Report 3: Name: Zeina Mohamed ID: 1170273

Report 3
Name: Zeina Mohamed

ID: 1170273
Why Transmission Lines Are Usually Stranded ?
Stranded Conductors:
Stranded conductors are very much popular in electrical power system for
transmission and distribution line. A stranded conductor is consists of several
thin wires of small cross sectional area called strands
As shown in figure above, at the center of stranded conductor, we are using

steel conductor which provided the high tensile strength to conductor. In the
outer layers of stranded conductor, we use aluminum conductors, which
provide the conductivity to stranded conductor.
Basic reason of using stranded conductor is to make the conductor flexible. If

we use a single solid conductor. It does not have sufficient flexibility and it is
difficult to coil a solid conductor. Hence, it becomes difficult to transport a
single solid conductor of long length over the distance. To eliminate this
drawback, conductor is formed by using several thin wires of small cross
section. These thin wires are called strands. By making the conductor
stranded, it becomes flexible. Which makes stranded conductor suitable to be
coiled easily to transport it over long distance.
Some facts about stranded conductors
1. The stranded conductor is having sufficient flexibility, which makes
stranded conductor suitable to be coiled easily to transport it over long
distance.
2. For a stranded conductor of same cross sectional area, the flexibility of
conductor increase with increase of number of strands in conductor.
3. The stranded conductor is formed by twisting the strands together in
layers.
4. The strands of each layer are laid in helical fashion over the preceding
layer. This process is called stranding.
5. Generally, in successive layer, the stranding is done in opposite
direction to preceding layer. This mean, if the strands of one layer are
twisted in clockwise direction, the strands of next layer will be twisted
in anticlockwise direction and so on ‘x’ is number of layers in
conductor.
6. Generally, the total number of strands in any conductor is given by the
formula of
Where, N is total number of strands in stranded conductor.
7. Generally the diameter of conductor can be calculated by using the

formula of
Where, D is the diameter of
conductor,
‘d’ is the diameter of each strand.
Comparison between Copper,Aluminum and steel Transmission line:
1] Copper (Cu)
The extensively used, high conductivity material as conductor for electrical
machines or equipment, is copper. Malleability, weldability and solder ability
are most important properties of copper. Copper in pure form is having good
conductivity. But the conductivity of standard grade copper is reduced due
presence of impurities.
Properties of Copper
1. Resistivity: 1.68 µΩ -cm.
2.Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.00386 /oC.
3.Melting point: 1085oC.
4.Specific gravity: 8.96gm /cm3.
Use of Copper
Copper is the most important and much suitable material for conductor of
Transmission line as it having high conductivity and high tensile strength.
More ever it is having good ductility. The only limitation is its cost.
2] Aluminum (Al)
Aluminum is an element which is a silver-white, light weight, soft, non-
magnetic and ductile metal. Aluminum is the third most abundant element
(after oxygen and silicon) and most abundant metal found in earth’s crust.
The main ore of aluminum is bauxite. Aluminum is having low density, high
ductility, good corrosion resistance and good conductivity, which makes it
suitable to use as electric conductor for transmission and distribution of
electricity.
Properties of Aluminum
8. Resistivity: 2.65 µΩ -cm.
9. Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.00429 /oC.
10.Melting point: 660oC.
11.Specific gravity: 2.70 gm /cm3.
Use of Aluminum
The most extensively used material in transmission line is Aluminum.
Aluminum is having sufficient conductivity. More ever it is light in weight.
The only limitation is its low tensile strength. To overcome this limitation steel
core is used for increasing the tensile strength of aluminum conductor such as
in ACSR (Aluminum conductor steel reinforced) conductor. ACSR conductor
is very much popular for high voltage overhead transmission lines.
3] Galvanized Steel
Pure Iron and steel get rusted or corroded in open whether conditions. To
avoid the corrosion, of sheet and wire etc. made of these metals are coated
with Zinc. For Zinc coating Hot-dip galvanization is used. In this process the
iron or steel in dipped in molten Zinc at a temperature around 449 oC. When
exposed to atmosphere, the zinc reacts with oxygen (O 2) and forms the
substance zinc oxide (Zno), which further reacts with carbon dioxide and
form zinc carbonate (ZnCo3). This zinc carbonate is usually dull grey and
fairly strong material, which protects the iron or steel underneath from
corrosion in open whether conditions.
Use of Galvanized Steel
1.Galvanized steel wire is used for making conductors used in
transmission line where resistance to corrosion to required.
2,Galvanized steel sheets and pipes are used for making poles of
transmission.
Properties of Galvanized Steel

The tensile strength of Steel is very high, therefore it can be used for power
transmission for long distance where the chance of mechanical loading is
quite high. But because of its poor conductivity and high resistance,
Galvanized Steel is not used for power transmission over a long distance. It
is basically used in rural areas where cost is the main consideration.
Steel Core Copper

Sometimes it is also called as copper clad steel conductor. For high tensile
strength application to increase the strength of wire, the steel is used as a core
of conductor and copper for increasing the conductivity of conductor. Here,
copper not only provide the conductivity but also work as protective layer to
stop the corrosion of steel by atmospheric weather conditions.
Use of Steel Core Copper

12.Steel core copper wire is used for earthling of electrical installations.
13.As inner conductor of coaxial cable.
14.Drop wire of telephone cables.
Steel Core Aluminum
Aluminum is light in weight and is having good conductivity. But it is having
very low tensile strength. To make it suitable to be used as conductor for
transmission line, we have to increase its tensile strength. To increase the
tensile strength, steel is used as a core of conductor. A good example of steel
core aluminum is an ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced)
conductor. ACSR conductor widely used in transmission line. As it is have
high tensile strength, good conductivity and economical.
Use of Steel Core Aluminum

15.Steel core Aluminum wire (ACSR) is used as conductor for transmission
line.
16.As inner conductor of coaxial cable.
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As shown in figure above, at the center of stranded conductor, we are using

Basic reason of using stranded conductor is to make the conductor flexible. If

Where, N is total number of strands in stranded conductor.

7. Generally the diameter of conductor can be calculated by using the

2.Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.00386 /oC.

3.Melting point: 1085oC.

4.Specific gravity: 8.96gm /cm3.

Properties of Galvanized Steel

Steel Core Copper

Use of Steel Core Copper

Use of Steel Core Aluminum

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