NKT is launching MakeSense, a new cable monitoring solution that integrates multiple sensors and combines technologies to provide a comprehensive overview of power cable conditions, to make power cable grids more reliable.
The MakeSense platform combines data from various sensors and technologies, and by integrating and analyzing this data together, the platform can identify suspicious activities, such as vessels passing slowly, fishing equipment or anchors being pulled near the cable, and other risks that could lead to cable damage.
When one or more parameters exceed predefined thresholds, the platform triggers an alert helping those monitoring the cable to take potential remediation actions and strengthen the grid’s resilience.
“Our new cable monitoring platform represents a significant advancement in ensuring the reliability and safety of power cables. By integrating multiple sensors into a single platform, we can provide situational awareness and proactive monitoring, which is crucial for maintaining up-time and preventing damage,” said Stefan Persson, Director, Cable Monitoring Solutions, Service, and Installation at NKT.
Multiple Data Points for Cable Monitoring
NKT’s cable monitoring solution will modernize the way power cables are managed, safeguarding them and increasing their reliability. The MakeSense system combines and creates alerts based on multiple data points, including distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed temperature sensing (DTS), automatic identification system (AIS), and depth of burial (DoB).
Designed for both on- and off-shore cables with fiber optics, the MakeSense platform leverages the fiber-optic cable within the power cable as well as vessel positioning technology to gather and analyze data effectively. This ensures that the monitoring system is robust and capable of providing accurate and timely information.
“By gathering alarm data, including vessel movements, and acoustic data, the system can support the root cause analysis of the damage. In the short run, it can pinpoint potential responsible parties, and in the long run, it can help improve situational awareness around the cable,” added Persson.
Preparedness is Key
Moreover, the new NKT platform includes features that provide cable owners with detailed information about how the cable is performing as well as documentation, information from marine survey inspections, current stockpiling status of spare parts, and notifications for replacing parts nearing expiry. This proactive approach helps identify focal areas to ensure the cable remains operational and improves the overall level of preparedness and preventiveness.
“Reducing outage times for a cable includes readiness in case a critical situation occurs. On a practical level, it can be crucial that the cable owner has access to relevant spare parts if a cable is damaged,” explained Persson.
