Analysis of Technical and Economic Characteristics of New Generation Conductors

A comparison of physical and mechanical characteristics of steel-aluminum conductors of AS type, thermal resistant conductors of AST type and compacted conductors of ASk2u type has been performed. The analysis of the influence of these characteristics on the reliability, technical and economic indicators and icing and wind loads of overhead power lines has been made. The studies of the ampacity of thermal resistant AST conductors and compacted ASk2u conductors using a computer program that implements an iterative method for solving the equations of state of the conductors and heat balance have been made. Based on the research results there have been introduced a concept of «critical tower spacing» in which the value of the ampacity is limited at the same time as the mechanical strength (allowable heating) and as compliance with dimensions of overhead power lines. It is shown that the ampacity of thermal resistant AST conductors exceed the ampacity of traditional steel-aluminum conductors of AS type in 1.16¸1.4 depending on the tower spacing. The greatest increase in capacity corresponds to a calculated less «critical» tower spacing. It is shown that the ampacity of compacted conductors of ASk2u type exceed the ampacity of traditional steel-aluminum conductors of AS type only when the tower spacing is greater than the «critical tower spacing» for conductors of AS type. This excess may be up to 1.7 times.