High-Voltage Overhead Conductor with Solid Aluminum Wires

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-voltage overhead electric power transmission conductors with central aluminum tubes face issues with deformation during crimping and limited resistance to connection sleeves, leading to noise from the corona effect and mechanical challenges due to weight and deformation.

Innovation Solution

A high-voltage overhead conductor design featuring a central group of tubular metal wires around a central rod, surrounded by solid conductive wires of smaller diameter, enhancing mechanical strength and resistance to crimping while reducing corona effect noise and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the central group uses aluminum tubes to increase conductor diameter and avoid corona effect, then the conductor diameter increases, but the resistance to crimping connection sleeves deteriorates due to tube deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductor diameterVSAvoidresistance to crimping connection sleeves
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state of the aluminum conductor from hollow tubes to solid wires in the central group. This parameter change (from hollow to solid) fundamentally alters the mechanical properties, providing both the necessary diameter for corona effect avoidance and the structural integrity for crimping resistance, as solid aluminum wires maintain their shape under compression from connection sleeves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor employs a composite structure combining solid aluminum wires with steel core wires. The steel core provides exceptional mechanical strength and rigidity, while the aluminum wires provide electrical conductivity and appropriate diameter. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by allowing the conductor to maintain its diameter for corona prevention while the steel core ensures resistance to crimping deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the diameter of conductor wires is increased to avoid corona effect, then corona effect noise is reduced, but the weight of the conductor increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorona effect noiseVSAvoidconductor weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor uses a composite structure with steel core wires and aluminum conductor wires. Steel has higher density but the core provides structural support, allowing the overall conductor diameter to be optimized for corona effect prevention without requiring excessive aluminum material. The aluminum wires provide the necessary diameter for corona avoidance while the steel core ensures mechanical strength, achieving the right diameter without proportional weight increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes from hollow aluminum tubes to solid aluminum wires with steel core. This parameter change allows for more efficient material distribution - the steel core provides structural support enabling the conductor to achieve the necessary diameter for corona effect prevention with optimized material usage, preventing excessive weight gain while maintaining the diameter needed to avoid corona noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If solid aluminum wires are used instead of tubular wires, then resistance to crimping improves, but the flexibility and ease of installation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to crimpingVSAvoidflexibility and ease of installation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor combines steel core wires with aluminum conductor wires in a composite structure. The steel core provides the necessary rigidity and resistance to crimping deformation, while the aluminum wires maintain appropriate flexibility for installation. The composite nature allows the conductor to be handled and installed like traditional flexible aluminum conductors while gaining crimping resistance from the steel core support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor is segmented into multiple individual wires (both steel core and aluminum) rather than a single solid rod. This segmentation allows the conductor to maintain flexibility through the ability of individual wires to bend and conform during installation, while the collective structure with steel core provides the necessary resistance to crimping deformation when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3511951B1Conductor for overhead transport of high-voltage electric power
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 NEXANS SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a high-voltage overhead power transmission conductor comprising a central group (1) including, in at least one inner layer, metallic tubular wires (1A) around a central core (1B), this central group (1) being surrounded by at least one outer layer of solid conductive wires (2). According to the invention, said inner layer also includes at least one solid wire (1D).