NKT has introduced a new integrated monitoring solution aimed at safeguarding both on- and offshore power cables, designed to enhance the reliability and safety of power cable grids. The platform is engineered to identify and mitigate potential threats, such as fishing accidents and deliberate damage, ensuring the continuous operation of power cables.
The innovative platform integrates multiple sensors and combines various technologies to provide a comprehensive view of cable conditions. It includes data from vessel location tracking, acoustic sensing around the cable, cable burial depth, and conductor temperature.
By combining and analyzing this data, the platform can detect suspicious activities that may jeopardize the cables. For instance, it can identify when vessels pass slowly, fishing equipment or anchors are pulled near the cables, and other activities that could lead to cable damage. When any parameter exceeds predefined thresholds, the system triggers an alert, enabling operators to take proactive measures and improve grid resilience.
Stefan Persson, Director of Cable Monitoring Solutions, Service, and Installation at NKT, stated, “Our new cable monitoring platform represents a significant advancement in ensuring the reliability and safety of power cables. By integrating multiple sensors into a single platform, we can provide situational awareness and proactive monitoring, which is crucial for maintaining uptime and preventing damage.”
In cases of critical infrastructure failure, the platform can help identify the cause, providing valuable information for both cable owners and public authorities. Persson added, “By gathering alarm data, including vessel movements and acoustic data, the system can support the root cause analysis of the damage. In the short run, it can pinpoint potential responsible parties, and in the long run, it can help improve situational awareness around the cable.”
The system not only offers real-time monitoring but also provides cable owners with detailed insights into the cable’s performance, including documentation, marine survey inspection reports, spare parts inventory status, and alerts for parts nearing expiration. This comprehensive monitoring capability helps owners prepare for potential failures and mitigate risks.
“Our solution enhances the ability to monitor and safeguard power cables but also helps cable owners prepare for and mitigate potential failures,” Persson explained. “Reducing outage times for a cable includes readiness in case a critical situation occurs. It can be crucial that the cable owner has access to relevant spare parts if a cable is damaged.”
The platform is specifically designed for both on- and offshore cables with fiber-optics, utilizing the existing fiber-optic cable within the power cable, along with vessel positioning technology to gather and analyze critical data.
