Development of Vapochromic Coordination Polymer Materials as Sensors for Electrical Transformer Diagnostics

加拿大社会高度依赖电网的稳定性。变压器是电力系统的重要组成部分，本次战略项目研究旨在提高变压器的效率、稳定性和使用寿命。这可以通过保持一致的变压器运行来极大地提高电网的整体稳定性，目标是避免灾难性的电力故障，并将公用事业公司的成本降至最低。Powertech实验室(BC Hydro的子公司)在研究变压器诊断、状态评估和延长寿命的技术方面一直处于领先地位。特别是，变压器绕组处绝缘纸的劣化是电力变压器技术寿命终结的关键决定因素。这种退化会产生特定的标记化合物，可用于诊断变压器的状态。理想情况下，这些标记应在运行期间在变压器中在线检测到。然而，目前这是不可能的，因为没有合适的传感器材料可以检测到标记化合物。

Canadian Society is highly dependent on the stability of the electrical power grid. Transformers are a critical component of the power system and the research in this Strategic Project grant aims to increase their efficiency, stability and lifetime. This can greatly increase overall power grid stability by maintaining consistent transformer operation, with the goals of avoiding catastrophic power failures and minimizing costs to the utility company. Powertech Labs (a BC Hydro subsidiary) has been a leader in researching techniques for transformer diagnostics, condition assessment and life extension. In particular, the degradation of the insulating paper at the windings of the electrical transformers is a key determinant of the technical end of life of a power transformer. This degradation generates specific marker compounds that can be used to diagnose the transformer's status. Ideally, these markers should be detected online, in the transformer during operation. However, this is currently not possible because there are no appropriate sensor materials that can detect the marker compounds.