H2scan's Revolutionary Monitoring System Enhances Safety and Reliability of Underground Vault Transformers

Real-time hydrogen measurement system provides instant awareness of internal faults that could lead to dangerous transformer failures

VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--No utility wants a fiery transformer failure on a busy city sidewalk, or a large power outage that impacts whole city blocks. To reduce transformer failure risks, utilities traditionally use periodic manual oil sampling to assess asset health for these difficult-to-reach and potentially dangerous underground assets. H2scan (www.h2scan.com), a leader in transformer monitoring solutions, announced today its HY-VAULT™ system that provides utilities with a cost-effective continuous monitoring solution to improve the safety and security of the communities they serve.

The HY-VAULT system addresses critical safety and infrastructure challenges for utility companies managing aging underground vault transformers in urban environments. By remotely monitoring dissolved hydrogen gas in transformers, the system allows maintenance crews to prioritize those transformers at risk of failure. By reducing the frequency of manual oil samples, personnel have less exposure to potentially hazardous environments.

This innovative solution combines H2scan's new GRIDSCAN^® 5015 or 5000 family of hydrogen sensors with an AVO-1 interface, creating the industry's only high-concentration monitoring solution specifically designed for vault transformers. By enabling reliable monitoring in previously inaccessible locations, HY-VAULT supports the shift from scheduled oil sampling to condition-based maintenance (CBM), minimizing unnecessary maintenance and potential risk to personnel.

"We are facing a critical inflection point, as utilities find traditional manual monitoring approaches are no longer sufficient when juggling workforce shortages, increasing power demands and aging assets," said David Meyers, CEO of H2scan. "Our new solution helps utilities solve pressing safety and maintenance challenges. By eliminating measurement gaps and providing continuous monitoring without requiring personnel to enter hazardous confined spaces, we're not just improving transformer management—we're fundamentally changing how utilities approach grid safety and reliability in urban environments."

The HY-VAULT system delivers several key advantages compared to traditional monitoring methods:

• Enhanced Safety: Provides a leading transformer condition indicator, alerting asset owners to potentially hazardous conditions for their personnel and the public, creating a safer working environment for maintenance teams.
• Cost-Effective Implementation: Delivers monitoring capabilities at a fraction of the initial purchase and implementation cost of the transformer.
• Superior Detection: Provides 24/7 continuous hydrogen monitoring without the need for periodic maintenance or calibration.
• Simple Installation: Designed for straightforward retrofitting of legacy equipment without infrastructure changes whilst fitting seamlessly onto new transformers.

To learn more about H2scan's transformer monitoring and industrial or commercial power solutions, visit us at DISTRIBUTECH^® March 24-27 at booth #5252 or at www.h2scan.com.

About H2scan

H2scan, a pioneer in the development of hydrogen sensing technology, has been at the forefront of innovation for more than two decades. Building on a strong foundation of research and development, H2scan has established itself as the preferred provider of leading hydrogen sensors, analyzers and systems. The operating life of its sensors surpasses that of other commercially available systems, and the company’s new Generation 5 solutions with auto-calibration offer unparalleled accuracy, maintenance-free operation and cost-effectiveness.

Trusted by industry giants like ABB, ExxonMobil, NASA and others, its products are integral in shaping the new Hydrogen Economy for a clean, secure and affordable energy future. H2scan products are also used by power utilities for transformer fleet monitoring, by the petroleum and chemical industries to optimize hydrogen-based processes, and for safety monitoring in enclosed areas susceptible to hydrogen leaks.

Built on solid-state technology pioneered at Sandia National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, H2scan boasts 24 patents covering its core technology, software and product innovations.

Learn more at www.h2scan.com.