go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_SSEPD_0016
Title	Alternative Cable Installation Methods (ACIM) - Phase 1 (Feasibility Study)
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 October 2015
End Date	01 January 2017
Duration	15 months
Total Grant Value	£130,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	Scotland
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD) (99.999%)
	Other Investigator	Project Contact , Southern Electric Power Distribution plc (SEPD) (0.001%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SSEPD_0016
Objectives	; The project will determine whether there are innovative methods for cable installation that have the potential to reduce the cost of the cable installation/ laying exercise and/ or increase the length of cable that can be laid. ; The project will determine whether it is possible to increase the standard cable length and determine what the maximum cable length that can be manufactured and supplied within a drum is. ; The project will determine the construction/ implementation plan for the next phase. The project will be considered a success if it determines whether or not there are innovative methods for cable installation that have the potential to reduce costs and/ or install long sections of cable without joints.
Abstract	New connections to distributed generation, replacement or reinforcement of underground cable networks are part of the standard operations of network operators. Underground cables could be either directly buried or installed within ducts. Factors such as the characteristics of the asset, rating and the installation/ overlay environment influence the decision which method is more beneficial to be used. Commonly, cables are either designed as direct buried asset or as ducted systems, and involve open cut trenches in order to be laid. There are additional business-as-usual cable installation options, such as ploughing and horizontal directional drilling which are well established and are applied to particular environments only. Open cut trenching, which is the most frequently used method for cable laying, although well understood, it presents some drawbacks: It is a costly method and causes significant disturbance to the customers. ; In addition, the common limitations placed to DNOs in order to minimize the disturbance of the open-cut trenching and the characteristics of the methods itself (i.e. pulling through a winch) limit the amount of cable that can be installed without joints, which are considered as weak points of the network. Traditional maximum length between joints on 132kV is up to 1km and at lower voltages is commonly up to 500m, although quite frequently due to limitations placed on length of open cut trenches, the cable length without joints is much reduced. ; Finally, traditional open cut trenching requires operation from both ends of the route and such fact increases the cost in cases where it is not technically or economically feasible to construct a receiving pit at the end of the route. The method is to identify innovative methods for installing cables either within ducts or direct laid that could offer reduction in cost and could increase the length of the cable that can be installed without joints. The outcome of the feasibility study will be knowledge gained as described below:; Whether there are innovative solutions with the potential to reduce the number of intermediate jointing bays and increase the length of cable that can be installed at one pull and thus improve the network performance and reliability (by minimizing the number of joints added on the cable). In addition, minimizing the number of jointing bays will reduce the cost and duration of the cable installation activity. ; Whether there are innovative solutions with the potential to reduce the cost of the cable installation activity.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	21/03/18