NZ$9.00
ISSUE 147
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2022
Longer lasting network protection PAGE 12
CoverStory
Longer lasting network protection Testing the performance of heat shrink polymers in a test lab is everyday work for TE Connectivity as it continues to ensure its world-leading Raychem products protect the most vulnerable parts of distribution and transmission electrical networks. The final proof of this performance is now being verified in the field as networks throughout the world are being examined after decades of service life. The joints and terminations protected by TE Connectivity’s Raychem heat shrink products are found to be performing reliably and ensuring continuity of electricity supply. TE’s senior director of product management for its Raychem cable accessories, Germany-based Dr Frank Drumm, PhD, says the elastomeric properties of their early products have performed so well that many utility companies have confidently extended the life of their networks. “Hazard management is being carried out by utilities today to examine how effective their joints are in the field,” says Dr Drumm. “Our Raychem multilayer thermoplastic and elastomeric products have been in service for over 40 years. The feedback confirms that they continue to perform reliably and the joints and terminations do not have to be replaced.” In 1999, TE Connectivity acquired Raychem, the inventor of the first heat shrink products in the world. TE has since continued to develop unique cross-linked thermoplastic polymers for low, medium and high voltage applications to ensure that wherever a conductor ends, its electrical performance continues. Whether it is in the form of tubing, joints, splices or terminations, Raychem heat shrink products are engineered to not only seal and insulate cables and components, but also to
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Comprehensive recovery testing carried out by TE Connectivity during product development confirms the performance of its Raychem heat shrink reduce maintenance and downtime by protecting connections from mechanical, fire and corrosion damage. In any electrical network, connections between adjoining electrical cables and between cables and mechanical equipment are always the weakest link, says Dr Drumm. “Such connections can fail for any number of reasons, including poor material or design choices, aging and installation errors. These risks continue with periodic repairs, upgrades and capacity expansions during the life of the cabling. Using TE’s Raychem products strengthens these links and ensures the integrity of the network. It can make all the
difference between operating reliably and suffering unplanned downtime and unacceptable service interruptions.” He says TE Connectivity supplies Raychem tubes, sleeves, moulded parts and other components in a complete range of heat shrink, cold shrink and cold applied solutions that engineers can rely on for optimum protection and performance up to 245 kV. “Partnering with TE and leveraging its expert-engineered Raychem solutions is the best way to fortify any electrical infrastructure. We help utilities and network owners reduce the total cost of ownership through
improved lifecycle cost savings, reduced maintenance and lower failure rates, even in remote locations and hard-to-reach places such as underground.”
Innovation Dr Drumm says the final proof of quality is confirmed decades after installation and, as the reliability stakes get higher, the better TE’s Raychem performance can be measured. While the material science and cross-linking capabilities developed by TE take care of electrical insulation, moisture ingress, impact damage, mechanical damage and chemical degradation, the company continues to develop plastics and protection technology to enhance electrical performance and currentcarrying capacity. “We have engineered new plastics with problem-solving capabilities that also address fault-carrying capacity, screening, shielding and reliable earthing. We have also built into our heat shrink products the ability to control electrical stress and manage it to prevent tracking and erosion.” He says this is especially important in MV and HV outdoor applications where TE engineers have solved the problem at 22 kV and below by incorporating stress control fillers into the hot-melt inner adhesive layer and by engineering the outer layer polymer to minimise the build-up of pollutants on the heat shrink surface. This build-up prevention is designed to stop tracking occurring and to prevent electricity discharges and erosion caused by it. Dr Drumm says this development is important locally where New Zealand’s salt-laden air can contribute to the early degradation of network reliability. “TE’s unique tracking and erosion resistant (TERT) technology combats this and helps protect networks in harsh environments. With UV resistance added, you can expect a service lifetime of 40-plus years from Raychem products even in harsh climate conditions.” Applying additional heat shrink sheds can extend creepage distances outdoors depending on the pollution level.
Multi-layer solutions TE's Raychem heat shrink terminations integrate stress control and sealing in the hot-melt adhesive
January - February 2022
TE Connectivity continues to invest in research and development of plastic
TE owns and manufactures Raychem heat shrink cable accessories and asset protection products for voltages up to 245 kV materials that combine to optimally deliver the thermoplasticity and performance attributes required for each product. This way the company can ensure utilities making an up-front investment in TE’s Raychem engineered solutions gain demonstrable performance advantages and lifecycle cost savings. Dr Drumm says these advantages are increased by the integration of additional functions into Raychem co-extruded and triple-extruded heat shrink solutions, which were invented by TE Connectivity over a decade ago. These include indicators for safe
installation to significantly increase the reliability of the installed products. “We have extended our capability to retain constant wall thickness in co-extruded layers to our unique triple-layer extrusions. Our triple-layer products eliminate the need for multiple tubes and surpass other products on the market by avoiding the risk and cost of installation errors while extending the lifetime of the product.” The inside elastomeric layer provides a hermetic seal against the cable substrate, insulates the connection, and prevents the ingress of moisture and other corrosive fluids. The middle layer consists of an insulating heat shrink thermoplastic with an appropriate thickness for the required insulating voltage level. The outer layer is a conductive heat shrink thermoplastic precisely engineered to provide a combination of performance attributes for optimal mechanical protection and electrical stress grading. Dr Drumm says the triple layering accommodates load-driven heating and cooling and allows the cable to expand while the compressive forces exerted by the stiffer heat shrink outer layers continue to maintain the void-free hermetic seal against the cable surface made by the flexible inner elastomeric Raychem triple-layer extruded products provide a layer. high-performing alternative to applying multiple To help ensure safe installation in tubes while accommodating the effects of loadthe field, TE manufactures its triple-layer driven heating and cooling
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CoverStory co-extruded tubing with longitudinal marks in its expanded state.
Training
and heat shrink joints, terms and screened elbows to ensure supply to our New Zealand customers. For over a decade the partnership between TE and TransNet has allowed us to flexibly and rapidly respond to any customer’s requirements at the time of need. “TE and TransNet have also set up a local kitting room at TransNet’s East Tāmaki facility in Auckland to allow niche kits for any application to be made within hours to provide immediate support if an unplanned network outage or asset failure occurs.”
TE Connectivity’s ability to make heat shrink joints and terminations for any application is matched by the company’s commitment to support MV and HV contractors with the training needed for trouble-free connections. The company has two locallybased trainers in New Zealand, Paul Godfrey and Andrew Wooles, who take cable jointers TE’s experts provide training at customer facilities and in the through TE’s Certified in Compefield tence (CiC) training programme to certify them as accredited inassist with selecting the right product. We stallers of Raychem products. can also supply solutions for non-standard For further information: Paul Godfrey says the training also applications.” TE Connectivity teaches the skills needed to handle any TE Connectivity’s regional marketing P: 0800 489 261 (TE) problems arising from older technologies manager, Matt Cleary, says abundant stocks E: energy.nz@te.com and installations. of all Raychem products are held in New P: 09 274 3340 (TransNet) “We support all our customers throughZealand for same-day dispatch by distribuE: sales@transnet.co.nz out the life of our products and because tors TransNet. W: te.com/heatshrink we are the manufacturer, we can advise on any jointing or terminations required and “TransNet holds stock of our cold applied
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January - February 2022