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Nexans Subsea Solutions For Power Networks

Subsea Solutions By Nexans

In today’s world power demand is on the rise together with the need for increasing reliability of power networks. HV submarine power cables are crucial to avoid blackouts by increasing the redundancy of the power grids and diversifying the energy mix.

In this mini-Blog series Nexans explain how their subsea solutions are helping to meet global demand.

• Subsea Power Cables For North Sea Link
• Nexans Two Cable Subsystems Generating Power For North Sea Link
• How To Install A Subsea Cable – Power Networks

Nexans products include MV-HV Connectors, Joints & Terminations to connect, splice, repair and maintain medium/high voltage cable and power distribution systems – commonly referred to as cable plugs, Tee’s or elbows the Euromold range of connectors suit all European DIN EN 50180 and American (ANSI) specification bushings.

THORNE & DERRICK

Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage cable systems:

• Slip-on Cable Terminations
• Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
• Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
• Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
• Separable Connectors (Euromold)
• Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings

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 

Nexans Two Cable Subsystems Generating Power For North Sea Link

Two Cable Subsystems By Nexans

North Sea Link Interconnector Project

This is the second Blog in a series by Nexans explaining how their subsea solutions are helping to meet global demand.

The North Sea Link is being created in collaboration between Statnett, the state-owned operator in the Norwegian energy system and the UK’s National Grid. It is designed to help increase opportunities for shared use of renewable energy.

A project such as the North Sea Link requires a lot of planning. In the below video you can see the cables arrive at the village of Sand, and the transported through the idyllic and very narrow streets on their way to the mountains.

The transport had to be planned well in advance and this is why…..the smallest clearing was only 2cm! At one point the Nexans team had to remove parts of a roof so they could pass through! The North Sea Link will run from Blyth in Northumberland on the northeast coast of the UK to Kvilldal in Rogaland on the Norwegian side. HVDC converter stations on each side will connect the link to the onshore grid.

THORNE & DERRICK

Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage cable systems:

• Slip-on Cable Terminations
• Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
• Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
• Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
• Separable Connectors (Euromold)
• Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings

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 

Neptco’s Trace-Safe at The Roundtable Live! (2019)

Neptco provided all of the Trace-Safe tracer wire for The Roundtable Live, and now because of that all new utilities that are installed will be located in the future. Quality tracer wire is something that often gets overlooked, and its important for contractors to make sure it stays intact when pulling back a utility. Thanks again Neptco, for truly contributing to a day in which damage prevention was demonstrated.

The video transcript can be found below:

Jonathon Jones Western Utility

“We are here at the Roundtable as a presenting sponsor for the second year in a row. This year we have finished up where we left off last year with a bore shot across the road behind me into a hand hole for some facilities that already existed in a place so we drilled out avoiding any existing utilities – pulling back a piece of two inch HDPE polypipe attached to the tracer wire prescribed by the manufacturer using their methods. We brought it back and it stays outside of the existing pipe follows the same path as the pipe itself. The gentlemen are going to do some proofing on it right now but everything is set up. The product pulls back very easily.”

Doug Moore Subsite Electronics

“One of the major reasons that it is important to have an inspection of tracer wire after the installation is too many times during or after the pull back of the product in the tracer wire there will be a fault or the wire will pull apart. So that’s an area  the contractor leaves and then it can be impossible to track them down. It is subsequently impossible to locate that utility after so a doing a bore and post bore inspection of the quality of the tracer wire is critical.”

Joe Sylvia Neptco  

“Joe Sylvia Business Unit Manager for Neptco, manufacturers of Trace Safe. The gentlemen in the video are pulling in trace safe with a 2 inch HDPE pipe pulling it around 150ft. Generally speaking when you are dealing with a plastic pipe you are going to require some kind of tracer with it so you can find it as once it is buried you have to be able to find it n the future and essentially that is what this product is for.

The way the connectors are designed you can have one end to end which allows you to daisy chain all along the way until you get to a far end of the ground that’s absolutely fine or you could connect them laterally and have a ground some place else. They are a universal connector so they can do end to end or lateral. One that was installed last year in direct sunlight the whole time, then this year we put a UV inhibitor in it and the plastic is still very strong after a year in direct sunlight. The USP about this particular product is its strength – 1800 pounds of pulling strength the strongest wire on the market (possibly the world).

So with that you only have to have one wire. The other good thing about the wire is that if there is any damage to the jacket the yarn itself that gives it the tenacity is woven with a super absorbent powder and if there’s any damage to the jacket it swells up almost like a baby diaper and keeps the water away from the conductor and that is what gives it a long life. How check to the wire is related to what the contractor is required to do. However in general you need a ground at least at the far end and you can do that with a temporary solution such as a long screwdriver that is pound that into the earth and a jumper can be created with a 12 gauge wire and connect that into a trace safe connector alongside the trace safe wire. Once closed you could energise the stud and walk the line to the far end.

