EuroWire May 2015

News Technology

X-ray technology combined with high-resolution optics

The purity of XLPE pellets, as they are used for the insulation of medium, high and extra-high voltages cables as well as for on- and offshore cables, is a decisive characteristic for the quality of the end product.

Damage caused by breakdowns due to contaminated material can quickly become expensive.

Therefore, the production of highly clean material as well as the continuous detection and sorting out of contaminated pellets before they get into the extrusion process is of essential importance. With the Purity Scanner, Sikora provides a user-orientated system for a 100 per cent online inspection and automatic sorting of XLPE pellets. The Purity Scanner intelligently combines X-ray technology with a dual-axis optical system. This allows the detection of metallic and organic impurities of 50µm in the pellet itself and on its surface. Contaminated pellets are separated and sorted out in order to prevent them from getting into the cable insulation. Due to the specially developed X-ray technology, the Purity Scanner inspects coloured (eg black) pellets as well as semi-conductive XLPE material for impurities and sorts them out automatically.

▲ ▲ Functional principle of the Purity Scanner

The scanner not only features unique inspection technology, but also a novel transport system of the pellets. The feeding of the pellets is carried out via a vibrating ramp. The material does not come into contact with the ambient air as the transport system is hermetically sealed. Absolute purity is guaranteed. The system is designed for a throughput of 500, 1,000 or 2,000kg/h and can easily be integrated into existing feeding systems. The system is typically installed between the hopper that is fed from the XLPE supply (octabin, bag or silo) and the hopper of the extruder, whereas the compound is fed by gravity. The transport system of the scanner is hermetically sealed, ensuring that there is no risk that dust or other contaminants can get into the flow of XLPE pellets. In addition, the transport system can be operated with an overpressure.The production process in the cable industry is also improved When designing the Purity Scanner, it was the utmost priority to create a system that remains clean for a long period of time. Accordingly, the transport system is integrated into an encapsulated housing with slight overpressure in order to prevent contamination entering the system from the outside. In the event that cleaning of the system is required, the system can be easily and quickly opened. Furthermore, the cleaning concept was developed for customers who run different materials and want to clean the system when changing the material. significantly and, thus, the safety and lifetime of the cable is increased.

In addition to cleaning, there is the possibility to exchange the complete transport system with a cleaned, sealed system.

Sikora AG – Germany Website : www.sikora.net

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May 2015