EoW November 2010

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EuroWire – November 2010 35
technology news
After having qualified a high voltage
(HV) cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE)
cable system for direct current (DC) appli-
cations, Nexans is enlarging its tech-
nology portfolio for this growing market
by developing a DC superconductor
cable system operating at 200kV. Such
superconducting cables are expected to
provide the most efficient transmission
systems for gigawatts of power.
Nexans has announced the successful test
of the world’s first HVDC high temperature
superconductor (HTS) power transmission
cable designed for 200kV. This is an
important step in demonstrating the
capability of underground HVDC HTS
cables to transfer bulk power at the
gigawatt levels required by proposed
supergrid projects such as the Tres
Amigas renewable energy market hub in
the US. The voltage tests were carried out
at the Nexans high voltage laboratory in
Hanover, Germany.
A prototype HVDC HTS cable together
with a termination was subjected to
a series of tests according to CIGRE
(International Council on Large Electric
Systems) test recommendations. They
included testing at a voltage of 360kV,
representing 1.8 times the 200kV opera-
ting voltage, over several hours. The
system was subjected to superimposed
over-voltages such as those occurring
during lightning or switching events.
The HVDC HTS cable is based on a similar
configuration to the 138kV alternating
current (AC) HTS cable currently operating
in Long Island in the US. The termination
(connecting the cable to the electrical
network) is different from that used in
AC systems.
Nexans – France
Fax: +33 15669 8484
Email :
Website :
Successful test of HVDC power
transmission system
Dust-free
powder coats
Rolf Schlicht’s electrostatic powder
coating machine, model RSC, is designed
for an even, finely dosable and dust-free
powdering of cables and wires with
powders such as talc and swellable
powder. Machines are available for
product diameters up to 200mm.
Electrostatic charging of the powder
gives an even and strongly adhered layer
on the product surface. The electrostatic
charge ensures that no powder will
fall outside the dusting chamber. The
company also supplies machines with
two or four powder nozzles, depending
on the application.
The machine features a fluidised powder
hopper from which the powder is
sucked by pneumatic venturi pumps
and then blown to the guns. For optimal
adjustment of the powder quantity the
power of the electrostatic charge can be
varied from 0–100kV. Depending on the
product the powder gun can be equipped
with different powder nozzles. A fine
dosing device is also available.
RSC is fitted with a fully automatic and
maintenance-free filter system that
maintains a strong, constant vacuum in
the machine. Inlet and outlet openings of
the dusting chamber do not need sealing
brushes.
Rolf Schlicht GmbH – Germany
Fax: +49 40 67 99 4211
Email:
Website:
Model RSC electrostatic powder coating machine ▲ ▲
Decalub’s development of
wire and rod Smooth-Brush
(SB) system by ultra-fine
brushing replaces the most
costly operations in wire
drawing process, including
acid and wet pre-coating
chemicals, providing
substantial cost savings,
environmental benefits and
productivity improvements.
TheSB systemfeatures in-line
smooth ultra-fine brushing
at no speed limitation
providing an extra-clean
wire rod of white metal
appearance, performing: (a)
drawn wire cleaning/polishing for metallic (Zn, Al, Cu) and plastic coating applications,
and (b): providing rod surface specific morphology by micro-abrasion, adjustable at will
up to 15 microns, which is ideal for in-line dry coating/lubrication and direct drawing of
mechanically descaled H/C and L/C rod (including 0.90 %C ).
The system provides an extra-clean product by transversal high-speed ultra-fine
brushing all around the wire/rod circumference with automatically controlled brush
pressure, adjustable at will, and ensures unchanged rod/wire physical properties with
no residual stress induced, operating virtually at zero consumables cost (one set of
brush inserts cleans 100–120 tonnes of wire rod).
The SB system is suitable for use where the surface finish is of great importance.
The system offers consistency and can benefit demanding applications including
plating wire, cold-heading wire and H/C wire where the ductility is a focus, particularly
in the production of spring wire, bead wire and PC strand wire.
Decalub – France Fax: +33 1 6020 2021
Email: Website:
Wire and rod cleaning by SB brushing system ▲ ▲
Wire and rod dry cleaning
Advertorial on behalf of Decalub