Conductors For Transmission Lines:

14.1 TYPES OF CONDUCTORS:

14.1. In the early days conductor used on transmission lines were usually Copper, but Aluminium
1 Conductors have Completely replaced Copper because of the much lower cost and lighter weight
of Aluminium conductor compared with a Copper conductor of the same resistance. The fact that
Aluminium conductor has a larger diameter than a Copper conductor of the same resistance is
also an advantage. With a larger diameter the lines of electric flux originating on the conductor will
be farther apart at the conductor surface for the same voltage. This means a lower voltage
gradient at the conductor surface and less tendency to ionise the air around the conductor.
Ionisation produces the undesirable effect called corona.
14.1. The symbols identifying different types of Aluminium conductors are as follows:-
2 AAC : All Aluminium conductors.
AAAC : All Aluminium Alloy conductors
ACSR : Aluminium conductors, Steel-Reinforced
ACAR : Aluminium conductor, Alloy-Reinforced

Aluminium alloy conductors have higher tensile strength than the conductor of EC grade
Aluminium or AAC, ACSR consists of a central core of steel strands surrounded by layers of
Aluminium strands. ACAR has a central core of higher strength Aluminium Alloy surrounded by
layer of Electrical-Conductor-Grade Aluminium.
14.1. The alternate layers of a stranded conductor are spiraled in opposite direction to prevent
3 unwinding and make the outer radius of one layer coincide with the inner radius of the next.
Standing provides flexibility for a large cross-sectional area. The number of strands depend on the
number of layers and on whether all the strands are of the same diameter. The total number of
strands in concentrically stranded conductors, where the total annular space is filled with strands
of uniform diameter is 7,19,37,91 or more.

14.2 STANDARD SIZES OF CONDUCTOR FOR LINES OF VARIOUS VOLTAGES:

14.2. The following sizes have now been standardised by CEA for transmission lines of different
1 voltages--

For 132 KV lines : 'Panther' ACSR having 7-strands of steel of dia 3.00 mm and 30-Strands of
Aluminium of dia 3.00 mm
for 220 KV lines : 'Zebra' ACSR having 7-strand of steel of dia 3.18 mm and 54-Strands of
Aluminium of dia 3.18 mm.
) for 400 KV lines : Twin 'Moose' ACSR having 7-Strands of steel of dia 3.53 mm and 54-Strands
of Aluminium of dia 3.53 mm.

14.3 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF CONDUCTORS AS PER UPSEB SPECIFICATIONS;

14.3. No joints are permitted in Steel core as well as in the outer most Aluminium layer of the conductor.
1
14.3. The composite conductors are subjected to following type tests:-
2 (a) DC Resistance
(b) Ultimate Tensile Strength
(c) Surface condition Test* *Only for 'Moose' conductor for use on 400 KV lines
(d) Corona Test*
(e) Radio-Interference Voltage Test.*
14.4 ALL ALUMINIUM ALLOY CONDUCTORS (AAAC)
14.4. Recently AAAC are being used in some SEBs to overcome menace of pilferage of ACSR and
1 AAC conductors, particularly lower voltage lines. AAAC can not be re-cycled and it does not have
any common use for other purposes, as that in case of pure Aluminium.
AAAC is made out of heat treated Aluminium-Magnesium-Silicon Alloy designed as 64401 T 81
covered under IS:9997:1991 containing 0.6-0.9% Magnesium and 0.5-0.9% Silicon.
14.4. Besides use of AAAC on lower voltage lines from the point of view of avoiding its pilferage, it is
2 also better for use in coastal areas to avoid corrosion problem prevalent in Steel core of ACSR
conductors.

14.5 BUNDLED CONDUCTORS

14.5. The combination of more than one conductor per phase in parallel suitably spaced from each
1 other used in overhead Transmission Line is defined as conductor bundle. The individual
conductor in a bundle is defined as Sub-conductor.
14.5. At Extra High Voltage (EHV), i.e. voltage above 220 KV corona with its resultant power loss and
2 particularly its interference with communication is excessive if the circuit has only one conductor
per phase. The High-Voltage Gradient at the conductor in the EHV range is reduced considerably
by having two or more conductors per phase in close proximity compared with the spacing
between conductor-bundle spaced 450 mm is used in India.
14.5. The three conductor bundle usually has the conductors at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
3 and four conductors bundle usually has its conductors at the corners of a square.
14.5. The current will not divide exactly between the conductor of the bundle unless there is a
4 transposition of the conductors within the bundle, but the difference is of no practical importance.
14.5. Reduced reactance is the other equally important advantage of bundling. Increasing the number
5 of conductor in a bundle reduces the effects of corona and reduces the reactance. The reduction
of reactance results from the increased Geometric Mean Radius (GMR) of the bundle.

