AFL Spans Great Lengths to Reach Peruvian Power Station
ALF’s SkyWrap set a world record for the longest wrap cable span ever installed and documented the process on video. (See below). During an installation in Peru on existing power lines for Consorcio Energético de Huancavelica S.A. (Conenhua), a Peruvian power company, two SkyWrap cables were simultaneously wrapped on an unusually long span measuring 2,234 meters, tower-to-tower, across a deep valley.
“The project took place in the valley of Santa Eulalia, approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Lima, in the heart of the Andes Mountains,” explained Carlos Galvez, managing director of Conenhua. “Perilous terrain, lack of access roads and the extremely long span lengths along the route made installation conditions very difficult.”
AFL's SkyWrap solution is a fiber optic cable that is helically applied on existing ground or phase conductors, using specially-designed, installation equipment. The installation span was close to the town of San Pedro de Casta, between two pylons, each at 3,350 meters above sea level, on opposite sides of a river valley. The longest span was just one of 10 spans over 1,000 meters in length on this project.
“The installation team consisted of 12 people with four off-road vehicles—more people than typical for a SkyWrap installation due to the need to transport or hike equipment by hand to many of the pylon locations,” stated Ian Chard, senior project manager at AFL.
Galvez added, “The SkyWrap system proved to be the best solution, due to the lightweight equipment and efficient installation technique, using a remote-controlled device to wrap the cable on the conductor. Due to the hard work and determination of the crew and the quickness of the technique, we installed 30 kilometers in just 20 days.”
This span was part of a 30 kilometer fiber optic link, connecting the Huanza Hydroelectric Power Plant to the Interconnected National Network. The fiber optic cable was installed on the overhead power network owned and operated by Conenhua for Cia de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A., one of the major gold and silver producers in Peru. The link will provide a means for control, protection and safe operation of the hydroelectric plant.
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