Heat-conducting Concrete

Heidelberg Materials range of Heat Conducting Concrete is available from all of our static and mobile production plants. High Voltage (HV) and Ultra High Voltage (UHV) cables are increasingly being run underground, particularly in urban areas and where the visual impact of overhead cables and pylons affects sensitive landscapes and habitats. Running these cables underground generates heat and requires robust insulation to withstand the very high voltage.

As the cable temperature increases, so does the resistance, resulting in capacity loss. This can be improved by using bedding and infill materials like Powercrete and CableCem. They dissipate the heat generated, preventing the underground cables from overheating.

Powercrete®

Powercrete is a robust, high-performance, heat-conducting concrete, used as a bedding and infill material for underground HV and UHV cabling. The special material properties of Powercrete result in low heat transmission resistance.

Increased Power Capability

Given this low thermal resistance, the heat being generated is dissipated effectively and the conductor temperature is reduced. As a result, the power capability of the cable run is increased.

The consistency of Powercrete can be adjusted. For example, a free-flowing consistency is ideal for embedding and encapsulating ducts and cables and is easy to place, finish and compact.

Benefits of Powercrete®:

• Improved heat dissipation for HV and UHV cables
• High heat conduction after drying
• Reduction in magnetic field strength for alternating current
• Increased power capacity
• Reduction of conductor cross-section
• Switch to aluminium conductors possible
• Mitigation of “hot-spots”

Benefits of CableCem®

CableCem is a heat-conducting grout developed as an infill material for jacket tube systems. It has excellent free-flowing properties and is well-suited for infilling the residual annular space between the cable and the jacket tube.

Lower thermal resistance with CableCem®

The low thermal resistance of CableCem ensures excellent heat dissipation, reducing capacity loss in the cable line and permanently increasing the power capability of the cable run.

CableCem is offered in a number of options with a range of thermal resistances.

Benefits:

• Excellent free-flowing properties
• Improved heat dissipation for HV and UHV cables
• Reduction in magnetic field strength for alternating current
• Increased power capacity
• Reduction of conductor cross-section
• Switch to aluminium conductors possible
• Mitigation of “hot-spots”

Professional preparation of the construction site and the correct placement of the grout is required in order the ensure the performance of CableCem.

Case study: Hornsea Project One

Powercrete is used on Hornsea Project One, the world’s first offshore windfarm to exceed one gigawatt in capacity. Read more about this project

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Accreditations

Heidelberg Materials is a member of the Quality Scheme for Ready-mixed Concrete (QSRMC) and all our products carry this certification.