Sparks Electrical News January 2018

CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES

15

CABLE THEFT PREVENTION DEVICE THAT’S ENGINEERED TO GRIP

TOP QUALITY CABLE SUPPLIER

been granted extension of power to assist in the fight against cable theft. President Zuma has also signed the Criminal Matters Amendment Act (2015) into law to ensure severe sentences for cable thieves in an attempt to combat this serious crime. The result of these new measures … cable thieves are now even more organised, and cable theft is still on the increase. “If you look at the cable theft statistics of the past five years [2012-2017] and compare them to the unemployment statistics over the same time, it is evident that there is a direct correlation between cable theft and unemployment figures. South Africa is currently experiencing the highest recorded unemployment rate. This is not good news for the fight against cable theft,” syas Rugged Croc MD, Gerrit Meyer. Cable theft influences all sectors of the market whether directly or indirectly. Rugged Crocs were designed and patented in South Africa to cost-effectively protect and secure cables and to curb cable theft. They are distributed nationwide by Vermont Sales.

RUGGED CROCS are acetyl cable theft prevention de- vices that come in three sizes (25 mm; 50 mm; 95 mm) to accommodate most existing cables. Designed to an- chor cables in the ground, the combined mechanical resistance of the cable and the Croc makes it virtually impossible for the cable to be pulled from the ground. The secret lies in the combined resistance of each Croc over the length of the cable. Taking soil type into consideration, the average resistance one Croc will deliver is estimated at 1 ton per Croc. When 10 m of cable is fitted with 10 Cable Crocs (1 Croc per metre) the combined resistance needed to pull the cable from the ground is 10 tons. If this figure is extrapolated over the length of a 100 m cable it results in 100 tonnes of resistance. The installation of Rugged Crocs is quick and easy and requires no specialised skills. The correct size unit is simply strapped to the cable by using four industrial strength cable ties at one metre intervals. The fitted cable is then placed in the prepared trench, covered with soil, and compacted. Cable theft is not new to South Africa and is on the increase. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) views cable theft as very serious and describes it as economic sabotage and treason against business. SACCI reported that the annual cable theft figure for 2015 was estimated at around R12.9 million per month, bringing the total cable loss to an approximate 5 – 7 billion Rands a year. Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) states that the indirect cost to the South African economy is conservatively estimated at ten times higher than the expenditure required for the replacement value of the cables lost, therefore law enforcement agencies have

F or over twenty five years, Consortium Cables has been servicing a diversified client base by supplying electrical power and instrumentation cable. In this time, the company has enjoyed tremendous growth, which it attributes largely to its dedicated staff. Consortium was the first cable importer/distributor to offer a complete supply and buy back facility whereby it undertakes to supply cables and then to buy them back at the end of a project. This leaves the client with a clean site, free of scrap or surplus cables and empty drums. Consortium carries a full range of cable from all major factories, i.e., Aberdare, CBI, South Ocean, Alvern, Norco and Tulisa, and is the sole South African distributor for K.E.I. Industrial (India). The company strives to: • Offer high quality electrical and ancillary products, supported by on-time delivery and excellent service. • Maintain a respectable position in the South African cable and electrical market. • Produce profit returns and growth factors commensurate with its requirements to secure the future of all its employees. • Ensure quality in the workplace so no individual is denied promotion or employ- ment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability. • Provide the means and resources to promote education and training programmes aimed at the development of its employees to attain their true potential in order to satisfy the future human resource needs of the organisation.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 314 7711

NKT TESTING INNOVATIVE CABLES FOR WAVE POWER

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 894 4538

I nnovative technologies and a huge energy potential are shap- ing the future of wave power, which could become the next global trend within renewable energy. Global power cable provider NKT has embarked on the journey to produce energy from the sea and has developed two unique cables designed to withstand the con- tinuous movements of the waves. The innovative low- and medium

voltage cables are currently being tested in a pilot project Northwest of Norway in collaboration with the Swedish company Waves4Power, which has developed the purpose- built wave power system Oceans of potential The EU expects wave power to sup- ply 15 % of European energy con- sumption by 2050, and the Inter- national Energy Agency estimates

the global potential for wave power to be 80 000 TWh, which will more than meet the world’s energy needs. “We see a huge potential in the future of wave power and, as a leading power cable provider, NKT naturally wishes to join the innovative companies working to develop this potential. NKT is committed to designing cables that will shape the future by enabling efficient and sustainable energy

transmission. It is therefore a logical step for us to be a partner in this ambitious project,” says Frida Norrbom Sams, executive vice president and head of applications covering low- and medium voltage cables in NKT. For the project in Norway, NKT has developed a unique and extremely dynamic 1 kV cable as well as a semi-dynamic 24 kV export cable that transports the energy produced to the shore. Both cables are being tested in cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology in the high voltage test centre at RISE institute of Sweden. For NKT the flexibility and endurance of the wave power cables have been a key focus in the cable development process. The 1 kV cable is extremely dynamic and can withstand the constant bending produced by the wave move- ment, and it has been designed based on the company’s experience with industrial and uni- versal cables. The core of the cable has three copper con- ductors and a very lowmechanical friction. “Un- like a normal offshore cable, it does not have an armoured sheath but is reinforced with aramid yarn, which makes it very tough and flexible,” Dynamic innovation for harsh environment

says Frida Norrbom Sams. The wave power system began delivering electricity to the Norwegian land-based power grid on June 2, 2017 when the 24 kV semi-dynamic export cable was connected. Waves4Power is a Swedish company testing a wave power system in the sea Northwest of Norway. The system is developed in cooperation with partners including NKT, Siemens, Jotun, Parker and Petronas. The wave power system is based on a unique design: • A buoy with a piston generates energy from the movement of the waves. • The energy is transmitted from the buoy to a collection hub by a 1 kV cable from NKT. • A transformer increases the voltage level to 22 kV so it is ready for the local power grid. • A 24 kV semi-dynamic cable from NKT exports the energy produced from the collection hub to the onshore power grid. The wave power system is scalable and easy to customise with additional energy buoys and collection hubs. The pilot project in Norway was formally launched in September 2017.

Enquiries: www.nkt.com

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2018