Energy infrastructure area inspection system using multispectral image analysis.
Data
Acronym: AIRCHK
Partners: Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables
Duration: June 2022 – Present
Budget: Internal
Financing: Internal
Project overview
The AIRCHK project represents a significant advance in the inspection and maintenance of ITER’s renewable energy infrastructures, such as photovoltaic and wind power plants and the buildings and structures that comprise them. Using drones equipped with cameras capable of capturing images in the visible (RGB) and infrared (thermal) spectrum, AIRCHK enables detailed inspections to be carried out autonomously, thereby reducing the costs and time associated with infrastructure maintenance. This methodology not only improves efficiency in detecting faults and anomalies in solar panels and wind turbine blades, but also minimises environmental impact by reducing the need for direct human intervention in these ecosystems.
The innovation of the project does not stop at image collection; the post-processing of the captured data is a crucial part of AIRCHK. Through advanced analysis of the thermal and RGB images and their correlation with electrical variables, the project provides an accurate diagnosis of the state of the facilities, facilitating decision-making for optimisation. This data integration makes it possible to accurately identify areas of low efficiency or damage, resulting in more effective resource management and maximising the performance of these energy facilities.
To date, flights have been carried out over a total of 135 10 kW photovoltaic plants, distributed among the different facilities managed and operated by ITER, having processed and generated thermal maps that have made it possible to detect and in many cases correct performance losses. In addition, work is being carried out on a first battery of flights in wind turbines to validate the acquisition methodology and subsequent processing of the images of the blades, one of the most critical elements in this type of machine. The service is consolidated in the maintenance dynamics of the installations of both departments.
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