Electricity safety requires caution. X-ray imaging detection technology is used to detect cables

2024-03-05

Due to electricity, humanity initiated the Second Industrial Revolution, represented by electrification, and deeply influenced the later Third Industrial Revolution and now the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Today, electricity has become an indispensable part of our production and daily life, with various power generation, consumption, transmission, and storage equipment scattered throughout factories, communities, and households. In modern society, we cannot do without electricity. No matter what we do, we cannot work without electricity. Electricity is very important for our lives, but accidents caused by electricity are also common. When it comes to electricity safety, we must always pay attention to it.

In the use of electricity, the use of cables is indispensable. Cables include power cables, control cables, compensation cables, shielded cables, high-temperature cables, computer cables, signal cables, coaxial cables, fire-resistant cables, marine cables, mining cables, aluminum alloy cables, and so on. They are all composed of single or multiple wires and insulation layers, used to connect circuits, appliances, etc.

In recent years, with the continuous acceleration of urbanization in China, the demand for electricity in various fields has been increasing, which has led to the rapid development of the wire and cable industry. Related products have been widely used in fields such as electricity, construction, communication, and petrochemicals. According to the structural form, transmission lines can be divided into two types: overhead transmission lines and cable lines. Overhead transmission lines are mainly composed of wires, line fittings, overhead ground wires, insulator strings, towers, and grounding devices, which are installed on the ground. Cable lines are mainly composed of wire cores, insulation layers, shielding layers, and protective layers, and are mainly used for urban underground power grids, power station outgoing lines, internal power supply of industrial and mining enterprises, and underwater transmission lines crossing rivers and seawater.

From the above, it is not difficult to see that "electricity" is widely used in our daily lives, and wires and cables are indispensable. So, how should we determine whether there is a fault in the wires and cables? Recently, the editor learned about a new technology called "X-ray imaging detection technology" for detecting cables.

It is reported that X-ray imaging detection technology, as a real-time imaging non-destructive testing technology, uses X-ray to penetrate the interior of the tested object, process and convert the shooting results into digital signals, and present them in an image format. When using this technology for cable anomaly diagnosis, if there is a defect anomaly in the cable, the intensity of the radiation passing through the area will produce a blackness difference in the image, helping maintenance personnel quickly and accurately evaluate the location of the cable defect and visually analyze the degree of the defect.

In addition, X-rays are electromagnetic waves with extremely short wavelengths and high energy. The wavelength of X-rays is shorter than that of visible light (about 0.001~100 nanometers, while the wavelength of X-rays used in medicine is about 0.001~0.1 nanometers). The use of X-ray imaging detection technology can not only improve the detection rate of cable anomaly diagnosis defects, but also has the advantages of fast detection speed, strong instrument portability, and high detection sensitivity.

With the continuous development of urban construction, the use of cable lines will inevitably be fully popularized. We can apply X-ray imaging detection technology to diagnose and pulse cables, ensuring electricity safety.

Intelligent Manufacturing Technology: Key Factors for Efficient Production in the Future?

Since 2020, the industrial and manufacturing industries have been affected by the pandemic. Due to forced shutdowns, strict safety regulations, and resulting labor shortages, factories find it difficult to manage production. Labor intensive industries have been particularly severely impacted, prompting people to shift towards industrial automation. In addition, supply chain disruptions caused by excessive reliance on one country (which is also the center of the pandemic) force supply chain restructuring and relocation to other countries.

Although the pandemic is still ongoing, its severity has decreased and normal activity has resumed. The struggles of the past few months have highlighted the need for machine automation, performance optimization, process visualization, and data-driven decision-making. In this situation, intelligent manufacturing technology is increasingly being adopted and receiving more and more attention. These technologies can help organizations reduce the risks associated with unavailability of human resources, improve overall efficiency, and smoothly respond to the challenges posed by uncertain events.

What is intelligent manufacturing? It involves integrating digital technology into the manufacturing environment to make the manufacturing industry more efficient, adaptable, and data-driven. This approach provides multiple benefits, such as better visibility across the value chain, faster decision-making, fewer errors, and reduced reliance on employees.

An important aspect of the manufacturing and industrial sectors is logistics. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and drones can achieve fast and efficient delivery, greatly reducing the dependence of logistics between or within factories on humans. In addition, these vehicles can be reprogrammed as needed to adapt to multiple routes, speeds, loads, etc., making them flexible transportation options. AGVs and drones have become the preferred solutions for improving overall productivity in warehousing and distribution centers.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are becoming increasingly popular in manufacturing enterprises. A successful example is Boeing, which used AR to install wires in its factory, resulting in a 90% improvement in quality and a 30% reduction in working time. AR and VR technologies are expected to soon help humans accurately complete complex tasks, thereby proving their value. In addition to assembly and manufacturing, these technologies will also play an important role in manufacturing design and process simulation.

Over time, simulation of each new product and process, as well as changes in production settings and real-time monitoring, have proven to be beneficial. Digital twin technology makes it possible to model product design, production processes, and operations. The various functions provided by digital twin technology, such as root cause analysis or hypothesis analysis, help organizations operate efficiently and better maintain their physical assets. After implementing digital twins in its 15 production units, Unilever is able to maintain consistent quality, reduce batch production time, and improve resource utilization. In the future, the popularization of digital twins will make factories more powerful.

In order to bring technologies such as digital twins into reality, it is necessary to integrate other technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML). IIoT is expected to become the backbone of future intelligent factories by digitizing factory assets, processes, inventory, and more. It establishes connections between different elements of the value chain, thereby increasing the visibility of the entire supply chain. According to a study by the McKinsey Global Institute, IIoTisexpected to have an impact on the economy of $1.2-3.7 trillion by 2025. Companies that plan their roadmap and strategy will definitely deploy this technology to gain significant benefits.

Technologies such as collaborative robots (cobots) are expected to develop in the coming years. Cobot is designed to work with humans in a shared workspace. Cobot provides flexibility, convenience, and productivity. They can easily reprogram and deploy quickly to perform repetitive or dangerous tasks, allowing human workers to undertake safe and skilled tasks.

According to the American Robotics Association, the market value of cobots will reach $7.5 billion (29% of the entire industrial robot market) by 2027. The technological innovation of grippers, embedded visual systems, AI and ML subsystems has made cobots more intelligent and efficient. Due to the lower initial cost, better return on investment (ROI), and higher productivity of cobots, the demand for cobots will surge.

The financial impact of the epidemic may currently hinder investment in intelligent manufacturing technology, but its obvious benefits will accelerate adoption in the coming years. Intelligent manufacturing technology will enable various industries to better cope with similar challenges in the future, and ensure the improvement of business continuity and overall efficiency.

Three communication methods for wireless communication: simplex, full duplex, and half duplex