| Power plant products
New IR imaging unit for power industry predictive maintenance
Industrial imaging specialist Hikmicro has launched a flagship thermal camera to deliver what it believes is the ultimate in infrared radiation precision, rugged reliability, and workflow efficiency for the electrical power industry.
The SP100H, which exhibits 865 000-pixel resolution and <20 mK thermal sensitivity, is expected to be a game-changer for electrical utilities, power generation plants and renewable energy facilities because it allows the accurate detection of minute temperature variations in connections, transformers and circuit breakers from a safe distance, but with absolute clarity. This, combined with an integrated software ecosystem made up of Hikmicro’s intelligent
Analyser and Viewer App, is said to eliminate workflow bottlenecks and turn raw thermal data and images into actionable and professional reports for management and regulators to streamline
compliance and the entire inspection process. The Hikmicro SP100H, the latest in the company’s SP Series, with its 1040x832 IR resolution can pinpoint overheating in small- gauge connections, faulty insulators and internal transformers. ‘SuperIR’ enhancement technology at 30 Hz frequency also means that thermal images are upscaled 4X for great detail in live and recorded radiometric data.
The unit supports five focus modes with a fast focus speed of one second to match workflow to optimise image clarity and ensure measurement accuracy, and is coupled with a 90° rotating screen and a 180° rotating lens design to make viewing from any angle to the target area possible.
US DoE validates key component of SPARC fusion project
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a prominent private fusion company, has announced the successful results of rigorous performance tests of its toroidal field (TF) magnet, a key component at the heart of the company’s SPARC fusion power machine, claimed to be the world’s most advanced next-generation energy technology project. Validation was carried out by an independent panel of reviewers under the US Department of Energy’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Programme.
Following this success, CFS has received $8 million from the programme, which aims to accelerate innovation and the commercialisation of fusion power.
DOE’s Milestone programme employs public- private partnerships to catalyse the development of a new commercial fusion power industry.
The milestones and completion criteria that are selected represent key achievements to de-risk the technologies, and to demonstrate real and tangible progress towards the advancement of commercial fusion. The milestones are assessed by an independent board of technical experts from national labs, and the DOE reimburses costs only upon satisfactory technical milestone achievement This award to CFS provided confirmation that the company’s first production high-field D-shaped TF magnets passed a battery of acceptance tests for inclusion in the SPARC machine. These magnets use proprietary design and manufacturing processes and are based on high temperature superconductors. Over a month of rigorous performance tests were performed that mimic operational modes in SPARC; the results were reviewed and validated
by a team of DoE magnet experts experienced in fusion, high energy accelerators, and material science magnets.
The magnet technology was previously validated in a series of tests in 2021 at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Centre, which showed that the full production magnets installed in the CFS SPARC demonstration fusion machine were meeting requirements. The magnets are now in regular serial production at the manufacturing facility. The same design is anticipated for the ARC power plant.
CFS, the Fusion Industry Association, the Special Competitive Studies Project Commission on Scaling Fusion Energy, and others are calling for an expanded, demonstration phase of the Milestone programme to support the first commercial demonstration fusion pilot plant.
Relaunch of improved ASCO solenoid valve
Emerson has launched an enhanced version of its ASCO Series 327C solenoid valve, featuring new intrinsically safe and manual reset construction versions. The valve is designed with a direct-acting, high-flow technology that is said to offer superior flow-to-power ratios, making it ideal for high-demand industries such as power plants and refineries.
The new ASCO valve offers a balanced poppet construction for high-flow efficiency and is capable of operation in harsh environments, with temperatures ranging from -60 to 90°C. The valve’s two-layer dynamic seal technology reduces friction and ensures ‘stiction’ resistance, to provide reliable and consistent performance over its lifecycle. The intrinsically safe and manual reset versions, new to the Series, provide faster
response times and greater reliability. The intrinsically safe model eliminates the need for an electronic booster, enabling more consistent partial stroke testing and faster response times, a significant advancement for these types of valves. Additional features include a unique electrical test connection to help streamline field commissioning and prevent moisture ingress during storage. “Facilities in demanding industries like power and chemical processing need valves that offer long-term performance with minimal maintenance,” commented Anne Sophie Kedad, director of Marketing Process and Sustainability at Emerson. “With the Series 327C, we are not only providing superior valve performance but also meeting the industry’s growing need for intrinsically safe solutions capable of performing
critical operations with minimal downtime and lower maintenance costs. This new construction enables our customers to access a much simpler design as there is no electronic booster to operate the solenoid valve.”
www.modernpowersystems.com | November/December 2025 | 49
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