Step into the daily life of a Vietnamese power engineer and hear how they transformed from skeptics to advocates of laser cleaning technology, and how this technology changed their way of working.
The Beginning: An Electrical Engineer’s Frustration
I’m Tran Van Minh, and I’ve been with Vietnam Power Grid Solutions for fifteen years. My daily work involves dealing with high-voltage cable connectors—these seemingly bulky metal components are actually quite delicate. Last rainy season, yet another problem emerged at a coastal substation we manage. Opening the connection cabinet, a strange smell mixed with sea salt and industrial dust wafted out. Old Zhang, my long-time partner, sighed while wiping the connectors with chemical solvent: “This thing is just like a person—clean it too much and you damage it, don’t clean it and it becomes life-threatening.”
We tried all traditional methods: chemical cleaning risked residue, abrasive blasting feared surface damage, high-pressure water jets kept us on edge. When the company suggested trying a continuous wave laser cleaner, Old Zhang and I both initially reacted: “Using lasers? Don’t burn up the equipment!”
The Transformation: Journey from Doubt to Trust
First Contact: An Apprehensive Trial
I remember first seeing the laser cleaner—it stood quietly in the corner of the workshop, like a precision laboratory instrument. The young man sent by the manufacturer was full of confidence, but we were filled with doubt.
“Engineer Tran, let us try this connector?” the young man pointed to a severely corroded sample just removed from the substation.
I agreed, but with strict conditions: “First, you must test on scrapped components under my supervision. And I need to watch it work with my own eyes.”
Unexpected Surprise: Visible Results
When the machine started, Old Zhang instinctively stepped back half a step. But soon, our worry turned to amazement. Where the laser swept, rust disappeared as if by magic, revealing the metal’s original luster. Most miraculously, when touched, the surface temperature had barely changed.
“It’s like cleaning with light,” Old Zhang later described. “No contact, no heat, but the dirt disappears.”
In Practice: Laser Cleaning’s Real Performance in Daily Work
The Coastal Substation Challenge
Haiphong Substation was our most difficult site. Equipment there suffered year-round erosion from sea wind, requiring re-cleaning every few months with conventional methods. After switching to laser cleaning, the effect was immediate:
- Cleaning Time: Reduced from 6 hours to 90 minutes
- Maintenance Cycle: Extended from 3 months to 8 months
- Unexpected Benefit: Subtle cracks became much easier to detect during cleaning
A Veteran’s New Tool
What surprised me most was Old Zhang’s change in attitude. This veteran who once resisted new technology the most has now become the “spokesperson” for laser cleaning. He even developed his own insights:
“In the morning when humidity is high, reduce power by 5%; for composite stains, start slow then go faster; you can judge the cleaning effect by the color after the laser passes…”
Depth: The Human Stories Behind the Technology
Real Experience with Safety
Before, when doing chemical cleaning, we had to wear gas masks and protective suits—pure torture in summer. Now, just a pair of laser safety goggles and work clothes are enough. Most importantly, the psychological burden is lighter—no more worrying about chemical residues causing accidents.
Pleasant Discovery of Precision
What satisfied us most was the cleaning precision. Previously, sandblasting inevitably damaged good surfaces. But laser Cleaner are like having eyes—only removing contaminants while preserving intact insulating paint. This characteristic is particularly important when handling precision connectors.
The Real Cost Calculation
| Expense Item | Traditional Methods | Laser Cleaning | Actual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Costs | ~8 million VND/month | Almost zero | ~7.6 million VND |
| Labor Time | 6 people/shift | 2 people/shift | 66% labor saved |
| Equipment Wear | Frequent repairs | Almost no wear | ~200 million VND/year |
| Environmental Treatment | Special wastewater treatment | No pollution | Eliminates approval processes |
Reflections: Technology Changes More Than Just Work Methods
From “Manual Labor” to “Smart Work”
Old Zhang put it aptly: “Before we were manual laborers, now we’re equipment managers.” Though said in jest, it captures the essence. Laser cleaning transformed our work from dirty, exhausting, and dangerous to precise and efficient.
New Possibilities for Knowledge Transfer
What recently struck me deeply was how quickly young engineer Mei mastered the equipment operation. “This is much simpler than learning chemical mixtures,” she said. “Set the parameters, and let the machine do the rest.”
This is good news for our industry. It means more young people are willing to join, and skill inheritance is no longer so difficult.
Looking Ahead: A Veteran Electrician’s Hopes
Now, Old Zhang and I are compiling operating specifications for laser cleaning. We want to document our experience from the past two years so more people can benefit.
Perhaps in the near future, power maintenance personnel won’t need to carry heavy equipment or handle toxic chemicals. With precise lasers, they can safeguard the power grid.
This is the change technology brings—it doesn’t just make equipment cleaner, it gives our work more dignity.
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