintenance plan in the electrical substations La Propicia, Las Palmas, and La Pradera belonging to CNEL-EP Esmeraldas Business Unit through the use of thermography. The methodology was of a qualitative approach, under the type of documentary-bibliographical research. The search for information was carried out online in scientific and academic databases. It was found that the information on the maintenance plans in the subtransmission system of CNEL EP Esmeraldas Business Unit, is meager, preventive and predictive maintenance actions are carried out such as revision, washing, readjustment and replacement of elements in poor condition, but no information was found on the analysis technique used leading to the maintenance activities of electrical equipment and installations. The results of the consulted investigations agree that the thermographic technique and its tools such as drones, infrared cameras and software programs are very useful for the diagnosis, collection and processing of data in electrical systems to determine maintenance requirements. Finally, the investigation yielded substantial information that allowed the preparation of a maintenance plan for the aforementioned La Propicia, Las Palmas and La Pradera electrical substations of CNEL-EP Esmeraldas Business Unit through the use of infrared thermography, to assist in their better operation. and performance by allowing the evaluation of the state of the equipment that makes up the electrical system of the aforementioned substations.