Controlled Backfill for Peat Land

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 March 2015

01 September 2016

18 months

£125,000

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

The objectives of this project are as follows: To investigate the addition of controlled backfill to existing peat land in order to increase cable load carrying capacity. To investigate the TR values from various mixtures of available low TR material with peat in order to find a combination of materials with effective TR, environmentally friendly and at relatively low price. To provide a complete test report and recommendations for effective or appropriate solutions for cable backfilling materials in peat land. The project will be deemed a success if it can assess potential alternative materials and a conclusion drawn about their viability or lack of, as cable backfilling materials for peat land.

SHE Transmission has a number of high profile cable routes planned which pass through peat land. Peat poses a number of problems for cable installations. It cannot effectively dissipate the heat produced by the cable therefore the cable could run hot, limiting current carrying capacity and potentially severely damaging or reducing the lifespan of the cable. Designers usually solve this problem by increasing the size of the cable at increased cost and / or backfilling cables with Cement Bound Sand (CBS). CBS offers the correct thermal characteristics but it is expensive to install, inspect and test. Furthermore there are environmental concerns with the use of CBS as it can leach and damage the surrounding peat habitat, it comes with a high embodied carbon footprint and the displaced peat has to be retained in bunds on site or disposed of as a waste. This project proposes a technical method to investigate and test a new type of controlled backfill material through: Thermo-resistivity (TR) analysis using computer modelling and investigation of resultant TR values from various mixtures of available low TR materials with peat. The aim is to find a combination of materials with ideal TR and relatively low price. Lab-testing of the various mixtures in compliance with the appropriate standards. Monitoring the effect when using higher thermally conductive surroundings on a high voltage cable system.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

09/08/18