As a pivotal device in modern communication network development, optical cable pulling machines are widely used across multiple critical industries and continue to evolve toward greater intelligence and efficiency. Below is a detailed description of their primary application fields:
The Belo Monte Hydropower Station Transmission Project (Phase II) in Brazil utilizes Keepapexpower cable conveyors.
The Belo Monte Hydropower Station Transmission Project (Phase II) in Brazil utilizes Keepapexpower cable conveyors.
I. Project Background and Challenges
The Belo Monte Hydropower Station, located in the Amazon basin in northern Brazil, is the country’s second largest hydropower station, with a designed installed capacity of approximately 11 million kilowatts. To transmit the abundant clean hydropower from the north to the densely populated southeastern economic zone (including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), the State Grid Corporation of China independently won the bid for the Belo Monte ±800 kV UHVDC transmission line phase II project (Belo Monte Phase II). This is a demonstrative project of China’s UHVDC technology independently contracted overseas. The transmission line is approximately 2,539 kilometers long, spanning 5 Brazilian states and more than 80 cities, making it one of the longest DC transmission lines of its class in the world.
Phase II of the project commenced in 2017 and commenced operation in 2019. Its key features include the construction of converter stations required for ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission, the erection of ultra-long-distance transmission lines, and the integration of a massive power system, posing a comprehensive challenge to project management, construction organization, and on-site equipment application.
During the construction phase of this transmission project, the project construction unit faced several major challenges:
Wide construction area and complex climate: The line traverses tropical rainforests, hills, and plains, with long rainy seasons, significant terrain variations, and inconvenient on-site transportation and equipment transport.
Large-scale laying of power and communication cables: High-voltage power cables, control cables, and fiber optic communication cables needed to be laid at the converter stations and along the transmission line, with space constraints at most laying points.
High requirements for safety and construction efficiency: UHVDC systems have stringent standards for cable installation accuracy, insulation integrity, and on-site quality control.
II. Introduction and Application of Keepapexpower Cable Conveyors
To address the aforementioned construction challenges, the construction team introduced the Chinese-made Keepapexpower cable conveyor series in key processes such as cable laying, high-voltage cable installation, and pipe gallery installation within the converter station of Phase II. This equipment is primarily used for the mechanized conveying and precise routing of heavy-duty cables.
- Equipment Selection and Technical Features
The project selected the Keepapexpower KP-C series intelligent cable conveyor. Its main technical features include:
High traction and tension control: Supports continuous conveying of large-section high-voltage cables (e.g., 110 kV and below), with intelligent tension adjustment function, ensuring stable cable traction within long-distance pipe galleries.
Modular structure and rapid on-site deployment capability: The equipment consists of multiple tandem drive units, allowing for rapid deployment according to the available construction space.
Remote monitoring and safety protection system: On-site technicians can monitor the equipment load and traction status in real time through a control terminal, improving safety.
Example of equipment technical parameters:
Parameters Indicators Traction range 2 kN–10 kN (configurable according to actual cable specifications)
Supported cable diameter 25 mm–150 mm
Maximum driving distance 500 m/single section
Intelligent tension adjustment Supported
Control method PLC integration + remote monitoring
(Note: Model and parameters are exemplary configurations; specific details should be confirmed based on the site design and supply contract.)
- Typical application scenarios
📌 (1) Main transformer cable laying in converter station
In the underground pipe gallery between the main control room and the main transformer equipment of the southern converter station, the project requires the precise laying of multiple sets of high-voltage power cables and control cables. Using a Keepapexpower cable conveyor for mechanized propulsion can reduce the risk of damage to cable insulation caused by manual pulling, while improving wiring speed and accuracy.
📌 (2) Installation Across Complex Pipe Sections and Cable Trays The cable line crosses narrow pipe sections and numerous bends within converter stations. Utilizing the modular traction units of the equipment combined with pre-set path control, continuous cable advancement in complex spaces was achieved, avoiding on-site delays caused by traditional manual multi-point handling.
📌 (3) On-site Safety and Quality Management The tension feedback and monitoring system of the equipment enabled real-time analysis of the conveying process, effectively preventing quality hazards such as excessive cable bending stress or jamming, ensuring the long-term operational reliability of the cable laying.
III. Construction Results and Technical Benefits
The introduction of the Keepapexpower cable conveyor has yielded significant results in the cable conveying and installation phases:
✅ Improved Construction Efficiency—An average speed increase of approximately 25%–40% compared to traditional manual and simple mechanical-assisted wiring schemes, significantly shortening the construction period for critical nodes.
✅ Enhanced Quality and Safety Control—Mechanized pipe gallery advancement makes cable tension controllable, reducing on-site cable damage and rework rates, and improving construction quality. ✅ Modernized On-Site Management – Equipment integration with remote monitoring and data recording functions facilitates project management throughout the entire construction process and subsequent operation and maintenance.
IV. Project Summary and Promotion Value
The Belo Monte Hydropower Station Transmission Project (Phase II) in Brazil is a significant overseas application platform for China’s ultra-high voltage (UHV) technology. With a transmission line exceeding 2,500 kilometers in length, it has greatly improved the optimal allocation of Brazil’s energy resources and the stability of its power system.
In this complex international project, the application of Keepapexpower cable conveyors effectively solved various cable laying challenges, providing construction units with a reliable mechanized cabling solution. The integration of such equipment not only improved construction efficiency and quality but also provided a replicable technical path for cable laying in similar large-scale infrastructure construction projects.
This case demonstrates the practical capabilities of Chinese manufacturing in high-end overseas infrastructure projects, reflecting the technological value of advanced construction equipment in supporting international engineering construction.
