400kV Power Cable Circuit Monitoring in Bahrain
AP Sensing was recently selected to monitor a 400 kV power cable loop for Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As part of EWA’s strategic 400 kV Transmission Development program, this project adds a crucial link to the infrastructure of the Kingdom of Bahrain and is the first 400 kV XLPE submarine cable to be installed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Solution
The power cable circuit includes a subsea section, and is monitored from both ends of the circuit. Two N4425A AP Sensing Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) devices were deployed in a single-ended configuration alongside SmartVision, AP Sensing’s asset visualization software. Alarms are output via industry standard protocols (IEC 61850) used by the customer’s SCADA system.
Our DTS systems were selected in order to provide continuous temperature monitoring and asset protection, as well as power network performance optimization. The systems efficiently pinpoint cable failures and deliver operational status, condition assessment, and power circuit rating data (Real Time Thermal Rating - RTTR / Dynamic Cable Rating - DCR). Additionally, our technology identifies potential issues, such as hotspots and thermal bottlenecks.
Hotspots are particularly important to identify, especially at joint bays where a blast can occur in a worst case scenario. Power outages result in expensive repair costs and huge financial losses, which can easily be mitigated by continuous asset monitoring.
Deployed RTTR models as per industry standards (IEC 60287/ 60853) provide critical real-time information to operate both underground and subsea cable sections at highest safe current levels, taking into account the specific environment and different cable constructions / sizes for this project. After system installation, heat tests were conducted and the DTS quickly and accurately detected the position and temperature of hotspots.
Due to the satisfying end result of this project, the client is currently deploying AP Sensing’s DTS technology on another 400 kV circuit – validating AP Sensing’s commitment to monitoring crucial infrastructures in the Gulf area, and exemplifying our strong and long-standing presence in the region.