EuroWire November 2022

Technology News

Cable monitoring system to increase availability of high voltage cables Highvolt, a supplier of high-voltage testing and measuring systems, presented its contribution to energy transition at CIGRE 2022 in Paris. The HiMon® modular condition assessment system for HVAC and HVDC cable systems allows the immediate localisation of cable breakdowns and continuous condition monitoring of cables and joints. The system detects 70 per cent of faults in cables and joints in advance, so they can be repaired during scheduled maintenance work. In addition, repair times after cable breakdowns can be reduced by a claimed 30 per cent, increasing the overall availability of the cable systems. The goal of permanently supplying consumers with energy from renewable or regenerative sources is ambitious. One challenge of energy transition in the electricity sector is to ensure the security of energy supply at all times of the day and night, in summer and winter. To support this goal, Highvolt developed HiMon in cooperation with various universities.

Model of system integration in cable systems (HiRes and HiMag)

The system supports utilities in locating faults in cables and joints and evaluating the condition of the cable as well as identifying trends. “The integration of HiMon increases the availability of HVAC and HVDC cable systems,” said Dan Keller, responsible for sales. “This significantly reduces costs due to unplanned downtime.” The measured data is evaluated in an expert system. The easy to-understand results allow faults to be spatially allocated and evaluated. The measurement and evaluation methods provide the operator with targeted recommendations for action, minimising downtime and increasing the availability of the cables, bringing them close to the level of overhead lines. Christoph Steiner from the development team commented, “Our expert system, in combination with the knowledge of our experienced employees, allows the continuous improvement of the applied stochastic algorithms and artificial intelligence methods.” Another advantage of the system is its easy integration into new and existing cable systems. Iaroslav Shevchenko, also from the development team, said, “The specially developed and field-tested high-current transformers and event recorders can be installed at distances of 12km on the cable system without affecting it. And still HiMon makes the localisation of fault possible to metres.” Highvolt Prüftechnik Dresden GmbH www.highvolt.com

Integration into an existing cable system

Wire dies in PCD, TC and VNT nano India-based Ajex & Turner Wire Tech- nologies designs TW dies in PCD, VNT nano and carbide to draw aluminium strands, to produce ACCC, ACSS, ACFR and ACSR conductors (trapezoidal wire) to the ASTM standards approved bymany power grid corporations around the world. obtain aluminium strands that are shaped to provide a smooth outer surface to meet the applicable ASTM standards. The dies are made from high-quality raw materials that enable them to be efficient and durable.

nano and hardened steel. It can also make shape dies for any type of metal in PCD, carbide and nano. The sector shape, TW and Z shape dies are used for compacting, bunching and stranding lines. The company produces sector rollers and compacting rollers to conductor designs – 3, 3.5 or 4mm core sector shape compaction rollers for 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300 and 400mm 2 , in 60°, 90° and 120° or as required by the customer. Ajex &TurnerWireTechnologies Pvt Ltd www.ajexturner.com

To resolve the issue of smaller-diameter conductors, Ajex & Turner’s trapezoidal shape dies can be enlarged to provide a greater cross-sectional area of aluminium and match the diameter of the conventional round conductor. Ajex &Turner alsomakes sector dies of any size and design. The company produces TW, sector, Z shape die sets and rollers as per conductor designs, in PCD, carbide,

The company’s TW dies are designed to ensure accurate quality parameters to

TW shaped, compacting NCDC dies

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November 2022