140km of Thermocouple Cables to Revamp a Rafinery

LAPP Cables Middle East and LAPP Camuna Cavi: Successful Collaboration for the Revamping of the North Refinery in Iraq

LAPP Cables Middle East, in collaboration with LAPP Camuna Cavi, has recently completed a strategic supply of thermocouple extension cables as part of the revamping project for the North Refinery in Iraq. This plant, which had been inactive for ten years, was reopened in February 2024. After reopening, the North Refinery will have a refining capacity of 150,000 barrels per day (bpd).

LAPP participated in the tender for the supply of instrumentation and thermocouple cables, submitting its first proposal in early October 2023. Thanks to a well-executed strategy and strong internal collaboration, the company secured the order for the supply of thermocouple extension cables.

The order process was not without its challenges. The main aspects that made this project particularly complex were:

1. Vendor list approval from the end customer: This process took approximately six months and was one of the most delicate steps to obtain the necessary supply approval.
2. Lead times for the cable alloys: At the beginning of 2024, the availability of alloys needed to produce the thermocouple cables was extremely limited. To address this issue, LAPP agreed with the customer to deliver the cables in three partial shipments, scheduled between May and July 2024.
3. Ongoing technical and commercial support: LAPP demonstrated great flexibility, assisting the customer not only with the supply but also by responding to all technical and commercial needs that arose throughout the project.

Thanks to perseverance, patience, and close collaboration between LAPP Cables Middle East and LAPP Camuna Cavi, the LAPP Group achieved a significant victory by securing an order for highly customized, special cables. This success exemplifies how synergy between the group’s branches and the ability to adapt to customer needs can lead to excellent results.

What Are Thermocouple Extension Cables and Their Uses?

Thermocouple extension cables differ from standard cables in their specific design and materials. While standard cables are typically used for general electrical connections, thermocouple extension cables are made from the same metals or alloys as the thermocouple sensor. This matching ensures that the temperature signal remains accurate over long distances, as it prevents unwanted interference or signal loss.

Thermocouple extension cables are essential for accurate temperature measurement in industrial processes. They extend the connection between a thermocouple sensor and the measuring device, preserving the temperature signal's accuracy. Commonly used in industries like oil and gas, petrochemicals, and power generation, these cables are crucial for environments requiring precise temperature monitoring, such as refineries. In the North Refinery project, LAPP’s cables ensure reliable temperature data transmission, supporting efficient operations.

For this particular project, LAPP Camuna Cavi produced 140km of multipair, from 1 to 36 pairs, Ex and Kx thermocouple extension cables. 

Click here to discover which kind of thermocouple cable LAPP Camuna Cavi can produce.