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Research & Development

A new aluminum conductor with a carbon fiber core has been patented

calendar_today Wednesday 26 November 2014

De Angeli Prodotti has patented a conductor with carbon fiber wire core that is 50% lighter and 20% stronger than that of an ACSR conductor.

Patented aluminium carbon conductor
Patented aluminium carbon conductor

“Engineered for high performance”

Introduction

Bare overhead electrical lines are currently made of conductor with aluminium wires, thanks to their good conductibility, low price and lightness, if compared to other conductors for electrical applications, such as copper, gold and silver. However, due to the modest mechanical properties of the aluminium, the conductors are generally internally reinforced with steel wires which make possible the installation. The recent demands have led to a continuing search for increased power along the existing lines, this can be achieved for example increasing the aluminium cross section. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the core weight while maintaining adequate mechanical properties.

De Angeli Prodotti, constantly involved in the development and design of innovative carbon fiber conductors for the substitution of conventional conductors made of aluminium and steel, has found a solution with materials coming from the aerospace industry.

Engineering

The solution developed by De Angeli Prodotti uses a core of stranded trapezoidal carbon fiber wires placed inside an extruded aluminium tube; the conductive layers are of thermal resistant aluminium wires.

This configuration gives a core 50% lighter and 20% more resistant than the steel core of a common ACSR conductor(1).

Ampacity vs temperature
Figura 1

Using hard aluminium alloy resistant up to 150°C, and compacting the conductive layers with trapezoidal wires, the Aluminum Conductor with Carbon Fiber Wire will reduce the line losses up to 10% and increases the ampacity of more than 60%(1).

The Figure 1. shows the comparison of the ampacity-temperature curve between the ACSR conductor and a conductor with carbon fiber core.

Conclusions

De Angeli Prodotti is ready to offer a conductor with unmatchable features in terms of lightness, strength and line loss reduction. The R&D department can design tailor made conductor with carbon fiber core, suitable for the various needs of the customers.

In addition to the remarkable features offered by De Angeli Prodotti’s conductors with carbon fiber cores, it’s worth noting the distinct advantages they hold over conventional cables. The utilization of composite materials not only enhances the durability and lifespan of the conductors but also contributes to their lightweight and robust nature.

By leveraging the expertise of De Angeli Prodotti’s R&D department, tailored conductors with carbon fiber cores can be designed to meet the specific requirements and preferences of customers across various industries. This versatility in customization further underscores the unparalleled capabilities of these innovative conductors in providing efficient and sustainable solutions for modern energy transmission needs.

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