Asset Life Extension17 Sep, 2021 As our electrical network infrastructure continues to age, utilities are increasingly facing a standing wave of maintenance work and asset replacement expenditure. At TEN, we have been working for several years on addressing some of the larger, and very common asset management issues that our industry faces with products focused on:
The phrase "doing more with less" gets bantered around, and the default position is to think lower cost products spread the budget further. But the old adage is true, "the bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten". At TEN we focus on delivering quality tools and equipment that provide superior lifetime value through lower ongoing maintenance costs, improved productivity and quality outcomes, and product durability and longevity. With over 20 years' experience in supplying tooling and equipment to this industry, it's our alignment to what is fit for purpose and delivering this lifetime value that keeps our customers coming back to TEN. With a truly national supply picture and daily conversations happening at the coal face, we are close to the work practice and asset management challenges facing our industry. It's not just our Australia wide experience that our customers benefit from, but our network of international suppliers that are meeting the needs of a global industry experiencing many of the same changes we see here in Australia. It is these international connections and networks that have allowed TEN to introduce a number of key product lines to Australia. FIRE HARDENING WOOD POLE ASSETS - GENICS The unprecedented scale of bushfires in recent fire seasons across Australia, has highlighted the need for proactive wood pole life management in fire prone areas. Ultimately, preservation is key. Maintaining a functioning network amid a natural disaster is critical. Genics Inc sought to develop a pole protection product that was easy to apply, required no ongoing maintenance, would not contribute to pole degradation over its life, and that provided superior fire mitigation performance. Genics Inc worked closely with many utilities and research facilities to bring Fire Mesh™ to the market. The Fire Mesh™ is a barrier designed to protect structures from wood burning and scorching. It is vital for a wood pole to achieve equilibrium and homeostasis with the climatic conditions associated with its placement, therefore, the best product solution is one that promotes air exchange and allows the pole to breathe. The Fire Mesh™ is designed with an open grid that allows visibility of the timber behind it, and most importantly, allows the pole to breathe. Combining state of the art polymers with innovative fire-resistant compounds, Genics Inc was able to create a very durable and high performing intumescent grid that has achieved excellent fire resistance in many standardised tests and controlled burns. There is also a favourable environmental and safety profile, the product is animal safe, there is no leaching of chemicals, and it is safe to handle. TEST & TREAT - GENICS The preservation of wood poles should be considered as a system. Genics has a solution that address each of the mould and decay degradation issues facing your wood pole network. Cobra Rods, CuB Liquid, Cobra Wrap and Cobra Cap are just some of the products in the range. If we look at combining these products for protecting and treating affected areas, this system maximises efficacy and extends the life of wood pole assets. Genics scientific methods and extensive research have led to this environmentally friendly line of products that simply get the job done. Wood protection isn’t complicated, at least not for the asset owner. Genics has taken care of the science, creating an industry leading, complex Copper Borate synergy. The performance is unparalleled. Their products can be relied upon to provide superior defence against mould and decay, wherever wood is used, from power poles, and fences, to homes. Cobra Rods: Internal Co-Biocidal Diffusible Rod for remedial and preventative treatment of timber utility poles and other wood structures. Boron and Copper complex, raw ingredients fused into an amorphous glass rod. The rods are hydrophilic and seek out moisture. Suitable for treatment of Basidiomycetes (Brown and White rots) and Ascomycetes (soft rot fungi) Cobra Wrap: Is a long-lasting plastic wrap with rechargeable pads, offering a low-cost external treatment solution. The hydrophobic pads that are immersed in Copper Napthenate (CuNap) solution, that acts as a physical barrier to the soil and provides the elemental treatment of copper to the face of the pole impeding soft rot. CuB Liquid: Copper-borate is a water based liquid preservative that contains no harmful VOC's. The shock treatment is designed to be applied to poles exhibiting active rot. It is ideal for dry environments where very little moisture content is available for rod activation. Also ideal for above ground applications. Cobra Cap: Is an easy to install, long lasting protective pole top cap. The Cobra Cap kit includes a hard durable plastic cap, two Cobra Rods and nails for the installation. Designed to be easily removed for the future replacement of the rods when required. POLE TOP RESTORATION – POLE LIFE SYSTEMS Pole top degradation is a common issue utilities face and like groundline degradation, it usually leads to expensive pole replacement. Pole Life Systems Inc. was established to solve this major problem with their wood pole asset management programs world-wide. Pole Life’s patented technologies have revolutionised pole top restoration creating "pole prosthetics", the first pole top life extension products for the industry. This is a l non-conductive, low cost and structurally sound system that reinforces wood pole tops. They are constructed of Poly Fibre Resin Composite (PFRC) material that is strong, lightweight, and durable with integrated UV protection, fire retardancy and immunity to rot, corrosion and insects. GROUNDLINE POLE REINFORCEMENT – LWS Again, wood pole groundline degradation usually leads to expensive pole replacement and is a huge cost faced by utilities. The PoleEnforcer® incorporates a full-length flange which produces superior strength in both the transverse AND longitudinal directions. The full-length taper forces the unit to maintain contact with the pole butt below grade. These patented features allow the PoleEnforcer® to reinforce poles that are considered condemned, saving many thousands of dollars versus replacement. The patented design ensures positive contact with the pole below the ground-line thus bridging the decayed area and transferring the load to the pole butt - that is TRUE POLE REINFORCEMENT. NON-DESTRUCTIVE WOOD POLE TESTING - POLUX 5 THE CONNECTOR CORRECTOR - CLAMPSTAR® In recent years the Australian power grid has seen a dramatic increase in overhead connector failures as a result of an ageing grid and stretched maintenance programs. Conductors and a well-maintained tower will generally outlast the connectors on the network. And with connectors typically designed to last 40 years, and many critical lines in Australia extending well beyond this age, the ability to apply a solution to the connector challenge can extend the line asset by up to 30 years, maximising its potential service life. TEN is proud to represent Classic Connectors in our region, their ClampStar® product provides an elegant, economical and easily installed solution for restoring the electrical and mechanical integrity of connectors without the need for costly re-stringing or remediation works. With over 1000 units installed in Australia, ClampStar® is well on its way to helping Australian Transmission Authorities extend the life of their networks. IN SERVICE TRANSFORMER REPAIR - POWERPATCH Ask any power utility if they have challenges with leaking power transformers or SF6 equipment, and you will be sure to get an emphatic YES! Taking these transformers offline and conducting repairs or refurbishments is a costly and timely exercise. PowerPatch by American Polywater allows a fast and permanent repair solution to leaks in transformers fins, bushings, pipe seals, and SF6 gas filled equipment without the need to take equipment offline or introduce potential contaminants. There is an extensive cost saving benefit in asset life extension, so if we take into consideration the costs of critical equipment shutdown and the environmental benefits, and PowerPatch quickly becomes a go to solution for asset managers. We are focussed on bringing innovations to the Australian market in Asset Life Extension (ALE) technologies and in continuing to supply quality tooling, equipment and line materials that meets the needs of the Australian customer base. Contact TEN for further information on any of these products: www.tengroup.com.au – 07 3212-8999 |
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