Ellis supplies single Centaur cable saddle for London Power Tunnel project

Ellis has worked directly with UK Power Networks to develop a trefoil version of its Centaur cable saddle.

The bespoke product not only allowed the preferred trefoil arrangement of HV cables to be run through a stretch of tunnel between New Cross and Finsbury Market, but also significantly reduced the number of supports required.

Tony Conroy, Ellis’ global sales director, said: “Customers come to us with specific requirements, sometimes even challenges they worry are unsurmountable, and we develop a solution that meets their needs and eventually can be added to our already world-leading product portfolio.”

The new trefoil is manufactured from marine grade aluminium, similar in design to its existing Centaur cable saddle, but with alternative base profile and dual flair to accommodate trefoil cables.

When installed, it allows for a 268mm cable sag and was tested to 19kA RMS for 0.1s (48.5kA peak), 40kA RMS for 0.1s (117kA peak) and given a thermal test of 19kA for 3s.

Ellis’ first Centaur cable saddles installed in UKPN’s London Power Tunnels

Ellis has supplied a lot of single cable Centaur for other sections of the London Power Tunnels project. Ellis looked at the viability of the request and when it became clear it could deliver a solution, it turned it over to the research and development team who designed a product and produced a prototype. Once approved by UKPN it was sent for short-circuit testing and only once it had passed those rigorous safety tests did we agree to supply it.