Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Researchers has developed an efficient technique for the identification of pollution deposit levels in the Power transmission network. The IIT Madras Research Team is planning to approach NTPC, Power Grid and other utilities to demonstrate this technology and its use in the real power system network.

The Key Applications and Benefits of this Research include Online monitoring without interrupting power supply, Rapid and remote measurement, Non-invasive/Non-destructive measurement, most economical process. The reliability of an electric power system largely depends on the performance of the electrical insulation.

The outdoor insulation on the transmission lines running over a few lakh kilometres and the substation equipment, in addition to the electrical, thermal and mechanical stresses, are subjected to environmental pollution. Due to the high operating voltages and huge spatial span of the electrical transmission system, it would be essential to ascertain the level of pollution deposition and the type of pollutant before such a mammoth exercise can be planned. The entire length of the transmission line could be monitored effectively for its condition on pollution deposit level, in a  short time.

Further, Prof. R. Sarathi said, "LIBS coupled with Machine Learning techniques are becoming promising tools for the identification and classification of the type and level of the pollutant deposits on the insulators in the power transmission network." Using this effective technique, the pollution level on the transmission line insulators and the windmills can be identified at any remote location.