A power system comprises five major segments as follows: generation
transmission
transformation
distribution
and consumption
involving a wide variety and large quantity of equipment. Intelligent operation and maintenance (IOM) is therefore essential to ensuring the system’s safe and stable operation. As an emerging technology
digital twin can provide strong supports for IOM of power equipment. This paper first analyzes the business requirements of IOM and reviews the relevant concepts
characteristics
and application framework of digital twins. Then
this paper systematically reviews the research status of six key technologies
including multi-dimensional sensing of equipment operating states
real-time data transmission and cyber-physical interaction
twin data storage and preprocessing
twin model construction and lightweighting
digital twin-driven IOM services
and digital-twin maturity assessment. On this basis
a refined application architecture and a maturity assessment system are proposed. Finally
by taking gas insulated switchgear (GIS) operation and maintenance as a case study
the proposed framework is validated
and the major challenges and future research directions of digital twins for IOM of power equipment are systematically summarized.