Performance of a new overhead conductor design using a carbon/glass fiber composite core

A new overhead conductor has been designed and is presently being installed and tested for industry acceptance. The core of the new conductor, which is normally stranded galvanized steel wires, is a composite of longitudinal glass and carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix, which is produced using pultrusion. The new conductor is expected to operate continuously at 180°C, with short excursions to as high as 200°C Present steel core conductors can only safely operate at temperatures below 120°C For the composite core to operate at these high temperatures, the polymer matrix must exhibit a glass transition temperature above 200°C to avoid strength losses and degradation of the epoxy. Several epoxy matrices have been studied to assess their influence on the performance of the core at temperatures up to and exceeding 200°C, and differences in their temperature dependencies will be discussed. The composite core is wrapped with trapezoidal aluminum wires for the purpose of conduction of electricity. The effects of high temperatures on the performance of the whole conductor will also be discussed and compared with the present steel core conductors.