Kazatomprom will use Japanese technologies to automate industrial safety of energy facilities, DKNews.kz reports.
National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Furukawa Electric Power Systems Co. and Sumitomo Corporation Power & Mobility Co. to implement a pilot project for a test launch of equipment/technology at production facilities, which will automate the prevention of snow formation and frost deposits on overhead power lines.
As a pilot project, Furukawa Electric Power Systems Co. considers installing prototypes of equipment on Uranenergo’s high-voltage line in the Turkestan region. The new equipment will ensure the prevention of ice and frost deposits on overhead power lines, preventing the formation of ice, thereby minimizing the risk of outages.
Uranenergo LLP is a subsidiary of Kazatomprom, which transmits and distributes power, operates electrical networks and substations of all uranium-mining enterprises in the southern regions, and provides electricity to the villages of Taukent and Kyzemshek.
Uranenergo LLP and representatives of Sumitomo Corporation Power & Mobility Co. and Furukawa Electric Power Systems Co. discussed details of potential cooperation, as well as the conditions for launching a pilot project to protect power lines from icing using Japanese technology at a meeting on November 23, 2023.
Based on the results of testing the new equipment, which will last until 2025, the nuclear holding’s power engineers will evaluate the technology in real conditions. If the pilot project is successfully implemented, Kazatomprom will consider further implementation of the technology/equipment for commercial operation in order to ensure stable energy supply to facilities.
Uninterrupted power supply is extremely important for supplying production and other facilities of a nuclear holding. High humidity, winds, and sudden changes in air temperature in winter contribute to the formation of ice and wet snow on wires, poles and other elements of overhead power lines. Ice and frost deposits pose a danger to the normal operation of electrical networks and often lead to damage to poles and breaks in power line wires. Accidents on power lines can cause significant economic damage, paralyze the consumers’ power supply system, and require significant efforts to restore it.
Previously, Uranenergo LLP implemented AISKGN METEOR ice loads monitoring system on 110 kV overhead lines L-111 and L-112, which made it possible providing early warning of an ice-hazardous situation at mining enterprises with a possible emergency power outage, determining the appearance and growth of ice-frost deposits, forecasting development of ice and wind conditions on power lines, taking into account weather conditions, as well as reducing the time for complete switching of loads of mining enterprises to a backup circuit from six hours to one hour.
