High temperature compsite core transmission wire 1

[wfowfo]

Our utility is under pressure from the State governing board to upgrade one of our transmission lines due to "contingency congestion restraints". Because of budgetary constraints, we would like to explore the use of the new "composite core" type conductors that would allow us to increase ampacity without having to replace our towers.

Our problem is, the technology is evidently new enough that no one seems to have any experience with it yet. Does anyone know of any successful projects (particularly in Texas)?

On the other hand, does anyone have an opinion (horror story or otherwise) about these new conductors?

 

[stevenal]

http://tdworld.com/mag/power_line_upgrade_features/

 

[Robert789]

I am somewhat curious about these conductors as well. I have a radial line, 115 KV, 15 miles of 795 ACSR on concrete poles, that will likely need to be upgraded in the next 5 years. The line was not designed for future bundling or addition of a second circuit.

My dilema in evaluating the options is that I believe pushing higher levels of current through the new conductors will result in increased line losses and voltage swing. The composite core conductors can carry more current, not because of significantly reduced impedance, but because they can heat up alot more without sagging into things. Since this heat being given off is power loss, I'm curious about whether it would be more cost effective in the long term to just replace the structures and bundle conductors.