Blog

GRP Cable Support Solutions | The Benefits of GRP for Harsh, Hazardous & High Voltage Power Containment

Article Written by David Bryan, UK GRP Account Manager, Wibe Group UK Ltd

GRP Cable Support Solutions

Did you know that there is an alternative option to steel cable support solutions, which is more durable and has less hassle while handling? Through this article, we will explore the features of GRP, its additional and unique benefits in cable support applications and discover the Mita brand.

Thorne & Derrick are an approved distributor of the MITA brand, now powered by Wibe Group, providing competitive prices and fast delivery from stock for the complete range of cable troughs, CABSYS cable trays & GRP cable ladders

What is GRP?

GRP or FRP is the abbreviation for Glass/Fibre Reinforced Polymer, meaning it is a man-made resin based material which makes it a polymer, reinforced with glass. Polymer itself is extremely strong – it is a fibre material and in contrary to how it sounds, it is very durable. It is resistant to most chemicals, stretching and shrinking, resistant to mildew and abrasion as well. When it is reinforced with glass through pultrusion, it becomes a structural polymer resistant to fire and highly corrosive environments. Furthermore, it does not conduct heat. GRP has extra durability to adverse weather conditions and has UV stability which makes it an excellent candidate for outdoor applications, even for wind power substations built in the middle of the sea.

GRP cable support

Cable support is the backbone of any development. Wherever there is a structural development, cable support is there to facilitate electrification, signalling and data.

GRP cable support systems possess unique properties which provide structural strength as much as a stainless steel installation and resist many corrosive environments, particularly where conditions indicate that conventional materials may not provide an economic service life.

Features of GRP Cable Support Solutions vs Steel

Supporting Applications With A long Standing Brand

Mita GRP, designed and manufactured in the UK, is now powered by Wibe Group. Thorne & Derrick supply and distribute the complete GRP cable support system range specifically designed for harsh and corrosive environments, ensuring a sustainable installation through its lifetime. Serving industries of transportation, onshore and offshore power, water and waste management, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and many more, Mita GRP stands for “peace of mind” with its “fit and forget” solutions for generations to come.

Working with GRP

Another particularly useful feature of Mita GRP cable support solutions and systems is its ability to be integrated with the Bentley Raceway and Cable Management Building Information Modelling (BIM) tool. This provides a complete layout, routing and material estimating function in a single, integrated system. It can be applied from the initial concept design through to detailed design and construction. A user can create an accurate 3D model of the cable troughing route, making it easy to ensure that adequate space and clearances are available in confined locations, and for the detailed design and material requirements to be quickly and easily produced.

In conclusion, the Mita GRP cable trough system is a non-hazardous, inert product. It is lightweight and can be manually handled without difficulty, unlike concrete and steel. In contrast to steel, GRP does not have to be deburred or given edge treatment before fitting, saving time and further reducing labour costs. During installation, any cutting, drilling, bonding and jointing can be easily undertaken and will not give rise to a hazardous situation, with any dust kept to a minimum.

RAIL CABLE ACCESSORIES, ELECTRIFICATION

& INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT

Thorne & Derrick supply an extensive range of 400V-33kV Rail Cable Accessories & Power Distribution Systems including feeder pillars to contractors undertaking Low Voltage Power Distribution, HV Electrification & Substations, DC Traction & Networks, OLE and Track Feeder Cable Renewals – a complete range of Network Rail PADS approved track terminations, cable joints, cable repair and connection products up to 25kV, including 3M Cold Shrink, Pfisterer CONNEX and Nexans Euromold products.

Full range of Cable Pulling Equipment & Products to ensure safe and efficient of rail cables in to cable ducts and containment infrastructure including cable troughs.

Cut, Strip, Crimp, Punch – Cable Tools for Panel Building & Electrical Contracting

Cut, Strip, Crimp, Punch – All In One Solutions By Klauke

Cable Tools

Cut, Strip, Crimp, Punch

Panel Building & Electrical Contracting

Anyone who works in building electrical panels, knows that customers might have different requirements, so flexibility and being able to respond and adapt fast is a critical success factor. When Klauke develop new cabling tools, versatility is one of the most important drivers. Designing the best quality tools that solve the problem at hand in that fastest and most efficient way is in Klauke’s DNA.

Below is the best range of cable cutting and crimping tools manufactured by Klauke. They are renowned for high-quality, electrical connection tools for cable crimping, cutting and punching that can be used in panel building installations.

Klauke now offer efficiency and safety for control panel building as part of an all-inclusive worry-free package. Whether it’s cutting, stripping, crimping or punching: our power package has just the tool you need!

