Coltraco Ultrasonics provides ultrasonics for the power generation sector through specialist ultrasonic testing equipment designed for critical assets. Our systems help operators check liquid levels, fire suppression cylinders, tanks, switchgear and other essential equipment without unnecessary dismantling or disruption.
Coltraco Ultrasonics has been proudly serving the Energy Industry for 30 years. We supply instrumentation and systems to Power Plants, coal-fired power stations, hydro gas plants, and nuclear power plants across the power generation sector.
We are proud winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, in both 2019 and 2022.
Coltraco Ultrasonics supports the power generation sector with ultrasonic testing, measurement and monitoring equipment used to inspect critical plant assets without unnecessary dismantling or disruption. Its technologies help operators check liquid levels, fire suppression cylinders, tanks, switchgear and other equipment where safety, uptime and compliance matter.
In practice, Coltraco’s ultrasonic equipment can help power generation teams:
An ultrasonic transducer sends a controlled signal into the material being tested. The equipment then reads the output signal or change in response. This allows the user to measure, confirm or detect a level, point, boundary or defect depending on the system and application.
Oil conservators in substations are a critical component to modulate the temperature of transformers and prevent electrical fires from breaking out. Therefore, a leak in the oil conservator represents a critical issue for the substation, whether it is due to component fatigue or an accident.
Non-invasive measurement is the best means of monitoring the contents while retaining the always-on functionality required in electrical networks, and doing this ultrasonically allows this to be achieved in real time. Ultrasonic level monitoring is both a well-established and proven technology across a number of industries.
Coltraco’s original Portatank® technology is a portable handheld system validated in various industrial settings. Previous successful applications include:
Electrical substations are protected by specialised gas fire suppression systems designed to extinguish fires quickly without conducting electricity, damaging sensitive electronic equipment, or endangering personnel. Substations rely on fixed fire-suppression systems to protect transformers, switchgear, and control rooms.
Coltraco Portalevel® units, such as Portalevel® MAX PLUS, ADVANCED and IS, are used in substations to non-invasively check the liquid level inside fire-suppression cylinders, typically CO₂, FM-200, NOVEC 1230, or other clean agents. They allow technicians to verify that cylinders have not leaked and still contain the correct agent mass without disconnecting, weighing, or depressurising them.
Portalevel® devices send an ultrasonic pulse through the cylinder wall and detect the change in signal response between the liquid phase and gas phase. By moving the sensor vertically, the technician identifies the exact liquid level. This ensures substations remain compliant with fire-safety regulations that require periodic cylinder content checks.
For cylinder inspection applications, see Coltraco’s fire safety equipment servicing sector page.
Turbine fires commonly start within the nacelle, specifically at one of three critical points: converter and capacitor cabinets, the transformer, or the brake. The nacelle brakes, in particular, generate significant friction and heat, and any mechanical fault can easily lead to a fire.
The situation is exacerbated by the nacelle’s construction from highly flammable resin fibreglass and internal insulation that can be contaminated with oil deposits, which add to the fire’s fuel load. Even a small fire can quickly escalate under these conditions.
To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to equip the nacelle with small automatic gaseous fire suppression systems. These systems can extinguish fires before maintenance engineers arrive, preventing total loss, saving lives, and protecting critical infrastructure.
Portalevel® MAX PLUS can be used inside a wind turbine nacelle to monitor the liquid level of fire-suppression cylinders, typically CO₂, FM-200, or NOVEC 1230, non-invasively, ensuring the nacelle’s fire-protection system remains fully charged and compliant. This is important because nacelles are remote, high-risk environments where fire-suppression reliability is critical.
Nuclear power environments demand exceptionally robust, high-integrity sensing technologies due to:
Because Coltraco designs and manufactures its sensors entirely within the UK, it can support nuclear operators who require:
Coltraco’s engineering services division explicitly offers bespoke research, product design, and end-to-end development across all Technology Readiness Levels, including advanced sensor design, acoustics, electromagnetics, and AI-enabled monitoring. This capability allows the company to explore unique and challenging nuclear applications that require custom instrumentation.
For custom projects, visit Coltraco’s Product Design & Engineering Services page.
Power generation environments need equipment that is practical for site teams and reliable enough for safety-related inspection work.
Coltraco’s ultrasonic systems support applications where users need to measure, confirm or detect a condition without opening equipment. Depending on the asset, this may involve an ultrasonic generator, ultrasonic transducers, a calibrated reader, a handheld meter or a complete measurement system.
Typical considerations include:
Where standard equipment is not necessarily suitable, Coltraco can review the application and advise whether an existing product or bespoke engineering route is the right method.
Coltraco Ultrasonics is a British manufacturer of ultrasonic technologies supplying customers across safety-critical sectors worldwide. The company combines product manufacturing, laboratory knowledge, field experience and engineering services for customers who need dependable measurement in demanding environments.
Power generation operators choose Coltraco because the equipment is designed for real inspection tasks, not general-purpose assumptions. The focus is clear: help teams measure what matters, confirm equipment readiness and reduce avoidable risk.
If your site needs support with transformer oil monitoring, fire suppression cylinder inspection, tank measurement or a challenging nuclear application, speak to Coltraco’s technical team.
Contact Coltraco Ultrasonics to discuss the right ultrasonic testing equipment for your power generation site.
