Replace Failed Electrical Equipment Viewing Windows While Adding Infrared Inspection Capability

by Mark Bowling, Level II Thermographer, IRISS Inc.

Overview

Vandolah Power, a power generation plant in Florida, struggled with inspecting their
18 kV, 8000 amp generator breaker through the factory-installed standard viewing
windows. The windows had suffered from degradation due to UV exposure and
were no longer visually transparent, therefore making it impossible to inspect the
equipment. These viewing windows were originally designed to visually verify the
breaker open/close status for personnel safety reasons. Naturally, plant personnel
were very concerned with the current state of the degraded windows.

Steve Watson, owner of Connected Power, an electrical service contractor located in
Brandon, Florida, found the right solution for their problem. Steve invited his customer
to tour the manufacturing plant of IRISS, a global leader in Electrical Maintenance
Safety Devices (EMSDs) and designers of the world‘s first patented industrial-grade
IR window solutions. Steve’s customer saw first-hand the state-of-the-art equipment
and manufacturing process that IRISS provides. It was clear that IRISS focuses on
continuously improving infrared (IR) window technology, building reliable products,
exceeding customer expectations and protecting the IRISS polymer IR windows
through an unconditional lifetime warranty.

The solution was found. The IRISS IR window that replaced the failed factory-installed
windows on the 18 kV, 8000 amp generator breaker was the CAP-CT Flex IR Series
window. The window was specifically designed to replace the original factory-installed
windows. These IRISS IR windows now provide the ability to do visual
inspections, infrared inspections for excessive heat and UV inspections for corona.
The IRISS CAP Series of infrared windows are the largest standard-sized IR windows
available in the marketplace today. The series incorporates a rectangular design
available in standard sizes of 4, 6, 12 and 24 inches and allows for more freedom
to inspect multiple components through one infrared window. As in this application,
in addition to the standard sizes, custom sizes are available. Vandolah Power was
looking for a solution for the replacement of their failed windows and can now rest
assured that the IRISS windows will last the lifetime of their equipment.