Crimping Cables, Lugs & Tools

Thorne & Derrick distribute Cable Lugs & Cable Connectors to terminate, splice and joint LV MV HV cables – this includes copper, aluminium and bi-metallic connectors and a range of crimping tools for specific use on all Low, Medium & High Voltage cable types.

➡ Associated Brands & Products | Klauke | Cembre | Pfisterer Sicon | Cable Crimping & Cable Cutting Tools

Should you require technical assistance to select the correct cable crimping or cable cutting tools please contact us.

Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors of cable tools to enable the preparation of all LV MV HV cables prior to the installation of Joints, Terminations & Connectors – this includes Klauke, Cembre, Alroc and Boddingtons cable jointing tools for removal of cable sheath, screen and insulation on 11/33kV (MV) and 66kV/132kV (HV) power cables.

View the complete range of Cable Crimping & Cable Cutting Tools

Medium Voltage Sensored Cable Accessories from 3M Electrical

3M Sensored Cable Accessories for Medium Voltage Grid Automation

Seeing the Whole Picture

Situational awareness is critical in the underground medium voltage distribution grid, as faults in this segment can potentially impact large numbers of customers downstream. This can be compounded by the wide-scale integration of renewables, which places additional demands on aging equipment and compromises network efficiency. Although distribution automation and control solutions have evolved to tackle these issues, acquiring key grid parameter data with high accuracy – and in real time – continues to be a major challenge, especially for underground medium voltage systems.

Now, 3M brings you advanced Sensored Cable Accessories that provide highly accurate voltage and current data, and can be deployed throughout your underground medium voltage system with low capital investment. When coupled with your existing communication infrastructure, 3M™ Sensored Cable Accessories enable real-time monitoring, giving you better visibility throughout your underground MV distribution system.

Accurate information about the state of your MV grid can help protect your customers – and your reputation – against the steep costs of outages, cable repair work and lost productivity. Better information drives better decisions: rapid fault diagnosis, fast and accurate response, and precise load control all depend on grid visibility.

3M™ Sensored Cable Accessories

for MV Grid Automation

3M Sensored Cable Accessories consist of passive sensors that provide highly accurate analog voltage and current waveforms. Your existing power equipment can be retrofitted with these accessories, which are both easy and economical to install.

Installation of the 3M SCA

• A fast, economical solution – Ability to retrofit power equipment allows installation at your chosen locations
• Underground system data – Enables real-time monitoring of your underground system when integrated with your communication infrastructure
• Highly-accurate readouts – Provides voltage accuracy of ±0.5%* and current accuracy of ±1%*, giving you real-time data that can be used in advanced automation and control applications
• No external power source required – Enables a simpler, faster, more economical installation
• No field calibration – Factory-calibrated sensors provide reliable, accurate data, without need for calibration in the field.
• Constructed with 3M Cold Shrink technology – For a safe, reliable seal that requires no special tools, sealants, adhesives, torches or other heat sources to install

* Refer to the 3M Sensored Termination Datasheet for detailed accuracy information.

A technology breakthrough, designed to give you more

Flexibility – Upgrade your key locations

Depending on geographic location, load profile, regulatory requirements and legacy equipment, your key locations may be different from those of other utilities. 3M Sensored Cable Accessories and interfaces are engineered to give you the flexibility to monitor key parameters at critical points in your network. This retrofit solution can be installed in your existing power equipment with minimal effort, and integrated into your existing communication infrastructure.

Reliability – Consistent performance

3M Sensored Cable Accessories incorporate passive sensors, which do not require an external power source. These sensors are also factory calibrated – with no field recalibration necessary. And 3M’s advanced Cold Shrink technology provides a reliable, long-lasting compressive seal, even in challenging environments. These features help reduce installation time and chance of craft error, while also providing the data needed to manage your grid assets proactively.

Accuracy – Analog waveforms for advanced analytics

Automatic distribution and control systems require highly accurate, real-time information about key grid parameters, such as voltage and current, in order to perform to their full potential. 3M Sensored Cable Accessories provide voltage data accurate to ±0.5%*, and current data accurate to within ±1%*. The bi-directional power flow and intermittent nature of renewable resources makes this data critical to utilities’ efforts to manage efficiency, quickly locate and correct faults, and keep end customers online.

Visibility – Real-time measurements

Currently available distributed intelligence solutions are generally too expensive to meet return on investment requirements if deployed systemwide. As a result, they are concentrated at just a few nodes – giving only a partial picture of the distribution grid. Since medium voltage cable accessories are typically located close to power equipment, 3M Sensored Cable Accessories can be deployed at strategic locations on the feeder, substations and consumption points throughout the grid – allowing wide-scale deployment and coverage.

