Sangha System

SCTM-SSG90

Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) Solution for 11kV & 33kV Switchgear

SCTM-SSG90

Key Specifications

SCTM-SSG90 (Switchgear Continuous Trend Monitoring) is built around the SANGHA-SSG (Switchgear Sensing Gateway), an integrated multi-sensor monitoring unit designed for switchgear protection. It combines AE ultrasound and IR array thermal imaging technologies to detect and track critical defects — insulation breakdown, overheating, and arc flash — inside 11kV and 33kV switchgear, providing continuous online condition-based maintenance (CBM) centered on trend monitoring rather than periodic manual inspection, with real-time data streaming available upon customer request.

The four sensor types it monitors are chosen to match the leading documented causes of switchgear failure (source: IEEE Std 493, Design of Reliable Industrial and Commercial Power Systems / industry technical white papers): thermal faults account for roughly 45% of failures (loose busbar connections, contact resistance, localized overheating), partial discharge for about 25% (insulation degradation, voids, aging dielectric materials), arc faults for about 20% (tracking, dust/moisture ingress, foreign objects, short circuits), and environmental factors for about 10% (ambient temperature swings, high humidity, ventilation failure).

This is implemented as a 4-Layer Defense Architecture — permanent installation, hourly trend monitoring, defect-related level monitoring, a Switchgear Health Index (SHI), and continuous server-side accumulation for online tracking. The four sensor layers are AE (Ultrasound), for detection of early partial-discharge signals; THM (IR Thermal), an infrared array that maps hotspots across the area without manual aiming; Env (Temperature/Humidity), for environmental tracking with anti-condensation logic; and ARC, for arc-flash detection with a 1ms response time using a pulse-count detection method, primarily operating in a contactless environment with optional trip-signal integration available upon customer requirements.

All sensors wire into a single SANGHA-SSG gateway, which supports up to 10 sensors per switchgear panel through 8 universal sensor ports (any combination of THM, Env, and Arc sensors) plus 2 dedicated AE ports (up to 2 AE sensors per panel for precise partial-discharge detection). One gateway is installed per switchgear panel on a strict one-to-one basis, with dual Ethernet ports for daisy-chaining multiple panels back to a central server and a single DC input powering the gateway and all connected sensors. The standard SCTM package pairs one SSG gateway with seven sensors per panel: four sensor types (ARC, THM, ENV, AE) in the Cable Compartment and three (THM, ENV, AE) in the CB (Circuit Breaker) Compartment — the exact sensor mix and quantity remain fully customizable per site.

Trend data is logged on-device as CSV for up to 10 years, even through network outages, with automatic synchronization of any missing data once connectivity is restored, and hourly per-switchgear storage feeding continuous 24/7 statistics that build the Switchgear Health Index (SHI). A dual-path connection transmits the same data simultaneously to local control-room displays and to remote servers over LTE or LAN; devices can be grouped automatically by region, substation, and channel, configured remotely by group, and fault alerts are pushed through a dedicated app and SMS.

The hardware is engineered for high-voltage switchgear rooms: it is designed for robust EMI and Very Fast Transient (VFT) immunity, and each sensor connects over a single RG316 RF cable that carries both 12V DC power and data via Power-over-Coax. Protection includes triple physical shielding (case, circuit, and cable) plus dual-layer surge protection against external lightning surges and fast internal semiconductor damage. The enclosure is precision-machined aluminum with an Alodine coating for corrosion resistance and added EMI shielding, a Gore-Tex vent maintains airtightness while preventing condensation, and conformal coating protects the internal PCB from moisture and salt. SANGHA-SSG hardware is designed, manufactured (including in-house SMT assembly), and quality-tested entirely in-house.

