Cable Joints & Terminations HV

Oil Filled Transformers | Driving Uptime Through Asset Winterisation

Oil Filled Transformers

in the Wind Power Industry

Are Low Oil Level Trips Causing Asset Downtime?

This Case Study covers the problems caused by low oil level trips on aging transformers, the impact it has on downtime, availability and power generation. It goes on to discuss how Thorne & Derrick assisted Ventient Energy in custom designing and supplying a fit for purpose electrical heating solution to overcome the problem and effectively Winterise assets preventing downtime.

Who should read this? – Asset Managers in the onshore wind industry with responsibility for managing and maintaining oil filled transformers.

Causeymire – Ventient Energy

Thorne & Derrick have recently worked in partnership with Ventient Energy to provide a bespoke electrical heating solution for an onshore wind application. After a number of site meetings and application surveys with the client to understand the problem, T&D proposed a bespoke heating jacket solution to prevent downtime due to low temperatures.

Jon Priddy of Ventient Energy describes the problem

“For those of you managing assets with ageing oil filled transformers you may find this useful. If you do you’ll know that the tank expands and contracts with heat and cold. As they age the tank loses that capacity to contract and so now you have a bigger volume but the same amount of oil and usually a very finely tuned oil level sensor which as we know is a primary safety and protection feature.

Come the winter and those high pressure low wind speed days and bang, we have a trip. I have spent many a late night with the site team topping up, getting the contacts to close and getting everything back on. The result is downtime, a hit on availability and a hit on generation.

What’s the answer? A hugely costly campaign to change out all the transformers, a nearly as expensive retrofit of conservators (if you have the room and a good design), heating the transformer compartment in a large drafty steel tower fighting the physics of heat loss.

Obviously it doesn’t affect every site but typically anything over 15 years where the tank has lost that capacity to contract back to normal shape after the summer or high generation is a candidate.”

The nature of the problem included a number a variables and it was agreed that T&D would provide 5 trail heating jackets which would be put into use throughout the winter of 2022/23. The jackets were installed to the “top 5 offenders” during previous winters.  The trials have proven successful and the client experienced no outages as a result of low oil trips during one of the harshest UK winters on recent record.

Pictured – fabricated model of the bottom of the transformer was made using the measurements taken from site survey. This meant the electrical heating jackets could be manufactured and test fitted prior to delivery.

The Solution for Oil Filled Transformers

Ventient approached Thorne and Derrick with a request for feasibility on applying a thermostatically controlled electric heating blanket to the base of the transformer with a view to stopping the oil from contracting to the point of a trip. This typically applies on high pressure (clear skies) low wind speed days and nights when there’s little in the way of current going through the transformer and temperatures drop to or minus zero.

Consideration had to be given to:-

Jacket Design – the client needed a solution which was simple and could be easily fitted, ideally as a single piece. The jacket also had to provide a very good fit as any additional heat losses may have negatively affected the overall performance. Representatives from T&D made the journey to Causeymire wind farm to carry out a site survey.

Power Supply  – the power available was restricted due to only a single socket outlet being available.

Energy Efficiency – the design needed to be fit for purpose but using excessive power to solve the problem wasn’t an option.

Heat Loss – T&D have many years trace heating design experience and have carried out thousands of heat loss calculations for pipes, tanks and vessels. This was particularly challenging as we didn’t know the optimum oil temperature that would prevent it contracting enough to cause a trip. A safety factor had to be built into the design without using unnecessary power/energy.

Maintenance – any solution needed to be low/zero maintenance due to the remote location. The solution offered a fit and forget heating jacket. Once commissioned the jackets will operate using built in digital control thermostat. Any maintenance/inspections can be carried out alongside other routine maintenance.

Before & After Jacket Was Fitted to the Oil Filled Transformers

Heating Blanket For Oil Filled Transformer

Custom Heating Solution

Bespoke Heating Jacket

Client feedback

“The blankets were installed last year and wired up in November. A winter with some spectacularly low temperatures and some nights with low wind speeds has followed. And until 2 weeks ago, no low oil trips. This is the first winter in the last 6 where we haven’t had the problem.

Almost by way of verification the low oil trip 2 weeks ago occurred on one of the transformers without the blankets. The blankets are currently set to come on at 5°C ambient air temperature.

As usual with these things team work makes for the dream work. A huge shout out to Terry McDonald of Thorne & Derrick for crunching the numbers, doing the physics and coming up with a design, that was easy to fit and forget.

