The biggest
challenge
Lapp
faced was to design
the cable to
withstand the
pressure of the sea
water without
allowing any room
for breakage, cuts,
and abrasions.
The criticality of the miles of
electrical wiring that runs
through various industries is at
times undermined. These wires,
reaching machinery and lending
connectivity, also prevent any current
wastage - a trend that has fast gained
recognition, with its successful usage
in the industrial sector. Its
advantages are also being applied to
building infrastructure, and can be
applied for various challenging and
unique power supplying solutions.
Usage of the appropriate cables
ensures safety-employees' safety and
that of infrastructure and equipment.
As cabling is a necessary
component across industries,
manufacturers' produce multitude of
cables ranging from power cables,
fire safe cables, single cores, multi
cores, and data cables. According to
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. the
wire and cable industry is expected to
generate $113.9 billion by the year
2015.
In India, the wire and cable
industry comprises 40 per cent of the
entire electrical industry, which is the
fifth largest in the world and is
expected to double in size over the
next five years. A developing
economy like ours has growing needs
and growth and industrialization
have spurred the need to bring
electricity in all walks of life.
Trying to keep India powered with
innovation in cabling is Lapp India, a
100 per cent subsidiary of the LAPP
GROUP. The company manufactures
cables, connectors, cable glands,
conduits, and accessories. We have
pioneered the concept of 'Total
solutions in Electrical Connectivity'
in India, with our range of products.
Each year about 100,000 km of
ÖLFLEX®, our leading cable brand
of connecting and control cables and
insulated single cores, are produced.
The need for safe cabling is proven
by the wide range of Lapp products
that being found in a whole host of
stunning objects, from the stage
machinery used by the Rolling Stones
and the new opera house in Peking, to
ancient monuments and modern
departure lounges, to the newest
container cranes and the largest wind
turbines in the world. However, our
products can also be found in
countless everyday applications in industry, communication, and network technology and indeed
anywhere where cables are needed.
A case in point is the innovative cabling solution Lapp India
provided the Banyan Tree Holdings Limited ("Banyan Tree" or
the "Group"), a leading manager and developer of premium
resorts, hotels, and spas in the Asia Pacific.
Establishing uninterrupted power supply is an indispensable
facility for smooth operation in any industry, even the
hospitality business. Power supply, and having supply that is
proportionate to the requirement of a hotel or resort, is key for
business and the comfort of guests and visitors to make the
stay a pleasant and memorable one. To deliver the best in
hospitality, the Group commissioned Lapp India to design and
execute a plan to provide a unique electrical connection to a
resort the Group was launching in Kerala.
Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts are all set to expand and
strengthen its commitment to the rejuvenation of the body,
mind, and soul by building a sanctuary for the senses in Kerala,
India. They intend to initiate and build a resort on an island
just off the Alleppey on the backwaters. This beautiful island
locale, however, poses one main challenge - power supply to
the resort. Since the resort is being built on an island with no
power generating stations, Banyan Tree had to draw power
from the mainland.
This called for:
- Underwater high power transmission cables that would
transmit power from a substation on the mainland near
Cochin, Kerala, to the island
- This power transmission cable would need to be laid
underwater
- The cable was expected to take a minimum water pressure of
50m depth
- The cable would have to be continuous length with a joint
free construction of up to 1250 m
- This power supply had to be designed to safeguard and
ensure that the voltage drop across the cable would be was
minimal
- The insulation of the cable needed was expected to be water
impermeable and impenetrable as a failure in the insulation
would result in the electrification of the water body proving
to be lethal for human and animal life
The Group chose to work with Lapp India to provide a safe
solution to this predicament since Lapp is known for its bold
and innovative initiatives. Also, Lapp is the manufacturer of
underwater cabling solutions such as the TBW/TBM shrink
tube that fulfils high mechanical requirements for underwater
and underground insulations and repairs with more resistance
and flexible protection.
As underwater power cables require state-of-the-art
cabling technology and a profound understanding of cable
designs, Lapp undertook this project and it has been able to
successfully execute the order for Banyan Tree. Lapp has
supplied Banyan Tree Resorts with 1250 m of three cored
annealed plain copper cables capable of transmitting 11kV HT
power undersea.
The biggest challenge Lapp faced was to design the cable to
withstand the pressure of the sea water without allowing any
room for breakage, cuts, and abrasions. The cables also had to
be made resistant to saline water to prevent corrosion and the
cable had to have minimal, if not any, loss of power.
On the other end of tremendous amount of research and
testing, Lapp was able to manufacture a cable that ideally
catered to the requirement. This cable consisted of multiple
layers of insulation over the conductors as a precaution to
avoid breakage of the cable resulting in the leakage of current
into the sea. It was provided with 12 layers of protection over
the cable.
Lapp provided this 12 layered cable continuous length by
joining free cables. Keeping in mind the conditions that the
cable was installed in, Lapp ensured that the hard exterior
sheath which was resistant to wear and tear and to make it safe
and fail-proof.
With the road clear, the project is well underway. Banyan
Tree has finished laying 500m of cable already and expects to
be done with the project by October. Lapp will continue to
provide the necessary support to power the resort.
(Debajyoti Mukherjee is Deputy General Manager -
Technology & Competence Centre, Lapp India)