Signs (visual inspection)
The signs of this criticality do not surface through a simple visual or sniffing inspection.
...For what Askarel (based on PCBs) is concerned instead
The visual inspection must be finalised toward the evaluation of the state of the equipment and the surrounding environment in order to prevent and minimise the impact of a possible contamination by PCBs on human health and the environment. In in this case it is necessary to evaluate the operational scenario starting from the subject (type of equipment, dimension, power, age, type of insulating liquid, position of the installation, measures for the containment of leakages etc.) its functional conditions (leakages, bleedings, signs of corrosion, vibrations or unusual noises, levels and temperature of the fluid etc.), moving then to the evaluation of the surrounding environment, such as the anthropisation (isolated area, metropolitan area and more in details, the presence of sensitive settlements such as schools, hospitals etc.) environmental severity, with the matrices possibly involved (water, air, surfaces, soil etc.).
Representative sampling
During the inspection of the transformers it is necessary to take representative samples of the insulating oil in compliance with the norm of reference and the operational instructions enclosed with the sampling kit with throw-away materials (more info).