14.6. CONDUCTORS FOR RIVER CROSSING USED IN UPSEB

0 For river crossing of 132 KV, 220KV and 400 KV transmission lines, the following conductors are
being used in UPSEB:-

i. For 132 KV Lines:

Special 'Panther' conductor, i.e. one Aluminium layer of ACSR 'Panther' conductor
removed having 7-strands of Steel of 3.00 mm dia plus 12-Aluminium strands of 3.00 mm
dia.
ii. For 220 KV Lines:
Special 'DEER' conductor, having 17-Strands of Steel of dia 2.69 mm and 12-strands of
Aluminium of 4.65 mm dia.
iii. For 400 KV Lines: 'Moose' ACSR

14.7. The Technical Particulars of ACSR 'Panther', 'Zebra' and 'Moose' conductors are given in Table
0 14.1 and that of Special 'Panther' and Special 'Deer' Are given in Table 14.II.
TABLE 14-1 TECHNICAL PARTICULARS OF ACSR 'PANTHER' 'ZEBRA' & 'MOOSE'
CONDUCTOR
TABLE 14-II TECHNICAL PARTICULARS OF ACSR 'SPECIAL PANTHER' AND ACSR 'SPECIAL
DEER' CONDUCTOR
 
 Table 14-I
Technical Particulars of ACSR 'Panther' 'Zebra' & 'Moose' Conductor

Specification to which the finished conductor

1. : IS-398Part-II-1976
conforms
2. Purity of Aluminium'Rods : 99.5% Minimum
3. Percentages of Carbon in steel wire/rods : 0.50 to 0.85 (Preferably 0.65%)
4. Purity of Zinc : 99.95%

ACSR ACSR ACSR

Unit
'Panther' 'Zebra' 'Moose'
5. Particulars of Aluminium strands
i) Diameter
a) Standard mm 3.00 3.18 3.53
b) Maximum mm 3.03 3.16 3.55
c) Minimum mm 2.97 2.19 3.51
2
ii) Cross sectional area of standard diameter wire mm 7.069 7.942 9.787
iii) Weight per Km
a) Standard Kg 19.11 21.47 26.45
b) Maximum Kg
c) Minimum Kg
iv) Minimum breaking load
a) Before stranding KN 1.17 1.29 1.57
b) After stranding KN 1.11 1.23 1.49
v) Maximum D.C. resistance at 200C Ohm/Km 4.107 3.651 2.921
Joints in strands of 12 wire Aluminium layer if
vi) No joint No joint No joint
any
6. Particulars of Steel strands
i) Diameter
a) Standard mm 3.00 3.18 3.53
b) Maximum mm 3.06 3.21 3.60
c) Minimum mm 2.94 3.14 3.46
2
ii) Cross sectional area of standard diameter wire mm 7.069 7.942 9.787
iii) Weight per Km
a) Standard mm 55.13 61.95 76.34
b) Maximum mm 57.36 63.12 79.39
c) Minimum mm 52.95 60.40 73.33
iv) Minimum breaking load
a) Before stranding KN 9.29 10.43 12.85
b) After stranding KN 8.83 9.91 12.22
 ACSR ACSR ACSR
Unit
'Panther' 'Zebra' 'Moose'
v) Elongation of 200 mm length on breaking % 4 4 4
vi) Coating of steel core
99.95% 99.95% As per IS:
a) Quality of Zinc
purity purity 209-1979
b) Process of galvanising Hot Dip Hot Dip Hot Dip
2
c) Minimum weight of coating gm/m 240 250 260
d) Minimum no of dips of one minute duration
which the strand can withstand (under preace Nos. 3 3 3
test)
7. Particulars of Complete Conductor
ACSR ACSR ACSR
i) Code words, if any
'Panther' 'Zebra' 'Moose'
ii) Copper equivalent Area mm2 310 260 325
2
iii) Nominal aluminium area mm 200 420 520
2
iv) Sectional area of aluminium mm 212.10 428.91 528.50
2
v) Total sectional area mm 261.50 484.50 597.00
vi) Overall diameter mm 21.00 28.62 31.77
vii) Stranding, lay and wire diameter
30/3.00
Right
a) Aluminium mm 54/3.18 54/3.53
Hand lay
b) Steel mm 7/3.00 7/3.18 7/3.53
Min.
viii) Lay ratio m
Maxm
a) Steel core
i) 6 wire Layer Max. 28 28 28
Min. 13 13 16
b) Aluminium
i) 12 Wire Ist Layer Max. 16 15 14
Min. 10 10 12
ii) 18 Wire IInd layer Max. 14 14 13
Min. 10 10 11
iii) 24 Wire IIIrd Layer Max. - 12 12
Min. - 10 10
x) Approximate calculated breaking load KN 89.67 130.32 159.60
2
xi) Final modules of Elasticity (Practical) GN/m 80 69 69
xii) Coefficient of linear expansion Per0C 17.8x10-6 193x10-6 19.35x10-6
xiii) Approximate total weight per Km
 ACSR ACSR ACSR
Unit
'Panther' 'Zebra' 'Moose'
a) Steel Section Kg 388.00 437.00 537.00
b) Aluminium Section Kg 586.00 1184.00 1461.00
c) ACSR Composite Kg 974.00 1621.00 1998.00
0
xiv) Calculated D.C. resistance at 20 C (Maximum) Ohm/Km 0.1390 0.06885 0.25595
Standard length of conductor (with tolerance, if
xv) Metres 1500+5% 1500+5% 1500+5%
any)
xvi) Number of standard length in one reel (drum) Nos One One One
Random lengths (Maximum percentage of the
xvii) % 10 10 10
lengths ordered)
 

