TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY
DRONES DELVING UNDERGROUND
power supplies. UK Power Networks, which runs power supplies
W
for 8.3 million homes and businesses across London the East and South East, has invested in cutting-edge ‘inspectors’ in collaboration with global energy and water knowledge enterprise Enzen. Teams in London have been trialling use of the sphere-shaped drones, equipped with lights, to inspect electricity cables in underground tunnels and shafts. The process is safer and more cost-eff ective than sending engineers to patrol underground, which involves erecting scaff olding so they can enter tunnel shafts safely to inspect hidden equipment under the city streets.
The new Aerial Asset Inspection solution has seen
Enzen deploy lightweight drones to capture data and a clear picture of what condition the cables are in, so maintenance work can be planned eff ectively. Each drone measures 40cms across and weighs about 750g. It means that UK Power Networks’ Capital Programme
team, and the contractors they work with can accurately capture quality data quickly, centralise their inspection records and improve the network’s performance to help keep power fl owing smoothly. Liam O’Sullivan, head of programme management
and delivery at UK Power Networks, says: “Inspecting underground electricity assets can be a diffi cult task so we commissioned Enzen to deliver an alternative solution. The challenge was to reduce risk, improve safety, capture quality data, centralise inspection data, improve asset performance and reduce service disruptions. The solution has enabled us to make informed investment decisions, based on data-rich knowledge.”
For more information visit
www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk
e’re getting used to seeing them fly high in the sky, and now high-tech drones are also delving deep underground to help maintain
MULTILAM TECHNOLOGY
The future of high power contact solutions
The new ML-CUX of the MULTILAM flexo line by Stäubli Electrical Connectors has been designed for demanding high power contact solutions for power transmission and distribution that require compactness and high power density. ML-CUX offers quality and longevity at best price performance ratio.
Two-component contact element High rated current and short circuit current carrying capacity Large operating range Simple assembly in rectangular mounting groove Reduction of Total cost of Ownership Very high lifespan with consistent performance 100%-tested product properties
www.staubli.com/electrical
Staubli is a trademark of Stäubli International AG, registered in Switzerland and other countries. © Stäubli 2020 | Photocredits: Stäubli
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