Skip to main content

CONDUCTORS IN TRANSMISSION LINE

In a network of electrical system, majority of the losses occurs in the lines particularly in the electrical conductors. Losses also varies in the kind of materials used to serve as a conductor whether it could be an aluminum, copper, gold, silver and so on. In the past, electric power were transmitted through the use mostly of copper conductors. Copper is rank among the most ideal metals for transmitting electricity due to its low resistivity also, of which it is second to silver. However, in the modern days, aluminum replaced copper as a main material for transmitting electricity simply because of the much lower cost and lighter weight of an aluminum conductor in contrast to a copper conductor with the same resistance. Another advantage of an aluminum is when compared to a copper with the same resistance, aluminum tends to have a larger diameter. It is an advantage because with a conductor with a relatively larger diameter the lines of electric flux originating on the conductor will be farther apart at the conductor surface for the same voltage. With this in mind, corona effect, which is the product of the ionization of air around the conductor can be prevented.

Listed below are some of the known types of aluminum conductors that are used by many transmission and distribution utility worldwide;
  • AAC All-Aluminum Conductors
  • AAAC All-Aluminum-Alloy Conductors
  • ACSR Aluminum Conductor,Steel Reinforced
  • ACAR Aluminum Conductor, Alloy Reinforced
Due to the low tensile strength of an aluminum, experts created a way to fill this void. They were able to create a higher tensile strength conductor by incorporating an aluminum with other types of metal. ACSR which consists of a central core of steel strands surrounded by layers of aluminum strands is now the type of configuration that are popularly used as conductors for transmission lines.
Aluminum with Steel
ACSR conductors are further classified into many types and they are categorized according to the number of aluminum and steel strands present in the cable. The figure below shows the different kind of ACSR cables according to composition it has. For further knowledge on ACSR specification, you can refer to this LINK.


REFERENCE: Elements of Power System Analysis by William Stevenson Jr., 



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PARTS OF A POWER TRANSFORMER

What are the name of the basic parts of a Power Transformer? We can not deny the fact that only a handful of electrical engineering students are presently familiar with power transformers especially on what it looks like. Unlike a transformer we found in our homes, a power transformer’s appearance and construction is somewhat more complicated. It is not just a simple winding with a primary and secondary terminal although basically any transformer has one. The function that a power transformer plays in an electrical system is very important that an electric utility can not afford to loss it during its operation. Our discussion here will focus more on the basic parts and functions of a power transformer that are usually tangible whenever you go to a substation . Although not all power transformers are identical, nonetheless they all have the following listed parts in which the way of construction may differ.
56 comments
click here to continue

ELECTRIC MOTOR NAMEPLATE SPECIFICATIONS

How do we interpret an electric motor nameplate? Motor standards are established on a country by country basis.Fortunately though, the standards can be grouped into two major categories: NEMA and IEC (and its derivatives). In North America, the National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) sets motor standards, including what should go on the nameplate (NEMA Standard MG 1-10.40 "Nameplate Marking for Medium Single-Phase and Polyphase Induction Motors").
48 comments
click here to continue

DISADVANTAGES OF Y-Y CONNECTION IN THREE PHASE SYSTEM

What are the disadvantages in using y-y connection? The Y-Y transformer connection was poorly understood in the early days of power engineering and it received a very bad reputation when it was first used; in fact, this connection was avoided for a long time until its limitations were overcome by good engineering practice. Some of the inherent disadvantages of the Y-Y connection are discussed below:
4 comments
click here to continue