   
 Table 14-II
Technical Particulars of ACSR 'Special Panther' and ACSR 'Special
Deer' Conductor

Specification to which the finished conductor

1. : IS-398Part-II-1976
conforms
2. Purity of Aluminium'Rods : 99.5% Minimum
3. Percentages of Carbon in steel wire/rods : 0.50 to 0.85 (Preferably 0.65%)
4. Purity of Zinc : 99.95%

ACSR ACSR
UNIT 'Special 'Special
Panther Deer'
5. Particulars of Aluminium Strands
i) Diameter
a) Standard mm 3.00 4.65
b) Maximum mm 3.03 4.70
c) Minimum mm 2.97 4.60
2
ii) Crossectional area of standard diameter wire mm 7.069 16.974
iii) Weight per Km.
a) Standard Kg 19.11 45.90
b) Maximum Kg 46.359
c) Minimum Kg 45.441
iv) Minimum breaking load
a) Before stranding KN 1.17 2.69
b) After stranding KN 1.11 2.56
0
v) Maximum D.C. resistance at 20 C Ohm/Km 4.107 1.692
vi) Joints in strands of 12 wire Aluminium layer if any No joint No joint
vii) Method of making joint - -
2
viii) Ultimate tensile strength of joint Kg/mm - -
6. Particulars of steel strands
i) Diameter
a) Standard mm 3.00 2.79
b) Maximum mm 3.06 2.85
c) Minimum mm 2.94 2.73
2
ii) Cross sectional area of standard diameter wire mm 7.069 6.114
iii) Weight per Km
a) Standard Kg 55.13 48.00
b) Maximum Kg 49.76
c) Minimum Kg 45.66
 ACSR ACSR
UNIT 'Special 'Special
Panther Deer'
iv) Minimum breaking load
a) Before stranding KN 9.29 8.03
b) After stranding KN 8.83 7.63
No of twists in 15 cm length which the strand can As per IS-398
v)
withstand as according to torsion test (Part-II-1976)
vi) Elongation of 200 mm length on breaking % 4 1
vii) Coating of steel core
Min. 99.95% Min. 99.95%
a) Quality of Zinc
Purity Purity
b) Process of galvanising Hot Dip Hot Dip
240 (before
c) Minimum weight of coating gm/m2 240
stranding)
d) Minimum no of dips of one minute duration which 3 (Before
Nos 3
the strand can withstand (under preace test) stranding)
7. Particulars of Complete Conductor
'Special
i) Code words, if any 'Special Deer'
Panther'
ii) Copper equivalent area mm2 52.000 120.000
iii) Nominal aluminium area mm2 83.025 199.360
2
iv) Sectional area of aluminium mm 84.824 203.688
2
v) Total sectional area mm 134.311 319.860
vi) Overall diameter mm 15.00 23.250
vii) Stranding, lay and wire diameter
12/3.00 Right 12/4.65 Right
a) Aluminium mm
Hand Lay Hand Lay
b) Steel mm 7/3.00 19/2.69
m m
viii) Lay ratio Min. Max
a) Steel core
i) 6 wire layer 13 28 13 28
ii) 12 wire layer 12 24
b) Aluminium
i) 12 wire aluminium increase in length 10 14 10 14
ix) Calculated percentage increase in length
a) Steel core
i) 6 wire layer % 0.78648
ii) 12 wire layer % 1.90944
b) Aluminium
i) 6 wire aluminium layer % 1.90944
 ACSR ACSR
UNIT 'Special 'Special
Panther Deer'
x) Approximate calculated breaking load KN 69.02 kg. 161.1417
6
1.070x10
xi) Final modules of Elasticity (practical) GN/m2 76
(Kg/cm2)
xii) Coefficient of linear expansion per0C 15.3x10-6 17.5x10-6
xiii) Approximate total weight per Km
a) Steel Section Kg 388.00 919.12
b) Aluminium Section Kg 234.00 562.73
c) ACSR Composite Kg 622.00 1481.85
0
xiv) Calculated D.C. resistance at 20 C (Maximum) Ohm/Km 0.3497 0.1458
xv) Standard length of conductor (with tolerance, if any) Metres 2000+25 2000+25
xvi) Number of standard length in one reel (drum) Nos One One
Random lengths (Maximum percentage of the
xvii) % Not permitted
lengths ordered)