INDUSTRIES
Power Grids
The electric power infrastructure is a vast network of cabling, power stations, and electric stations. People depend on the infrastructure to operate 24/7, so it needs to be resilient against natural disasters, harsh conditions, theft, and other threats.
OPGW/OPPC
Fiber optic sensing technology is an efficient solution to challenges in the Power Grid industry. A single optical fiber cable quickly and accurately monitors critical metrics without requiring a power source. We are constantly creating custom solutions for our client’s projects. For example, our FIMTs for OPGW cables are cost-effective and future-proof solutions for power grids.
OPGW cables shield conductors from lightning while operating for telecommunication purposes at the same time. As a result, they must withstand external influences such as mechanical stress and environmental forces such as wind and ice, protecting the optical fiber within the cable in the harshest of conditions.
Our most popular OPGW FIMTs
Single Layer FIMT
- Single layer steel tube up to 50km
- Ideal for OPGW, Marine, DTS, and DAS
- High precision optical cable in harsh environments
Thin Wall Aluminium Layered FIMT
- Aluminum layered fiber optic cable
- Durable and lightweight OPGW solution
- Moisture tested optical fiber protection
Thick Wall Aluminium Layered FIMT
- Up till 3 mm outer aluminum casting
- Higher electrical performance
- OPGW and OPPC optimized
We respond to every project with a custom solution, selecting the right cable for the unique challenge. Still, a significant advantage across all our FIMT products is that they are also integrable in high voltage cables to contribute to a more comprehensive solution to measure temperature.
Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) monitors the temperature and relays the information to the operator in real-time, ensuring that the power grid system is operational and running at total efficiency.
Renewables
Our products play a huge role in the Renewable Energy sector, too. The combination of safety, highly accurate readings, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in extremely challenging conditions makes fiber optic technology irreplaceable in wind power applications.
Offshore wind farms are challenging and expensive to maintain, and some offshore wind farms are situated over 30 km from shore. Factors such as these make it even more critical for operators to trust the information being relayed to them from the sensors.
Benefits of Fiber Optics Monitoring in Renewable Energy
High Accuracy
Optical sensing is sensitive enough to detect any minor changes in the environment and reliably alert the data center in real-time.
Cost Effective
No electrical power at the measurement point needed if used as a sensor.
Challenging Conditions
Once installed, our systems are close to undetectable and impossible to disrupt.
We produce FIMTs that withstand the high temperatures of a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables used to transfer the offshore wind energy into the grid systems on land. We focus on continuous, extra-long production lengths and provide bespoke solutions for cable systems and offshore installations.
Umbilical
Subsea umbilical cables are multi-functional assets that transfer data and power. Our steel-tube encapsulated cables can feature unprecedented fiber densities of up to 192 fibers, making them a popular choice among our partners.
A higher fiber count guarantees multiple data transmission connections and allows for various real-time surveillance activities of the line. These include Distributed Temperature Sensing and Distributed Acoustic Sensing for live monitoring of seismic activity and third-party interferences. These examples are cost-reducing applications capable of lowering maintenance frequency and predicting failures before they occur.
Technologies
Distributed Temperature Sensing
Essential for monitoring the temperature in high and medium voltage configurations.
Distributed Acoustic Sensing
for live monitoring of seismic activity and third-party interferences.
By integrating our products within subsea lines, we ensure a prolonged lifetime of the installation resulting in a reduction in waste. The reduction is a result of fewer maintenance operations while operating the line. Less maintenance and longer lifetimes of subsea cables mean less CO2 emissions released in the atmosphere due to the manufacturing of new cables, up-close diagnostics, or repairs.
Trisens Sensing Cable
perfect cost-reducing solution
In addition, we have worked on several developments focused on feasible solutions for retrofitting existing subsea infrastructures with fiber optic sensors. Our portfolio features the Trisens Sensing Cable, which is as light as 11kg/km making it a perfect cost-reducing solution as the cable is less demanding in terms of installation vessel requirements.
Summary
Fiber optic sensors measure the temperature, vibrations, and potential damage in real-time throughout their length, helping the provider reduce downtime and maintenance costs. This is a benefit that is integral in OPGW/OPPC, Renewables, and Umbilical projects.
The combination of strength and accuracy makes fiber optics in power grids a necessity. In addition, our promise to deliver custom solutions to any fiber optic challenge ensures we are continuously agile in selecting the best response.
Patrick Weissinger
Fiber Optics Solution Specialist.
“Challenge me with your project”
