2013 SuStainability RepoRt >
pRoduCt ReSponSibility
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| pRySmian gRoup | 2013 SuStainability RepoRt
MAIN ENERGY PROJECTS
westeRn link
: the Western HVDC Link, which connects the
Scottish and English electricity grids, has set a new record in
terms of voltage (600 kV) and has a transmission capacity
of 2200 MW, which is currently unrivalled by other long-
distance systems. The project involve the complete, turnkey
supply of an HVDC link consisting of a bipolar transmission
system using cables insulated with PPL-MIND (mass
impregnated nondraining polypropylene paper laminate), a
latest generation insulator that optimises power losses and
allows higher voltages with a smaller cable size for the same
transmission capacity.
Thanks to a maximum line temperature of 80-85°C, the
maximum power transmitted by a PPL-insulated cable
can be about 30% greater than that of traditional, paper-
insulated cables. The polypropylene paper laminate selected
allows production to be stable and enhances the electrical
characteristics of the cable.
FleXible pipes
: offshore oil production has grown steadily
in recent years. In various locations around the world, oil
companies are installing new offshore platforms that
are capable of operating in increasingly deep water. As a
consequence, all connections between ships and platforms
with pumps and wells on the seabed must become more
efficient and increase the reliability of the systems installed.
Accordingly, flexible pipes and umbilical cables must resist
critical situations, high temperatures and exposure to highly
aggressive fluids.
For this reason, recent research has focused on the
technological development of new generation flexible pipes.
Their steel cladding has been made more inert, to minimise
the corrosive effects of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide,
thus allowing their deployment in hydrocarbon fields rich in
such gases e.g. the offshore fields in Brazil.
This innovation paves the way for the production of flexible
pipes made using steel with a high carbon content, but
without the problem of fragility caused by sulphuric acid
corrosion. The use of steel with strong mechanical properties
means that the weight of the cladding can be reduced by
20-30%. This decrease is significant, with major advantages
for the production of flexible pipes and, above all, for their
installation and management. Lighter cladding allows the use
of smaller ships for the transportation and laying of cables,
with effects also on the necessary size of smaller offshore
platforms.
high Voltage low loss Cables
: The Prysmian Group
has developed a new technology for the design of better
performing tripolar high voltage cables that are used, for
example, to link marine wind farms with the high voltage
terrestrial grid. The improved competitiveness of these
links contributes to the development of energy produced
from renewable sources. The new design reduces magnetic
losses from the steel cladding, allowing the more efficient
transmission of electricity, or a reduction in the quantity of
raw materials (especially copper) used to produce the cable.
The innovation allows use of cable with the same nominal
capacity, while saving about 20% of the power previously
dissipated. This represents a reduction of 2.8 tonnes of CO
2
equivalent for every metre of cable, considering a typical
loading over a period of 20 years.
Another way to use the invention is to design cables with a
30% reduction in the cross-section of the copper conductors,
thus saving about 10 kg of copper per metre of cable. In
addition, given the reduced diameter, the volume of polymers
extruded onto the conductor is also lower. The overall effect is
to limit the consumption of both oil and metals.
pRy-CaM
: PRY-CAM is a small, low weight measuring tool
(17x12x13 cm, about 400g) made from materials that, in
weight terms, are 70% recoverable and recyclable. The external
container is made from ABS plastic and represents 50% of
the mass of the instrument. This container is fully reusable or
recyclable. The sensor of the PRY-CAM comprises a metallic
sphere that is also fully reusable or recyclable. The remaining
parts, representing less than 20% of the weight, consist of
conventional circuit boards made from FR4 (laminated using
epoxy resin) and assembled using components and solder
paste that comply with RoHS directives (absence of lead and
other toxic materials). Lastly, the PRY-CAM battery contains
absolutely no heavy metals (chromium, mercury etc.). Both
the circuit boards and the batteries can be disposed of using
conventional processes for the recovery of materials. As
such, no special processes are required for their disposal,
transportation and treatment. The various parts of the
instrument are assembled using Teflon screws, which means
that the various parts can easily be detached (even by hand)
for subsequent processing.
