Hanson releases Powercrete in UK

Powercrete was developed by HeidelbergCement, Hanson’s parent company, and is a heat conducting concrete. It helps to dissipate the heat generate by high-voltage and ultra-high voltage electrical cables with the same ease of placement as normal concrete.

The high thermal conductivity of the product enables it to be used as a bedding and infill material for underground high-voltage and ultra high-voltage cabling, helping to minimise transmission loss.

Powercrete is the only product of its type available in the UK. Its first application was at Iver, Buckinghamshire, where 217 m3 was used to encase the 175 kilavolt cables that send power to Heathrow airport.

Concrete technical sales manager Jasen Gauld said: “Power cables are increasingly being run underground, generating energy savings and reducing the visual and environmental impact created by pylons. However, heat generation can be an issue with underground cable runs: as the cable temperature rises, so does the resistance, increasing transmission loss.

“Using Powercrete® allows you to increase power capacity, reduce conductor cross sectioning or switch to aluminium conductors. It also serves to reduce magnetic field strength for alternating current and mitigate hotspots.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/08032017/hanson-releases-powercrete-in-uk/