State Grid Jingmen: Smart management system ensures grid safety

As the rain began to fall on Aug 11, Zou Rui, an operations and maintenance staff member at State Grid Jingmen Power Supply Co (State Grid Jingmen), was monitoring the real-time water levels in the sump pits and cable trenches at three low-lying substations through the central control station’s monitoring screen. The pumps were set to automatically activate and drain any excess water if the water levels exceeded the safety threshold.

The substation’s intelligent inspection system was operating at the same time. High-definition cameras scanned the perimeter walls, detecting fallen trees, floating debris, or blocked drainage ditches. Meanwhile, indoor robots patrolled high-voltage rooms and switchgear mechanisms, checking for signs of condensation or water seepage.

Well before the flood season began this year, State Grid Jingmen equipped its 66 substations rated 110-kilovolt and above with smart brains. Using intelligent inspection systems, the company launched a comprehensive, intelligent flood prevention management system featuring remote and full-area perception, early prediction and warning, and closed-loop and efficient response, transforming flood defense from reactive measures to proactive control.

This system functions in the manner of affording substations a sense of clairvoyance. Drones, inspection robots, high-definition cameras, and online monitoring devices form a patrol team that operates 24/7, monitoring critical conditions, such as roof water accumulation in control rooms, clogged drains, slope erosion, wall tilting, and foundation erosion at transmission towers.

Water level sensors installed at three key flood-prone substations act like “water level gauges”, transmitting real-time data on water depth in low-lying areas and immediately triggering alarms if thresholds are exceeded. Additionally, online monitoring devices installed at tower foundations along the Hanjiang River — prone to erosion — detect changes in the surrounding water levels, enabling the early identification and prompt resolution of potential hazards.

“Previously, we had to send personnel to each site to inspect for risks manually; after a heavy rainstorm, operators would have to visit every station to check for dangers. Now we can monitor the entire facility from our office,” said Wu Zhenqiang, an operations and maintenance worker.

Beyond comprehensive inspections, this smart flood management system also features advanced analytical capabilities to identify equipment risks.

It conducts “deep health checks” on internal equipment: infrared thermography scans transformers and circuit breakers on a one-by-one basis, instantly revealing overheated connections or moisture-damaged insulation.

Once warnings are issued, the entire response process is fully automated and traceable. When water levels exceed the given limits, pumps will automatically start draining; when floating objects or bird nests are detected, the system will immediately alert the operations and inspection department. Once resolved, the issue must be officially closed out within the system, ensuring complete accountability and auditability.

Since the launch of “smart flood prevention” system in June, flood response efficiency has significantly improved. Response times have been reduced from the traditional four hours to under 30 minutes. The system has identified 35 potential hazards, building a robust digital defense to guarantee grid safety.