Leftover Cable Storage
Project info:
Leftover Cable
1700m
Cable
Fibre Optic
Location
Belgium
Destination
Wales
Cable Storage For Sumitomo
Haryln was instructed by Sumitomo Electrical Corporation (Sumitomo), a Japanese submarine cable manufacturer, to move their fibre optic cables from the supplier in Sweden to the Greenlink Interconnector Project in Wales for installation.
At the end of the project, 1.7km of cable was leftover. Sumitomo asked us to spool the leftover cable onto a smaller drum for storage.
The challenge:
The storage facility wanted the cable to be placed onto a smaller drum, to save space in the warehouse.
This presented us with a challenge. We had to find a way to transpool the cable from a large basket onto a reel with a much smaller diameter.
That concept is a challenge with this sort of cable, because the thickness of the cable limits how tightly it can be wound. Winding the cable too tightly would damage it, but if it is not sufficiently tight then it cannot fit into the spool for storage.
The solution:
We carried out detailed catenary analysis to understand the limits of the cable, and inform the design of the cable basket and the storage spool.
Monitoring the back tension
We developed one idea and presented it to Sumitomo. They were happy with the design, but asked if we could increase the back tension so that it mirrored a transpooling operation in one of their factories.
The back tension of the cable was a key element of this project. One of the biggest challenges was maintaining a constant level of back tension in the cable during transpooling.
We had to monitor the catenary shape continually throughout the process. This was all the more difficult because the spooler speed was inconsistent. However the experienced contractors were able to do this with excellent control of the bow cable engine (BCE), adjusting it as needed.
Dissembling the baskets
We designed and co-ordinated a comprehensive process for the disassembly of the basket.
After we had completed the cable transpooling, we dismantled the cable basket, and loaded it onto trucks for export to the UK.
The baskets are deliberately designed to be dissembled and to be portable. This allows us to be flexible and resourceful in how we use them. The same baskets will be used in future projects.
Outcome
Commitment to renewable energy projects
At Harlyn, we’re committed to working on projects in the renewables industry. The Greenlink Interconnector Project was an ideal project for us in that space. Greenlink will maximise the integration of green energy generated in Ireland and Great Britain by exporting surplus energy between the two refions. Interconnection like this will help to meet renewable energy targets and support the decarbonisation of our economies.
The Greenlink project was shortlisted for the Net Zero champion award in 2024. We are delighted to have played a part in this project.
Charlie Sleigh Project Engineer
Harlyn Solutions
Engineering-led transportation
in action.
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