EuroWire May 2022

Technology News

Set up to save energy Rosendahl Nextrom is recommending that power cable producers looking to improve energy efficiency should take a closer look at polypropylene. The company has put the thermoplastic material to the test and developed a whole manufacturing concept for it. One of the main assets of polypropylene (PP) is that it can be fully recycled, but it has further advantages when looking at the whole product cycle and manufacturing process. Producing the PP raw material consumes around ten per cent less energy compared to polyethylene (PE), which is traditionally used for power cable production. Using PP instead of XLPE also simplifies the line setup. The complex process of crosslinking is eliminated, leading to energy reduction and a more compact line layout. PP allows manufacturers to dispense with the energy-intensive degassing at the end of the manufacturing process, which also results in shorter lead times. The R&D unit of Rosendahl Nextrom worked with HV Cable Solutions Ltd to investigate and test polypropylene-based compounds (PPC) in comparison with the established XLPE insulation material in medium-voltage cables. A large volume of test cables was produced using Rosendahl’s RM-A line under real manufacturing conditions. The positive results verified the properties of PPC: electrical behaviour equal to or better than XLPE; reduced scrap rates; reduced operating costs; and typically lower insulation system costs. Rosendahl’s Superior Extrusion Technology (RoSET) is an all in-one setup for MV power cables up to 30kV. It combines the above advantages while also saving energy. The systemprovides not only a triple-layer insulation line, but also intensive process and material know-how and a PPC starter package. RoSET will be featured on Rosendahl Nextrom’s stand at wire 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH www.rosendahlnextrom.com

RoSET equipment from Rosendahl Nextrom

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