Alternating current is the blood that flows through the veins of most power grids. It conveys electrical energy across great distances from the power station to factories and homes. But the monopoly of alternating current is coming to an end. Consumers such as mobile phone chargers, LED lamps and electric vehicle batteries increasingly require direct current. There is also an increasing number of power generators that supply direct current instead of alternating current, such as photovoltaic units. The necessary conversion between alternating and direct current consumes large amounts of energy. That is why energy experts are campaigning for the construction of direct-current grids. The industrial sector, especially the automotive industry, has also begun to equip factories to run on direct current. But there is a problem: direct current places new demands on infrastructure, including cables.
The first series cable for direct current
Leading connection systems manufacturer Lapp has taken a close look at these challenges and the company is due to showcase its first series product at SPS IPC Drives 2018. The Ölflex DC 100 is specially developed for supplying motors and systems with direct current. The cable is the result of comprehensive experiments in the Lapp laboratory and at the Ilmenau University of Technology, where Prof. Frank Berger researches the influence of direct current on the ageing process in cables. “In principle, cables for alternating current can also be used for direct current”, he explains.
In terms of long-term durability, however, there are still many open questions and very little in the way of knowledge, even though direct current has been around since the 19th century. Researchers have found evidence that direct current fields place different strains on the plastic of the insulation than alternating current fields. “It is very important to precisely understand this correlation, which is why we are paying so much attention to this issue, which will shape the future,” says Guido Ege, head of product development at Lapp.
Similar, but not identical
The new Ölflex DC 100 is designed to withstand decades of use with direct current, just like its alternating current equivalent the Ölflex Classic 100. The two cables feature different insulation, but otherwise share similar properties. They both have PVC sheaths and offer identical dielectric strength, for example. The only visible difference can be seen once the sheath is removed. The colour coding of the wires is different: red, white and green/yellow according to the standard DIN EN 60445 (VDE 0197):2018-02 that was updated in February 2018. The Ölflex DC 100 is available now.
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