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7.
CONSTANTLY AHEAD IN INNOVATION
PRYSMIAN GROUP
2015
YEARLY OVERVIEW
Prysmian is intensifying its exploratory
research into materials due to the strategic
role they play in cable and accessories
technology.
In the area of extra high voltage
(EHV) cables, an important milestone
was reached with the successful
qualification of extruded insulation
systems for voltages exceeding
500 kV: in fact, the type test was
successfully completed for the 525 kV
HVDC solid-insulated system.
The Flextube cable family has proved
to be the most efficient technology
for optimising and reducing the size
of high-fibre-count cables, thanks
to success factors such as the
combination of micro-module flextube
technology and BBXS 200 micron
diameter fibre.
In the Downstream segment, the two
main initiatives implemented in 2015
involved the development, in various
subsidiaries, of an improved solution
for low temperatures ("Artic onshore"),
typical of projects carried out in Russia
(Yamal LNG and ZapSib 2).
CARE FOR THE PLANET:
AN EVER CLOSER GOAL
Submarine cables
Oil & Gas
The importance of materials
Underground cables
Telecom and optical cables
Development work in 2015 was mainly
focused on enlarging the range: the
3-core AC cable range saw successful
qualification of the 220 kV cable for the
50 Hertz project, which will be used for
long-distance transmission of energy
produced by offshore wind farms.
The main achievements in 2015 included:
• Completion of a preliminary study that
will let Prysmian formulate a compound
with variable resistivity for use in the
manufacture of joints for very compact
HVDC cables.
• Completion of the feasibility study on
a proprietary formula for primary and
secondary coating of optical fibres.
• Studies on the protection of copper in
order to improve or prevent oxidisation
of large section conductors and on the
protection of aluminium.
• Studies on carbon nanotubes to identify
possible uses as conductors, with a
graphene manufacturer contacted to
performexperiments on the newmaterial.