So if we want to connect to a gas service essentially we have a 12 gauge wire and an adapter sleeve that goes on to it. It is split so it could easily wrap around the main line added to the connector alongside a piece of trace safe. This is then closed down with a pair of channel locks. Now we have a connection.

One of the tools the company has as an accessory item is a temporary locate tool. Basically if there is no connector in place a locator with this tool can be put the trace safe in and squeeze it down and what happens is a contact is made with the connector underneath. It simply attaches to the top and energises the wire. They can remove it, a little mark maybe left but the super absorbent powder will absorb any water that can get inside and will not harm the conductor. The tool will save you so much time as it just clicks in, closes and locates no stripping is required. It is simple to put it back to its normal condition as all you have to do is take it off and move onto the next job.”

Further Reading

• How to Trace & Locate Non-Metallic Underground Gas, Water Sewer Pipelines
• Trace Safe | Which Trace Safe is Best for Your Application?

LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt

Thorne & Derrick International are specialist distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Duct Sealing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.

THORNE & DERRICK 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 

How To Install A Subsea Cable – Power Networks

Installing Subsea Cables

North Sea Link Interconnector Project

This is the third Blog in a series by Nexans explaining how their subsea solutions are helping to meet global demand.

In this video Blog Nexans explain how to install a subsea cable across a mountain lake by building a new cable-laying vessel. The pontoon barge weighs over 300 tons and it carried and installed the cables across the small lake Suldalsvatnet.

Subsea power cables play a key role in the penetration of renewable energies into the transmission grids. They are also important links for islands which can be connected to the main grids to secure their energy supply, in addition to reducing their CO2 emissions by limiting the power generation from thermal power plants.

THORNE & DERRICK

Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage cable systems:

• Slip-on Cable Terminations
• Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
• Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
• Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
• Separable Connectors (Euromold)
• Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings

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 

Brecon Power Short-Term Operating Reserve (STOR) Plant | Powersystems UK

This article has been republished with the kind permission of Jules Daly, Marketing & Communications Manager at Powersystems Ltd (High Voltage Electrical Engineering).

About Powersystems

Powersystems was established in 1977 to provide industrial customers with the expertise that only the local electricity board previously offered. 40 years on Powersystems are still supporting some of their first customers a testament to the service provided. Continued support of these industrial customers and increased activity in the grid connections and renewable energy markets has been the core of Powersystems success.

• Name of Client and Location: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (Rassau NP23 5SD)
• Project Value: £12m
• Duration of the Project: 9 months first export to Grid November 2018. Electrical works July 2018 – February 2019
• Services: Electrical Infrastructure, Balance of Plant (eBoP)
• Market Sector: Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR)
• Powersystems Fact: Powersystems your high voltage specialist partners – Powersystems team have connected 100 MW of short term operating reserves.

Brecon Power STOR

Powersystems high voltage (HV) power engineering were responsible for the design, installation, testing and commissioning of the electrical infrastructure associated with the construction of the 21MW embedded short term operating reserve (STOR).

The plant was designed to provide reserve electricity generation to the National Grid which can be called on at short notice at times of network ‘stress’.

The principle of the development and its impact on environmental, social and economic factors was carefully assessed and given the go-ahead.

The site is located in Brecon, mid-Wales and was constructed in partnership with Jones Bros Civil Engineering on behalf of the client, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. Brecon STOR adds gas-peaking generation to their extensive worldwide investment portfolio that includes renewable and low carbon technologies.

Brecon Short-Term Operating Reserve (STOR) plant is a 21MW gas peaking generation platform which began exporting power to the grid in November 2018. The site consists of fourteen 1.5MW generators powered by Jenbacher Engines supplied by Clarke Energy which are capable of supplying electricity to the grid at short notice. As a trusted NERS accredited company with over 40 years’ experience, Powersystems were appointed to assume the responsibility for the electrical and mechanical Balance of Plant.

Brecon Power STOR development

As the UK’s electricity network continues to move away from large-scale carbon emitting sources towards alternative renewable generation, it faces new challenges.

The intermittent nature of renewable sources such as wind power make it impossible for the grid to accurately predict how much energy they will have at their disposal at any one time, or how long they will need it for.

Brecon Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) plant is one of many STOR sites across the UK that give the grid the extra flexibility it needs to meet peak demands at short notice and ensure smooth and efficient operation.

Also known as a ‘peaking’ plant the STOR plant provides electricity generation at short notice to the electricity network.

The National Grid owns and operates the national electricity network. They are obliged to ensure that the electricity supply system runs within specified limits. Many factors change these operating conditions, but none more so that the balance between the electricity demanded by customers and the electricity generators available to produce electricity.

