WCA January 2015

Technology news

New generation of spark testers

• Best suited for highest capacitive loading capabilities • Continuous and faultless detection of defects in insulation or sheathing of electric cables • Detection of defects in the wall thickness of pipes, hoses, corrugated pipes and similar products made of insulating materials • Regulated, adjustable output voltage up to 28kV DC (DST 28A)/ 15kV AC (AST H 15A) • Full range of electrodes • Detection of pinholes and bare patches on cables and tubes with diameters of up to 70mm (DST 28A); up to 30mm with AST H 15A • Compact design • Designed for a wide range of standards, incl IEC 62230, UL 1581 and UL 2556 The full spark tester product range from Zumbach covers test voltages of up to 40kV for products with diameters of up to 200mm. Zumbach Electronic AG – Switzerland Website : www.zumbach.com

THE high voltage testing with DC spark testers of the DST 28A series and the AST H 15A high frequency spark testers extend the spark tester product range from Zumbach. These new testers meet all the requirements to ensure quality standards are maintained during the extruding or rewinding process. The spark testers instantly and reliably detect defects and faults on the sheathing and insulation of electrical cables, tubes, corrugated tubing, hoses and similar products. These devices make sure that defective products with bare patches, hairline cracks or pinholes have no chance of slipping into circulation. As soon as a fault is detected, the system triggers an alarm and every fault is logged. Once the fault is outside the electrode, the spark tester continues operations after a brief loading time and resets the test voltage to the default value. On rewinding devices, the faults are

consecutively counted. The test voltage is disconnected on fault detection. An alarm message is sent via the interface, or the potential free alarm contact is activated. Benefits at a glance include: ❍ One of the new range from Zumbach

Borealis and Borouge are claiming a ‘true step-change high voltage direct current innovation’ based on Borlink™ technology. Developed in partnership with ABB, this major new grade is designed to support the further integration of renewable energies into the grid and the establishment of more interconnections among countries in major infrastructure projects around the world. The new grade, Borlink LS4258DCE, was introduced to industry partners at the 2014 Cigré Session in Paris in August. HVDC power transmission supports long distance electricity transport without significant losses, providing higher efficiency and increased sustainability. The industry trend is moving towards an increased need for higher capacity transmission at high voltage levels. The new insulation compound, together with the HVDC semicon Borlink LE0550DC, enables the use of extruded cable technology at significantly higher voltage and transmission levels in instances where paper cables have traditionally been used. Successful type test qualification of an extruded cable system according to the Cigré recommendation 496 has been achieved at 525kV based on Borlink LS4258DCE and Borlink LE0550DC. Cable compound technology

Borlink LS4258DCE is an unfilled crosslinked polyethylene compound based on the enhanced base resin technology Supercure. The compound is designed to provide higher cable production efficiency in terms of a shortened cable production cycle, enabled by a significant reduction of degassing burden and improved scorch performance. The compound is produced at Borealis’s high pressure production facilities in Stenungsund, Sweden. Borouge – UAE Website : www.borouge.com Borealis – Austria Website : www.borealisgroup.com Second Cat 6A connection module Reichle & De-Massari (R&M), the Swiss specialist for network cabling solutions, has unveiled a second Cat 6A connection module. The first has been available since 2010 and according to the company is still considered the high-end module with the greatest performance reserves. Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M) – Switzerland Website : www.rdm.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2015

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