The cables that are used in an offshore wind farm are grouped into:

  • Inter array cables
  • Export cables

The power that is generated by the turbines is transported by inter array cables to the substation. From there, export cables carry the power to shore. Those cables are protected by their burial.

When creating a project in  Con Design™, export cables and inter array cables can be added after WTGs, foundations, or substations are set up. This article shows how to add them, and then how to edit their inputs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Adding cables to a case

In the following text describes how to add cables;
1.  Build → Assets → Add → Inter array cables (IAC) or  Export cables (EC) → Add instances 
2. Fill in the number of cables. 
3.a Assign the geographical position of the cables between the Wind turbines (IAC) or Substation and the landing coordinates (EC) and the length manually. Length is not mandatory, so the distance between assets will be the default length. 


3.b Add by import function. For Inter array cables

  • 1.Identifier: cable name
  • 2.Wind farm equipment A: first connection asset (connected from)
  • 3.Wind farm equipment B: second connection asset (connected to)
  • 4.Cable A latitude: first connection asset in latitude coordinate (connected from)
  • 5.Cable A longitude: first connection asset in longitude coordinate (connected from)
  • 6.Cable B latitude: second connection asset in latitude coordinate (connected to)
  • 7.Cable B longitude: second connection asset in longitude coordinate (connected to)
  • 8.Cable distance: cable length (not mandatory)

For IAC, from the imported file example in the screenshot above, the required parameters from the drop-down list would be 1, 2, 3 and, 8. in case your file contains the latitude and longitude of the assets where the cable is connected, the parameters would be 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and, 8.

For 3.1 c  Import Export cables

  • 1.Identifier: cable name
  • 2.Substation: connection asset (connected from)
  • 4.Latitude cable landing point: landing connection in latitude coordinate (connected to)
  • 5.Longitude cable landing point: landing connection in longitude coordinate (connected to)
  • 8.Cable distance: cable length (not mandatory)

3.1d Create Export cables

We use this kind of option when we don't have an already existing export cable which location and information we could import. We will have to manually type in the coordinates,as you can see in the following illustration, we will have to type in the  

A Latitude Coordinates 

B Longitude Coordinates
C Length
D Select from the drop-down menu which wind turbine would you like to connect, and then the simulation will automatically place the right coordinates to have the endpoint of the cable.


4. Click on Add

Next step is to edit all available input values. See more detail for each input in Cables and burials input data.

Adding cable burials to a case

1. Go to the cable type the burial needs to be added from and hover the mouse

2. Click on Add cable burial icon

3. Burial will be added automatically

Next step is to edit all available input values. See more detail for each input Cables and burials input data.

Duplicate cables and burials

In any case with a cables or burials already added, you can duplicate the asset, copying all existing parameters, including weather. This can be useful if you have two assets that share parameters, but, e.g., have different locations. Just copy the asset, then edit the location of the duplicate.

  1. Go to Build >  Assets.
  2. Click the three-dot additional options menu icon.
  3. Click Create duplicate on case.
  4. Choose the number of cables you want to add.
  5. Click Define site area, Place individually on map, or manually enter the coordinates of the cables to locate them.
  6. Click Add.

A duplicate of the asset will appear, which you can edit as needed.