Overhead Conductors Overhead Conductors TransPowr® Bare Overhead Conductors for Transmission and Distribution General Cable manufactures an extensive line of bare overhead products for both transmission and distribution applications. General Cable’s TransPowr® bare overhead products are manufactured and tested in accordance with the latest applicable ASTM specifications. General Cable’s bare overhead conductors are available as all-aluminum conductors (AAC), all-aluminum alloy conductors (AAAC), aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR), aluminum conductor steel-supported (ACSS), and T-2® twisted pair AAC and ACSR. AAC consists of 1350-H19 aluminum, is lightweight and corrosion-resistant and is commonly used in overhead line installations where higher strength or temperature ratings are not required. AAAC consists of high-strength 6201 T81 aluminum alloy and is commonly used for overhead line installations adjacent to ocean coastlines where there can be a problem of corrosion in the steel of an ACSR construction. ACSR combines the light weight and good conductivity of 1350-H19 aluminum with the high tensile strength and ruggedness of steel. ACSR provides higher tension, less sag and longer span lengths than AAC and AAAC overhead conductors. Standard ACSR designs are manufactured with regular-strength Class A galvanized steel (/GA2). To meet the changing needs and expectations of our customers, our highly qualified team of engineers and scientists used their conductor and material know-how to develop E3X® . E3X is an innovative coating material that provides high emissivity and low solar absorptivity characteristics, thereby allowing conductors to operate at lower temperatures, maximizing available line thermal capacity (normal & emergency) while minimizing capital investment and electrical losses. By simply applying the coating to the surface of any overhead conductor design, E3X Technology offers engineered “fixed” emissivity and absorptivity values in place of what had been previously a significant “variable” in line rating, thus reducing a source of risk when calculating the optimal thermal capacity of a transmission line. Groundbreaking E3X Technology allows utilities to optimize the power grid by adding more power and controlling losses with significant first-cost and long-term operational savings. For more details about this technology, see page 81. With over 40 years of experience, General Cable is able to offer the option of utilizing TransPowr® ACSS conductors as an alternative for new line ACSR construction projects or for reconductoring opportunities. With its unique ability to operate at higher temperatures and withstand harsh environmental factors, TransPowr® investment. TransPowr® ACSS allows utilities to modernize and optimize the nation’s electrical grid with minimal capital ACSS offers better performance over ACSR when it operates at high temperatures without detriment to its mechanical properties and with significantly less sag, allowing for much higher ampacity ratings. Standard ACSS designs are manufactured with 1350- O aluminum and regular-strength Class A zinc-5% aluminum mischmetal alloy coated steel (/MA2). With several steel core options such as mischmetal, aluminum-clad steel and galvanized steel, TransPowr® levels. TransPowr® ACSS is an affordable, long-lasting conductor with improved performance and reliability, made from aluminum and steel components that have been used in transmission lines for more than a hundred years. With thousands of miles installed throughout North America, ACSS is a proven, trustworthy overhead conductor technology and remains the most accepted solution for high-temperature performance. General Cable has partnered with CTC Global to manufacture, promote and sell the high performance ACCC® conductor for applications in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. This high-capacity and low-loss conductor is built with a composite carbon fiber core in lieu of the steel core used in conventional overhead conductor. ACCC/TW can provide unique solutions for the design of transmission and distribution lines by providing an additional conductor option to evaluate. General Cable’s TransPowr T-2 conductors offer remarkable performance and long life in their unique, intelligent design. TransPowr T-2 conductors are actually two standard round conductors twisted around each other at 9-foot intervals. This design effectively resists wind- induced motion in two ways. First, the constantly varying diameter drastically inhibits resonant vibration frequencies in the line. Second, the low torsional stiffness of the twist absorbs and dissipates motion-causing wind forces to ineffective energy levels. TransPowr T-2 conductors can be installed with many of the same methods and equipment used for stranded round conductors. See the following page for a complete list and description of the numerous options that are available for TransPowr overhead products. For ACSR and ACSS concentric round or trapezoidal conductors, a myriad of aluminum and steel stranding combinations are available. In addition, a variety of steel strengths and types of coatings or claddings are available. Trapezoidal AAC, ACSR and ACSS conductor designs are listed in separate catalog sections. Compact aluminum and compact ACSR stranded conductor information may be found in the Canadian Electric Utility catalog. While General Cable manufactures a complete range of bare overhead products, only the most popular designs are described in the following section. Details of other conductor sizes and designs are available upon request. General Cable provides technical assistance and advice on any challenges associated with conductor design, installation or application. Engineering services are available for specification review, specification development and conductor application inquiries. For more information, contact your General Cables sales representative or e-mail [email protected]. [email protected] 77 ACSS is easily customized to meet specific applications and performance Electric Utility
