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Of all the renewable resources, offshore
wind has the potential to generate the greatest amount of energy. Denmark,
which aims to use renewable sources for 50% of its energy by 2030, has
created the world's largest offshore windmill park. The Horns Rev (Horns
Reef) wind farm lies 14 kilometres off the west coast of Denmark and
comprises 80 two megawatt windmills that are connected to land by the
'world's most powerful three-core AC cable'.
But with offshore projects as ambitious as
Denmark's, there are great demands on suppliers and their technology. And
Sensa, based at Southampton Science Park, is well equipped to detect many of
these potential problems with their fibre optic temperature monitoring
systems.
The Sensa System
Sensa's Power Circuit Temperature
Monitoring System monitors the temperature of both submarine and
subterranean cables. It monitors 35 km of cable that lead from the
offshore substation to Blåvand (the nearest point on the mainland) and
from Blåvand to Karlsgårde substation.
Why is Sensa's system so
important?
The very nature of wind means that the
amount of power generated will vary dramatically, resulting in large
differences in the loading of the cable. Also, more turbines will be
added, and will affect the power transfer through the cable circuit. A
temperature profile from the effect of loading can be built up, and used:
- To predict how much load can be carried,
and for how long
- To show the location of hot spots
- As a measure of the condition of the
cable
All these are important tools to help
manage this valuable asset. Furthermore, there is a possibility that wind,
tides and waves could bury the submarine cable deeper than intended due to
movement of the seabed. A critical part of the cable installation is in
the shallow waters and where the submarine cable exits the water across
the beach and sand dunes.
If burial of the cable was to go
undetected, it could heat up and eventually lead to a thermal failure. The
Sensa system will enable abnormal temperature patterns to be detected and
action taken to clear the obstruction.
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