Smart grid applications for 3M Sensored Cable Accessories

• Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO), including Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR)
• Fault detection, isolation and restoration (FDIR)
• Asset management
• Load balancing

Voltage and Current Measurement Made Easy

The 3M Sensored Cable Accessory QX-Generation 2.0 enables you to measure critical parameters (voltage, current, phase angle) in an underground medium voltage electrical network. This solution incorporates highly accurate voltage and current measurement integrated into one product which means you get precise measurements without modification of the installed equipment. Additionally, the sensors are passive components thereby not requiring an external power source for sensing.

3M Sensors and Cold Shrink technology ensures easy and fast installation for a wide range of cable cross sections.

Your Trusted Connection

3M, together with Thorne & Derrick, understand the greatest of challenges. Every minute of downtime damages your brand, and power outages can be costly. 3M technology can be trusted to adapt facilities for changing business needs, working with your team to add value to existing infrastructure, reduce operating costs and give a competitive edge.

WEBINAR | Nexans Power Accessories Online Training Services Session

WEBINAR

Thorne & Derrick, the UK Specialist Distributors for Nexans Power Accessories UK, would personally like to invite you to attend the ‘Online Training Session’ to help us celebrate the 4th birthday of their Normanton Training Centre. Nexans established industry-leading Training Courses provide refresher and continuous development training for existing Jointers using a combination of theoretical and practical test elements.

Sign Up Here

https://lnkd.in/ei9tyJCd

Friday 8th July at 10.30 am CEST

Presented by James Addy (Technical Manager) and Kristof Rottiers (Technology & Services Manager – Nexans), together they will cover the Jointer Training Courses available at their UK centre which is specifically tailored to enable the upskilling of cable jointers from LV to MV 11kV, 33kV and 66kV.

Competency Test demonstrations will be carried out and you will get the chance to discuss your Jointer Training requirements with the experts.

Nexans Cable Accessories | Connecting MV Substations | Switchgear | Transformers

Thorne & Derrick stock and distribute the full range of Medium Voltage Cable Accessories manufactured by Nexans in heat shrink, cold applied slip-on and EPDM rubber technology – this includes MONO Terminations, JTS Joints and Euromold Connectors up to 33kV.

Contact our trained team of Technical Sales Engineer for competitive quotations and delivery from stock.

Showcase | Battery Energy Storage System | Cowstead Battery Storage

Battery Energy Storage System

Eclipse Power Networks were appointed by Sembcorp Energy UK (Formally UK Power Reserve) as the Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) for the 50MW Battery Energy Storage System Site (BESS) at Cowstead in Sheerness, Kent.

Cowstead Battery Storage

The battery energy storage site is connected directly to the UKPN network via their existing 132kV Overhead Line (OHL) Network. A new UKPN 132kV disconnector was required to be installed beneath the OHL Point of Connection (PoC) as part of the contestable works.

Eclipse Power adopted the 132kV cable from the new disconnector to the 132kV metered Point of Supply (PoS).

An IDNO 132kV substation, incorporating 132kV earth switches, disconnector and dead tank circuit breaker, completed the IDNO adopted network assets that feed a client adopted 132/33kV 40/50MVA ONAN/ONAF transformer and 33kV GIS substation adjacent to the IDNO compound.

The Sembcorp network assets facilitate their 50MW BESS assets, which nearly doubles their UK battery storage portfolio.

Battery Energy Storage System

Project Challenges

The project had consent challenges which Eclipse helped to resolve quickly and efficiently. Such challenges are unlikely to have been resolved as efficiently, had the client elected to use the DNO to adopt the Contestable Works.

What is an IDNO?

Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) are OFGEM licensed companies that develop, design, own, operate and maintain local electricity distribution systems within the DNO network.

IDNOs are connected to Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), either directly, or through other IDNOs. They carry power to homes and businesses around Britain. Unlike DNOs, they’re not bound to any specific geographical region and can therefore offer their services to a wider range of customers.

IDNO Vs DNO

If you are looking to use an IDNO on your next project, please get in touch with Eclipse Power Networks:

• [email protected]
• + 44 (0) 1234 486487
• Contact Form
• Linked In Company Page

About Eclipse Power Networks

Eclipse Power Networks are a licensed Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) who provide clients with an effective alternative to using the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Working within the UK Energy industry, we design, own, operate and maintain licensed electricity distribution networks across the UK.

Our team of specialist Electrical and Civil Engineers have extensive experience of working within the electricity supply industry at voltage levels up to and including 132kV, based out of our Head Office in Buckinghamshire.

We can offer Developers, Contractors and ICPs several significant benefits over the standard DNO connection to the National Grid.

We work across a variety of sectors including (but not limited to):

• Battery Storage
• Data Centres
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure
• Industrial & Commercial Developments
• Residential Developments

THORNE & DERRICK

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV cable joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HV