Section I: Series Parameters of Transmission Lines
Overhead transmission lines and transmission towers are a common sight in rural India. The transmission towers are usually made of steel and are solidly erected with a concrete base. The three-phase conductors are supported by the towers through insulators. The conductors are usually made of aluminum or its alloys. Aluminum is preferred over copper as an aluminum conductor is lighter in weight and cheaper in cost than copper conductor of the same resistance.
The conductors are not straight wires but strands of wire twisted together to form a single conductor to give it higher tensile strength. One of the most common conductors is aluminum conductor, steel reinforced (ACSR). The cross sectional view of such a conductor is shown in Fig. 1.2. The central core is formed with strands of steel while two layers of aluminum strands are put in the outer layer. The other type of conductors that are in use are all aluminum conductor (AAC), all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC), aluminum conductor, alloy reinforced (ACAR).
Fig. 1.2 Cross sectional view of an ACSR conductor.
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