EoW July 2008

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EuroWire – July 2008 34
english technology news
Nexans has been awarded a contract by
Fingrid Oyj, the electricity transmission
system operator in Finland, and Svenska
Kraftnät, a state utility which runs the
national electrical grid in Sweden. The
contract is for the manufacture and
installation of a High Voltage Direct
Current (HVDC) submarine power
cable for Fenno-Skan 2, the new power
interconnector between Finland and
Sweden.
Nexans will supply around 200 km of
specialised solid, oil-impregnated MIND
(Mass Impregnated Non-Draining) cable
for both the subsea and land based
elementsoftheFenno-Skan2interconnector.
With a copper cross-section of 2,000mm2,
this will be the largest capacity HVDC
cable manufactured by Nexans to date.
The Fenno-Skan 2 HVDC project will create
a new 800 MW, 500 kV subsea electri-
city transmission connection between
southern Finland and Sweden, following a
200 km route across the Gulf of Bothnia. It
will form a bipolar arrangement with the
existing 550 MW, 400 kV Fenno-Skan link,
commissioned in 1989, to provide a 40
per cent increase in power transmission
capacity between the two countries.
Manufacture of the Fenno-Skan 2 cable
will start in Autumn 2009.
The installation of the subsea cable,
at a maximum sea depth of 100m, will
be carried out by Nexans’ own cable
laying ship, the CS Skagerrak, and this is
scheduled for spring 2011. The cable will
be supplied in two continuous lengths
of around 100 km, with just one offshore
joint.
“This major contract for the Fenno-Skan
2 project reinforces Nexans’ position
as a key manufacturer and installer of
high-technology cables for subsea power
interconnectors,” commented Patrick
Barth, MD of Nexans’ high voltage activity.
Nexans – France
Fax: +33 15669 8484
Email:
Website:
HVDC cable to link Finland and Sweden
Emulsions for drawing
Bechem took the opportunity
offered by wire 2008 to
demonstrate its emulsions for
aluminium multiwire drawing.
Conventional oils have
previously been used for the
drawing of aluminium and
aluminium alloy wires, and
especially rod wire drawing.
However, the partially highly
viscous media are linked with
known disadvantages, such as
impossible filtration.
Bechem’s Berudraw products
have a lower viscosity, and
are said to offer improved
filterability, residue-free wires
and more stable drawing processes. Using emulsion for multiwire drawing allows
a cleaner and more pleasant working environment that cannot be achieved with
conventional drawing oils.
Clean drawing machines and optimal filtration provide an almost residue-free finished
product with a high quality surface finish.
Carl Bechem GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 2331 935 1199
Email: Website:
Nexans’ own cable laying ship – the CS Skagerrak ▲ ▲
Emulsions offer environmental advantages over traditional oils ▲ ▲