Executive Summary
- OMICRON has announced the launch of PARAGEMO 400, a standalone, continuous partial discharge monitoring system for rotating electrical machines
- The system detects stator winding insulation defects under load that measurements often miss, delivering continuous insight into stator insulation condition and emerging defects in high-voltage generators and motors
- Maintenance engineers are often forced to react to unforeseen issued while still adhering to rigid maintenance schedules, while asset managers face increasing operational risks and reduced asset lifespans – an issue PARAGEMO 400 aims to fix
OMICRON, a global leader in power system testing and monitoring solutions,
announces the launch of PARAGEMO 400. This cutting-edge, standalone partial
discharge (PD) monitoring system is engineered to help operators of rotating electrical machines focus on what matters most by providing reliable detection of insulation
defects in the stator windings. Built on fully automated, noise-resilient PD source
separation and trending, the system delivers continuous insight into stator insulation condition and emerging defects in high-voltage generators and motors. With this
data-driven approach, power utilities and industrial plants can transition from time-based to condition-based maintenance.
The high cost of time-based maintenance
Rotating electrical machines—motors and generators powering grid stability and
industrial production—are under constant stress. Thermal, Electrical, Ambient, and
Mechanical (TEAM) factors lead to progressive insulation deterioration. Until now, many facilities have relied on strict maintenance schedules, with test results reviewed and then archived without continuous follow-up.
“Maintenance engineers are often forced to react to unforeseen issues while still
adhering to rigid maintenance schedules,” says Daniel Gebhardt, Product Manager at OMICRON. “At the same time, asset managers face increasing operational risks and
reduced asset lifespans. PARAGEMO 400 addresses this disconnect by providing
continuous, noise-resilient partial discharge insight into stator insulation condition,
enabling more targeted maintenance decisions and a solid foundation for long-term
asset planning.”
The smoke detector for insulation defects
At the core of this transformation is a focus on precise root cause investigation. Unlike basic vibration, bearing or temperature monitoring, PARAGEMO 400 targets partial discharge (PD)—the “smoke detector” for insulation failure in rotating machines. With a high-speed sampling rate of 250 MS/s, it delivers specialist-grade diagnostic data that allows engineers to pinpoint the origin and nature of insulation defects.
Filters out the noise to focus on defects
To ensure these insights are actionable, the system significantly reduces false alarms
in noisy industrial environments by utilizing advanced filtering and automated source separation for up to 45 simultaneous sources. This processing ensures that external
interference (noise) is effectively filtered out, allowing engineers to focus on genuine
insulation defects.
Simply connect sensors and AC power
This capability is packaged for rugged, plug-and-play operation. The system is housed in a compact, IP66-rated enclosure weighing under 5 kg, enabling streamlined installation where connecting sensors and power is sufficient to initiate immediate, gap-free monitoring.
Big memory for subtle details
The system also offers long-term visibility via extensive internal storage capable of
archiving a decade of daily-resolution data—or even a century at monthly resolution. This creates a robust evidentiary trail of per-source history, supporting insurance
compliance, safety requirements, and long-term capital expenditure planning. With
a sensitivity of less than 1 pC, PARAGEMO 400 detects subtle issues such as delamination years before they escalate, protecting high-value machines and helping ensure stable and predictable operation.
Why focus on partial discharge?
While mechanical parameters provide valuable insights, stator insulation faults remain one of the primary drivers of breakdowns in large rotating machines. Partial discharge (PD) monitoring offers a distinct advantage as an early warning system, identifying
manufacturing defects and aging processes long before they are detectable through
traditional measurements. Because PD monitoring is performed online under real
operating conditions, it captures load-dependent deterioration that periodic offline tests frequently miss. Ultimately, online PD monitoring provides comprehensive oversight by tracking the combined impact of TEAM stresses across the stator winding.
Technical specifications
- Four input channels
- Input frequency range: 50 kHz to 80 MHz
- Connectivity: Industrial-grade fiber-optic Ethernet for browser-based access
- Archiving: Extensive internal storage — over 250 days at 1-minute resolution and up to 100 years at monthly resolution
More information at omicronenergy.com/paragemo-400
