Transmission Conductors

CONDUCTORS
A conductor is a material that easily conducts electrical current. All conductors contain electric charges which will move when an electric potential difference measured in volts is applied across separate points on the material. The best conductors are single-element materials, such as Copper Silver Gold and Aluminum These materials are characterized by atoms with only one valence electron, very loosely bound to the atom. These loosely bound valence electrons can easily break away from their atoms and become free electrons.

1. 2. 3. 4.

The conductors are stranded because they have not only greater flexibility but also have greater mechanical strength than have single wire of same crosssectional area. Usually a central wire is surrounded by successive layers of wires containing 6, 12, 18, 24, wires. In practice the consecutive layers are spiraled in opposite directions to prevent unwinding and make the outer radius of one layer coincide with the inner radius of the next. The conductors are identified by their code names usually by some animals birds and flowers, assigned by the manufacturers such as . . . . Rabbit Ant Dog Osprey Ostrich Lynx wasp

Total no. of strands in a conductor =1 + 3n (1+n) Where, n=layer Diameter of the conductor D = (2n + 1) d Where, d=diameter of the strand

Electrical and Mechanical characteristics of Hard-Drawn Aluminium and Copper conductors

Sr. # Characteristics Aluminium Copper

Conductivity at 20 C IACS

61

97.4

2 3

Resistivity at 20 C Coefficient of linear expansion per C Ultimate tensile strength (kgf / mm2)

2.8264 2.3 x 10-5

1.774 1.7 x 10-5

16 - 21

35 - 47

Final modulus of elasticity (kgf / mm2)

7000 avg.

12700 avg.

International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS)

The factors taken into account in the selection of a particular conductor are:

1. Conductivity 2. Tensile Strength 3. Fatigue Strength 4. Corona Loss 5. Local Conditions and 6. Cost.

The conductor materials mainly used are copper, aluminium and their alloys

1. Hard-drawn Copper Conductors

Copper for overhead lines posses following properties: It has high tensile strength High electrical conductivity Long life and high scrap value

Copper conductor are more suitable for distribution work, where spans are short and tapings are more.

2.

Hard drawn aluminum conductor

These conductors are used for distribution line in urban area and short T/L. Due to increasing cost of copper we replace copper and adopt aluminum in T/L It has high tensile strength than copper Cross-section area of the aluminum conductor is 60% greater than that of copper Its weight is only 48.3% of that of copper conductor Corona effect also reduced due to higher conductor diameter

3. Cadmium copper conductor (CCC)

1. 2. 3. 4. The tensile strength of copper conductor is increased by 50% by adding about 0.7 % to 1% of cadmium. Its conductivity is Reduced by about 15 % to 17%. The property of higher tensile strength enables it to be erected on longer spans. The advantages by the use these types of conductors are: Essay jointing More resistance to wear Resistance to Atmospheric Corrosion Easy machinability The variations due to changes in load and temperature are minimum.

4. Steel- cored Copper Conductor (SCC)

One or more layers of copper strands surround a steel-core to make steel-core copper conductor. Steel-core adds to the tensile strength of the conductor.

5. Copper Weld Conductor

Copper is welded on to a steel wire by hot rolling & cold drawing. Its conductivity is varies form 30 % to 60% of solid copper conductor These are used for longer spans such a river crossing.

6. Aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR)

Conductor is made of all-aluminum are not sufficiently strong mechanically for longer spans lines. This deficiency in a strength can be compensated by adding steel core to the conductor such a conductor is known as ACSR or Steel cored aluminium (SCA) conductor. It has high tensile strength & light weight The sag will be small and spans will be longer

These conductors faces some problems such as, Difficulty of making splices and dead ends Trouble of corrosion is increased

7. Smooth Body ACSR Conductor

It is also called a compact ASCR conductor These conductor used for overhead distribution and transmission lines. These are recognized for their record of economy, dependability and favorable strength / weight ratio. It has combine the light weight and good conductivity of aluminum with the high tensile strength and Ruggedness of steel. higher tensions, less sag, and longer span lengths.

8. Expanded ASCR conductor

In this conductor, plastic or fibrous material is used between the steel core and aluminum strands, which makes the diameter of the conductor large to reduce corona loss and radio interference at extra high voltages. The tongue and grooved segments spiraled together to form self supporting hollow tube.

9. All-Aluminum Alloy Conductor (AAAC)

These conductors provide good combination of tensile strength and conductivity. One alloy is SILMALIC, contains 0.5% silicon, 0.5% magnesium and remaining aluminium. These conductors have been widely used in power transmission lines with various voltage levels, and also used in power lines across great rivers, heavy ice area. The conductor have excellent advantages of high strength, large current carrying capacity , anti-crush and corrosion-proof with simple structure. The convenient installation and maintenance, low cost for the line, large transmission capacity.

10. Aluminum Conductor Alloy reinforced (ACAR)

These conductor have a central core of alloy of aluminum surrounded by layers of conductor aluminum. It gives better conductance with a strength-weight ratio to ACSR construction of same diameter It has smaller size and lesser weight as compared to ACSR conductor.

11. Alumoweld Conductor

It has high strength, good conductivity, excellent corrosion resistance Its 75% area of conductor is covered by aluminum. It is more costly than SCA conductor It has been used earth wire and for making cores of SCA conductors.

12. Phosphor-Bronze Conductor

It is used for very long spans such as river crossings. It is more strong then copper conductor but has got a low conductivity. Its conductivity may be improved by using a cadmium-copper core.

13. Galvanized Steel Conductor

These conductor are used where high strength is desired. For long spans and particularly in rural areas where the load is small. These conductors has high resistance, inductance and voltage drop. It has a comparatively short life.

Conclusion:
The selection of the optimum conductor type and size for a given line consists of finding that conductor which results in the lowest present net worth cost spread over the life of the line. The transmission line design engineer is confronted with choosing a conductor type from among this bewildering assortment. This choice must be based on basic conductor parameters. It is clear that all the major cost components of a transmission line depend upon conductor physical, mechanical and electrical parameters. A list of these basic parameters are: conductor diameter weight per unit length conductivity of material(s) Cross-sectional area (s) modulus of elasticity rated breaking strength coefficient (s) of thermal expansion cost of material(s) maximum unloaded design tension resistance to vibration and/or galloping surface shape/drag coefficient fatigue resistance