The great support and encouragement from the Ventient team, Alexa Belsham, Rui Meneses, who were willing to spend the cash and give it a try. For the support as ever from Tony Crombie who helped make the case and for Colin McIver of DWT for coming up with a power supply solution. A true “can do” team and collaboration.

So in short, it looks like we have a fix for this expensive (in every sense) issue with ageing oil filled transformers in colder climes.”

T&D have over 30 years process heating experience and are your pro-active problem solvers. If you are reading this and experiencing similar issues, please reach out to T&D and we will be happy to arrange an initial meeting to discuss your requirements.

Who are Ventient Energy?

Ventient Energy is a dynamic, pan-European renewable energy business and is one of the leading generators of renewable energy in Europe. They are Europe’s leading independent onshore wind group, with over 140 generating sites.

Thorne & Derrick distribute the most extensive range of MV HV Medium & High Voltage Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors from manufacturers including 3M, Prysmian, Nexans Euromold, Pfisterer CONNEX & SEANEX and Shrink Polymer Systems.

Heat shrink, cold shrink, push-on and slip-over cable accessories enable the jointing, terminating and connection of 11kV-33kV and 66kV-132kV cables to oil, air or gas insulated switchgear, transformers, motors and overhead lines distributing electricity at medium/high voltages. Thorne & Derrick hold large stocks of 11kV 33kV 66kV Joints & Terminations suitable for XLPE, PILC and EPR cables, in both heat shrink and Cold Shrink technologies, to service the medium/high voltage power cable accessory requirements of UK and international customers.

400AR-4BC from Nexans | NEW Euromold Interface C High Voltage Bushings

Nexans 400AR-4BC HV Bushings

Thorne & Derrick, UK Distributor for Nexans Power Cable Accessories, are pleased to announce the release of the new EUROMOLD® Interface C in-air bushing 400AR-4BC, up to 24kV – 1250 A. The new Interface C in-air bushing 400AR-BC will replace the Interface D in-air bushing 672TBC, for use in medium voltage electrical equipment insulated with air in hazardous area locations according to the ATEX Directive.

The in-air MV equipment bushing is used in industrial applications such as the manufacture of motors, pumps and locomotives – the bushing is ATEX Certified for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres according to the following classification:

• II 2 G
• Ex eb IIC Gb
• Ts= -20°C to 95°C

Thorne & Derrick distribute the most extensive range of MV HV Medium & High Voltage Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors from Nexans Euromold to connect, splice, repair and maintain medium/high voltage cable and power distribution systems

The correct selection and specification of Nexans Euromold connectors is dependent on the cable specification and the electrical equipment MV HV bushing type. There are 6 bushing interfaces common to MV electrical equipment (A, B, C, D, E or F).

Nexans 400AR-4BC In-Air Bushing

400AR-4BC Advantages

• On the new Interface C in-air bushing you can install all separable connectors of the Interface C product family. It also offers the possibility to install a Surge Arrester.
• The new Interface C in-air bushing is also available with ATEX/IECEx/UKEx certification.

Part Number
703937 – K400AR-4BC/J + KBC-RING CLAMP 3 *SS
703939 – K400AR-4BC/J-ATEX-IECEx + KBC-RING CLAMP 3 *SS

The bolted type equipment bushings 400AR-4BC are moulded epoxy insulated parts and meet the requirements of CENELEC EN 50180. A non-tracking insulating rubber boot is installed over the bushing shank.

Specification | Construction & Electrical Characteristics

• Connector Shape | Bushing
• Connector Type | Male
• Conductor Material | Copper & Aluminium
• Technology | Cast Resin
• Rated Voltage Uo/U (Um) | 12/20 (24)kV
• Maximal Partial Discharge at 2Uo | 10 pC
• Dielectric Withstand Voltage, 50Hz 1mn | 55kV
• Impulse Voltage | 125kV

➡ Contact Thorne & Derrick for further order information

T&D Win Excellence in Customer Service Award At HazardEx 2021 | Read Press Release

Thorne & Derrick International, based in the UK, were voted Winners of the Award for ‘Best Customer Service’ at the HazardEx Gala Dinner in 2021. The competitive Award category at the prestigious event was for providing excellent customer service over previous 2 years.

Thorne & Derrick are leaders in the development and distribution of Product Innovations that deliver significant improvements to clients plant, people and operational safety in the explosive atmosphere industries. Your proactive problem solvers experienced in succession planning for the replacement of obsolete, non-conformant and legacy equipment in hazardous areas. Your first-choice provider of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure ATEX & IECEx Compliance for Low & Medium Voltage Cables & Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment to UK and international projects.

