The design of a transmission conductor is a strategic compromise between strength, conductivity, and weight. The most common types are:

• ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced): This is the most widely used conductor for overhead transmission lines. Its genius lies in its composite structure:

  • Outer Strands: Made of high-purity aluminum for excellent electrical conductivity and light weight.

  • Central Core: Made of high-tensile galvanized steel, which provides the necessary mechanical strength to support the conductor over long spans and withstand heavy weather loads.

  • Application: ACSR conductors are a perfect balance of strength and conductivity, making them suitable for almost all long-distance transmission applications. Our hydraulic OHTLstringingequipment.com/Hydraulic-Conductor-Tensioners.html target='_blank'>Tensioners and pullers are specifically designed for the high-tension stringing of ACSR conductors.

• AAAC (All-Aluminum Alloy Conductor): This conductor is made from a single high-strength aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy.

  • Advantage: It offers better mechanical strength and improved sag characteristics than pure aluminum (AAC) while providing better corrosion resistance than ACSR.

  • Application: AAAC conductors are commonly used in medium-to-long span transmission lines and are a popular choice in coastal or other corrosive environments.

• HTLS (High-Temperature Low-Sag) Conductors: These are advanced conductors designed to carry more current without the excessive sag that plagues traditional conductors at high operating temperatures.

  • Core: They use a high-strength, low-expansion core made from materials like a steel-aluminum alloy or a carbon-fiber composite.

  • Advantage: HTLS conductors can operate at temperatures up to 250°C, which increases their current-carrying capacity by 1.5 to 2 times that of a standard ACSR conductor of the same diameter.

  • Application: They are primarily used for upgrading existing transmission lines to increase capacity without the need for new towers.