Conventional power generation equipment can be operated with some certainty, however the increasing supply of energy from renewable sources, such as wind turbines and solar arrays, means that some power generation is reliant on prevailing weather conditions, which can create a shortfall in supply. These shortfalls are required to be replaced at short notice and for this reason the National Grid requires a number of plants across the country capable of producing small amounts of electricity at short notice.

The Brecon power STOR comprises of fourteen ‘engine-driven electricity sets’ that together create a total of around 21 MW energy. Each engine generator set is sited in its own acoustic containment cell, side by side within a new plant building. The engines are fuelled by natural gas and will use conventional spark ignition technology to burn the fuel which in turn rotates the generator, creating electricity that is exported to support the local electricity network.

The generators had to connect to a common switchboard and control system in order to provide an interface to the Western Power Distribution (WPD) substation. The engines also required a natural gas supply and hot water flow/return with duty/standby equipment in order to facilitate a fast start capability.

The engine exhaust gases pass through a silencer before being expelled to the atmosphere. As the fuel is natural gas the exhaust emissions are similar to those expelled by a conventional gas-fired central heating boiler. The heat generated by the engines is dissipated in radiators cooled by electric fans. The engine cooling system is a closed loop water system which continues for as long as the plant is operating. By its very nature, i.e. providing short term reserve power at short notice at times of network ‘stress’, the plant runs for short periods of time with long periods between operating times.

Experience showed that this is infrequent and that STOR facilities are typically called on for around 60-90 minutes every 2-3 day, which equates to around 300 hours per annum. This period of time is typical in the current market, though actual usage may vary according to supply and demand and network ‘stress’.

Scope of Electrical works

The major items of electrical plant that Powersystems designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned were for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 33kV grid connection consisting of:

The major items of electrical plant that Powersystems designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned were:

• 7 x 3.5 MVA 33 kV/0.4 kV transformers and associated bunds
• Gas supply connections to 14 x 1.5 MW Clarke Energy generators via HDPE and stainless pipework
• Boilers and hot water pump & distribution system, including Insulated flow and return pipework
• Cabling for the control and protection panels for the complete system
• Compound and sub-station earth system installation and testing
• All necessary building fit-out works comprising Lighting and small power with intruder, CCTV and fire alarm systems
• Within the Brecon power site, the installation of 33kV power, low voltage, control, signal and communications cabling works

Brecon Power STOR project timings

Construction of Brecon Power STOR began in June 2018 with mobilisation on site which involved preparing the ground for construction activity. Generator component deliveries commenced in July 2019.

Brecon Power STOR Gas Pipework in ground

Project Facts and Figures

• Number of generators: 14
• Generator capacity: 1.5 MW
• Total Installed capacity: 21 MW
• Connection Voltage: 33kV
• Fast start response time: 60 seconds
• Altitudes of site: 1250ft
• Length of onsite 33 kV cabling: 1.75 km
• Length of onsite 400 V cabling: 3.0 km
• Length of onsite control & signal cabling: 6.0 km
• Used pre-insulated pipework with compression joint technology to significantly reduce installation timescales (no onsite welds, pre-insulated)
• Low-carbon technology producing 60% less CO₂ emissions than coal or oil
• Powersystems are a Lloyds registered (NERS) approved independent connection provider (ICP)

LV MV HV Electrical Safety Equipment & Arc Flash Protection Clothing | Renewables (Solar & Wind Onshore Offshore) | Battery Storage | Data Centres | Oil & Gas | Manufacturing | Substations Switchgear Transformers | Rail | Hazardous Areas

Further Reading

• Green Hydrogen A Renewable Energy Technology
• Why Large Offshore Wind Farms Should Double Their Intra-Array Voltage

THORNE & DERRICK

SPECIALIST ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR

Thorne & Derrick distribute the most extensive range of Cable Installation & Electrical Distribution Equipment to the Power Transmission & Distribution industry in the onshore and offshore wind, solar, rail, oil/gas, data centre, battery storage and utility sectors.

We service UK and international clients working on underground cables, overhead lines, substations and electrical construction at 11kV and up to and EHV transmission and distribution voltages.

• Key Products: MV-HV Cable Joints & Terminations, Cable Cleats, Duct Seals, Cable Transits, Underground Cable Protection, Copper Earth Tapes, Cable Jointing Tools, Feeder Pillars, Cable Ducting, Earthing & Lightning Protection, Electrical Safety, Cable Glands, Arc Flash Protection & Fusegear.

• Distributors for: 3M Cold Shrink, ABB, Alroc, Band-It, Catu, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Furse, Lucy Zodion, Nexans Euromold, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec.

LV – Low Voltage Cable Joints, Glands, Cleats, Lugs & Accessories (1000 Volts)

MV HV – Medium & High Voltage Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors (11kV 33kV EHV)