Why do we use aluminum for High-Voltage Transmission Lines when Copper is a better Conductor?
Transmission line conductors are materials that transport electrical electricity from one location to another within a power system.
Copper is an ideal choice due to its high conductivity and tensile strength yet it is costly.
Aluminum conductors are frequently used because they are lightweight and have adequate conductivity despite their lower tensile strength.
Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) combines the light weight and conductivity of aluminum with the strength of steel, making it ideal for high-voltage lines.
The transmission line material list includes
- Copper,
- Aluminum,
- Cadmium copper alloys,
- Phosphor bronze,
- Galvanized steel,
- Steel core copper and
- Steel core aluminum.
The solution involves a standard engineering balancing act:
Cost: Copper is substantially more expensive than aluminium.
Weight: Because aluminum is significantly lighter, towers can be placed further apart and are not required to be as strong, resulting in significant savings on construction costs.
To address the strength issue, we use composites such as ACSR (Aluminum Conductor, Steel Reinforced), that provide the best of both worlds.
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