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ALUMINUM CONDUCTOR ADVANTAGES IN OVERHEAD DISTRIBUTION LINE SYSTEM

ALUMINUM CONDUCTOR ADVANTAGES IN OVERHEAD DISTRIBUTION LINE SYSTEM
What are the advantages of aluminium conductors for distribution line application?

 It is a worldwide practice that when it comes to transmission and distribution line system application, aluminium conductors rank first as the most utilized type of conductor material for electrical applications. ACSR or Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced is one of the most popular types of conductor used by electric utilities worldwide.

The reason for aluminium’s popularity in electrical lines application can be discussed in many aspects. Seven distinct characteristics are basically known why electrical engineers treat aluminium to be superior when it comes to distribution line application; conductivity, light weight, strength, workability, corrosion resistance, creep, and compatibility with insulation.

Aluminum’s conductivity is known to be more than twice compared to that of a copper with the same weight. A pure aluminum conductor is said to have a conductivity of about 65 percent IACS. On the other hand, aluminum 1350 has a conductivity of 61 percent IACS primarily due to low level of impurities inherent to commercial processing.

Aluminum

The table below shows a material to material comparison with respect to the metals conductivity. These data are taken from metals during its almost pure form.

When considering the weight, aluminum conductors are considered to be excellent for handling. The reason for this is they are light-weight and provides low installation costs, allows longer spans, and more distance between pull-ins.

Strength however becomes an issue in aluminum materials especially when it comes to its tensile strength. Due to this issue, experts have come up ways to maximize its high conductivity by associating aluminum with other metals to reinforce its strength i.e ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced), ACAR (Aluminum Conductor Alloy Reinforced), etc.

Aluminum conductor’s workability permits a wide range of processing from wire drawing to extrusion or rolling, in short, aluminum has an excellent bend quality. When it comes to corrosion resistance, the inherent corrosion resistance of aluminum is due to thin, tough, oxide coating that forms directly after a fresh surface of metallic aluminum is exposed to air.

Creep is plastic deformation that occurs in metal at stresses below its yield strength. Normally, metal stressed below yield for a short time returns to its original shape and size by virtue of its elasticity. However, when the time period is sufficiently long, plastic deformation, called creep, occurs.

Aluminum does not have the sulphur-combining properties of copper; hence it has no effect on rubber or rubber-like compounds containing sulphur. Aluminum requires no tinning of the conductor metal before insulation is applied. Also, it does not produce stearates or soaps by combining with oil content of insulation. Usual insulating materials do not adhere to the aluminum; hence removal is easily performed by simple stripping.
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