In-Situ Power Line Cleaning

The Problem of redundant oil-filled power cables

Underground power cables filled with coolant oil are a contamination hazard to surrounding land if left underground filled with oil after decommisioning. The coolant oil may eventually leak from the cables and enter the surrounding land and water courses.

Legislation now requires either the expensive removal of the redundant power lines or the cleaning of the oil contaminant from the cables.

AES Cables specialise in the removal of the waste oil safely and efficiently using our well-proven HydroGel system without the need to dig up the cables for removal. The redundant treated cables can be safely left underground after treatment.

HydroGel

HydroGel is a newly Patented Surface tension reducing oil remover!

AES Hydrogel Technology

AES Hydrogel is a new and unique technology for cleaning and purging redundant oil-filled power cables, oil feeder tanks and pipelines in situ which can then be safely left underground or removed at a later date without further contamination to the environment. The recovered oil is uncontaminated by our process and can be safely re-cycled.

AES Hydrogel is a newly patented cross-linked PVA molecule that has unique physical properties. It can be used to “push” all grades of petroleum based products from confined areas such as cables, pipelines and storage tanks or it can be mixed or agitated to form an emulsion which can later be easily split into separate phases for oil recovery and re-use.

By the addition of a catalyst we are able to turn the Hydrogel liquid into a solid gel material that is completely stable and unaffected by other chemicals or heat. The gelling time can also be controlled so that the material can be circulated through complex systems ensuring all areas have been penetrated and sealed before setting takes place. The Hydrogel can encapsulate highly flammable materials and render them inert and safe to handle or leave in-situ.

AES Hydrogel also acts on heavy oil to dramatically reduce the viscosity thereby allowing better pumping and transport through conventional pipelines without the need for expensive thermal or conventional oil diluting methods. AES Hydrogel encapsulates the heavy oil molecules in an aqueous phase and on settlement quickly separates allowing the heavy oil to be recovered uncontaminated