Sensor Modules

  • Arc Flash (SCTM-ARC50) — pulse-count based arc detection with a 1ms response time; primarily operates for contactless condition monitoring with optional trip-signal integration available based on customer requirements; compact 60×60×50mm aluminum die-cast housing
  • Environment / Humidity (SCTM-HUM60) — MEMS-based digital capacitive humidity sensor, 0–100% RH range at ±2–3% RH accuracy, 8-second-or-less response time, less than 0.25% RH/year long-term drift, PTFE membrane filter for dust protection; also correlates with thermal data to flag condensation/dew-point risk
  • Thermal IR (SCTM-THM70) — infrared array for full-area, non-contact thermal monitoring with automatic hotspot tracking and location identification
  • AE / Acoustic Emission (SCTM-AE80) — 40kHz high-sensitivity ultrasonic sensor for airborne ultrasonic defect detection and partial-discharge trend monitoring

Diagnostic Thresholds (Switchgear Health Index)

  • AE / Ultrasound — Normal: baseline (1dB SPL resolution, 20–70dB range) / Higher Concern: 1–3dB SPL above baseline / Major Concern: more than 3dB SPL above baseline, sustained over 3 seconds
  • Thermal (ΔT), non-contact — Normal: under 3°C rise / Higher Concern: 3–10°C rise / Major Concern: more than 10°C rise, sustained over 15 minutes
  • Environmental (Humidity) — Normal: under 60% RH / Higher Concern: 60–80% RH / Major Concern: more than 80% RH, sustained over 1 hour
  • Arc Flash (pulse-count based, 1ms response) — Normal: under 50 (baseline) / Higher Concern: 51–300 / Major Concern: more than 300, with a high-speed discharge pulse detected (arc fault confirmed)

Switchgear Room Compartments & Port Configuration

  • Busbar Compartment — busbar spouts/shutters and potential transformer connections monitored via contactless sensor nodes
  • CB (Circuit Breaker) Compartment — vacuum interrupter and CB truck configured with localized monitoring arrays
  • Cable Compartment — cable spout/shutters, current transformer, cable termination, earthing facilities, and cable clamp equipped with comprehensive node coverage
  • Secondary Compartment — protection relays, switches, meters, and circuit labeling for manual operation access and secure control routing
  • SSG gateway ports — 8 universal sensor ports (supporting configurable THM, Env, and Arc modules in any combination) plus 2 dedicated AE ports, dual LAN ports for daisy-chain connection, and a single DC input supplying power and data for the gateway and all connected sensors

Data Integrity & Remote Management

  • 10-Year Data Integrity — on-device CSV logging for up to 10 years, ensuring robust continuity even during network outages
  • Auto-Sync Point — automatically synchronizes all historical and missing data upon reconnection for full operational traceability
  • 24/7 Statistics — continuous measurement with hourly storage per switchgear feeding daily statistics and Switchgear Health Index (SHI) trend tracking
  • Dual-Path Connection — simultaneous transmission of trend parameters and operational data to local control-room displays and remote servers
  • Intelligent Organization & Remote Configuration — automatic device grouping and remote parameter updates by region, substation, and channel
  • Instant Notification — reliable alert reporting through a dedicated application and SMS channels

Reliability & Manufacturing

  • Hardware design engineered for robust EMI and Very Fast Transient (VFT) immunity in high-voltage environments
  • Single RG316 RF cable per sensor delivering both 12V DC power and data via Power-over-Coax (PoC), featuring a compact 2.8mm diameter for tight internal routing
  • Triple physical shielding (enclosure, circuit board, and coaxial cable) plus dual-layer surge protection against external lightning surges and fast internal semiconductor damage
  • Precision-machined aluminum housing finished with an Alodine coating for enhanced corrosion resistance and supreme EMI shielding
  • Gore-Tex vent maintaining airtightness while effectively preventing condensation and regulating internal pressure shifts
  • Conformal coating protecting internal PCB circuits from moisture, humidity, and salt damage; architecture rigorously accounts for rapid temperature shifts in conditioned environments
  • In-house design, SMT assembly, and rigorous quality-assurance testing managed end-to-end prior to shipment