THORNE & DERRICK

SPECIALIST ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR

Thorne & Derrick supply LV HV Cable Accessories, Installation & Electrical Equipment –  we can assist with the Competitive Supply & Technical Specification of joints, terminations, connectors and preparation tools for the energisation of all types of air or gas insulated electrical equipment from stock up to 66kV.

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

Connecting High Voltages & Energising Data Centres

• uploaded by Chris Dodds | Sales Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick

According to Statista, the total amount of data created, copied and consumed in the world was estimated to reach 59 zettabytes in 2020 – this exponential growth projection to support the cloud computing and digitization drive has been accelerated by this year’s pandemic. Our internet connection has been an umbilical, our online life-line, to the outside world connecting friends, families and business – with the Internet under strain European data centre demand is forecasted to rise by a third in 2021.

HV

No Time for Downtime | Resilient & Reliable HV Power Systems

Thorne & Derrick International, based in the UK, are the leading Specialist Distributors of Cable Connection, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Equipment to support the construction and maintenance of High Voltage Power Distribution Systems – we can specify and supply from stock market-leading brands of Joints, Terminations & Connectors in Cold Shrink, heat-shrink, silicone and EPDM rubber technology up to 33kV.

Recently, Thorne & Derrick have supplied products in conformance with the Electrical Work Scope Specifications of owners and operators of hyper-scale digital infrastructure assets including Virtus, K2, Microsoft, CyrusOne, Interxion and Google.

11kV & 33kV Electrical Services & Substation Connections

Separable Connectors | Inner & Outer Cone Style for Gas Insulated Switchgear & Transformer Connections

Cable Terminations & Joints | Heat Shrink, Cold Shrink & Silicone Push-on for Air Insulated Switchgear, Transformers & Circuit Breaker Cubicles

Stockists of 3M ColdShrink, Pfisterer CONNEX, Elastimold and Nexans Euromold (AIN Slip-on & MONO Heat Shrink) cable accessories up to 33kV. Contact us with your Enquiry.

LV

We supply an extensive range of LV Cable Accessories & Installation Equipment to support cable and electrical infrastructure located in server rooms and data halls.

1. Low Voltage Cable Accessories
2. Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) Cable Accessories | Glands, Joints, Cleats
3. Fire Protection & Transit Sealing of Cables & Ducts
4. Cable Cleat, Hanger & Support Systems
5. Cable Pulling & Laying Equipment (Duct & Trench)
6. Earthing, Bonding & Lightning Protection
7. Tooling – Cable Preparation, Jointing, Cutting & Crimping
8. Trace Heating | Frost Protection External & Cold Water Services

Temporary Cable Supporting Hooks 

The CableSafe Extreme hooks, available from T&D stock on overnight delivery, provide orderly support and suspension for temporary cables; creating a cable management system to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity during construction, maintenance or Shutdown/TAR. S-shaped hooks are UV stabilized, Flame Retardant (Class: 94V-0, Flame Class Rating 3) and Cold Weather rated.

THORNE & DERRICK

SPECIALIST ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR

Thorne & Derrick supply LV HV Cable Accessories, Installation & Electrical Equipment to service providers working on hyper-scale data centres including Equinix, Virtus, K2, Microsoft, CyrusOne and Interxion. We have recently supplied Warsaw RDCC (Rapid Deployment Data Centres) with sealing systems for the protection of cable ducts against water ingress/gas migration and cable termination products for the connection of 33kV power cables into gas-insulated switchgear and transformers – the project is part of a $1 billion digital transformation plan for Poland announced by Microsoft.

We can assist with the Competitive Supply & Technical Specification of joints, terminations, connectors and preparation tools for the energisation of all types of air or gas insulated electrical equipment from stock up to 66kV.

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

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

Fibre Optic FO Splice Trays & Junction Boxes for Offshore Wind Farms

Fibre Optic FO Splice Trays

& Junction Boxes

Offshore Wind Farms

The Fibre Optic Junction Boxes series of hazardous area terminal boxes, manufactured by Abtech and distributed by Thorne & Derrick is a range of fibre optic (FO) splice boxes designed for protection of optical fibre cable splices within hazardous areas with a particular focus on the Offshore Wind Sector.

Abtech’s Ex certified fibre management solution for hazardous areas provides protection for fibre optic cables on offshore wind farms. The FJC ensures the correct installation of optical cables and helps to reduce installation time.

• Holds up to 24 fibre cables
• Stackable (up to max. 8 trays)
• Fibre tray hinge maintains access to splices with stacked trays
• Cable delivery entries from all 4 sides

Splice Trays & Junction Boxes

Fibre Optic Splice Tray Data

* refer to enclosure certificate for more details.

Fibre Optic Splice Tray Specifications

Splice Tray General Arrangement

Splice Tray Dimensions

Stainless Steel Mounting Frame

Ex op pr applications require mechanical protection of the splice tray and fibres, which is provided by use of a stainless steel mounting frame. An acrylic cover and cable trunking (if the enclosure size permits) add further protection.

The frame can also be used for safe area, Ex op is and Ex op sh applications. Frame dimensions shown below are typical and may vary depending on the application.

*Product design and specifications are subject to change without notice; please check the website for latest specifications.

SUPPLYING CABLE TERMINATION, JOINTING, PULL-IN & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT UP TO 66KV

Specialist Distributors to the UK and international Offshore Wind & Renewable industry to provide safe and reliable LV HV Electrical Cable & Power Distribution Systems up to 66kV – we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service. Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

See how T&D support, supply and service the Renewable Energy industry.

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 

Thorne & Derrick are UK Stockists for:  3M Electrical, PFISTERER Connex, Nexans Power Cable Accessories (Euromold), Alroc, Ellis Patents, ABB, Roxtec, Cembre & CATU Electrical.

Pre-Commissioning LV HV Systems by Oakes Power Services Ltd

by Daniel Oakes | Managing Director | Oakes Power Services Lts

uploaded by Chris Dodds | Sales & Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick 

Pre-Commissioning, also known as “Pre-functional Testing,” is an essential step in the installation and implementation of Low & High Voltage Electrical Power Systems – this process ensures that all components and cable accessories of the system are functioning properly and safely before the system is put into operation or “Commissioned“.

High voltage systems are critical to the operation of many industries, including utilities, manufacturing, data centres and commercial buildings. These HV systems are responsible for distributing and transmitting electrical power, and any failure or malfunction can have serious consequences, including injury, property damage, and loss of revenue.

Commissioning is a comprehensive process that involves testing and verifying the performance of all components in a high voltage system. This includes electrical and mechanical components, such as transformers, switchgear, protective devices, and control systems. The commissioning team will also verify that the system meets all safety and technical standards, and ensure that it is properly grounded and bonded.

In addition to ensuring the safety and reliability of the system, pre-commissioning can also identify potential issues and improve the overall performance of the system. This can save time and money by preventing costly repairs, mal-operation and downtime in the future.

Oakes Power Services is a leading provider of commissioning services for Low & High Voltage Electrical Power Systems – their team of experienced professionals have extensive knowledge and expertise in testing and verifying the performance of these systems using the latest tools and technology to ensure that your system is safe and operational

Oakes Power Services provide ongoing support and maintenance to keep LV HV power running smoothly.

By partnering with Oakes Power Services for your commissioning needs, you can have peace of mind knowing that your network is in good hands.

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Oakes Power Services | Electrical Power Engineering Specialists

Oakes Power Services is a high voltage electrical engineering company based in the South East of England.

Oakes Power Services offer a full electrical engineering solution from project inception right through to completion or alternatively; offer individual electrical engineering services.

With works carried out for customers across the UK in various sectors including Network Rail, London Underground, DNO, renewable energy and privately operated networks Oakes Power Services have a variety of experience which is sure to meet your needs.

Oakes Power Services are also a Oakes Power ServicesRISQS audited company and are able to provide electrical engineering/electrification services for a variety of product codes on the Network Rail and London Underground Infrastructures.

Oakes Power Services look to maintain a dedicated close working relationship to ensure the client’s needs are met with a high-quality service.

01634 940 796 | [email protected] 

RISQS Approved to Work on UK Rail Networks

Oakes Power Services provide electrical installation and railway electrification services; encompassing HV and LV cable installation to high voltage transformers, AC & DC switchgear, rectifiers, auto transformers, protection systems, ETE, earth system installation, cable jointing, test and commissioning services and Level A AC+DC-I authorised person duties. Whatever your rail electrification requirements, Oakes Power Services can provide a site-specific solution tailored to your needs.

Thorne & Derrick supply LV HV Cable Accessories, Installation & Electrical Equipment –  we can assist with the Competitive Supply & Technical Specification of joints, terminations, connectors and preparation tools for the energisation of all types of air or gas insulated electrical equipment from stock up to 66kV.

Approved Distributors for Medium Voltage Cable Accessories from 3M Electrical (ColdShrink) | Nexans (Euromold Connectors | JTS Joints | MONO Terminations) | Pfisterer Connectors (CONNEX)