Alcan Cable has introduced its trade marked Ultra HS steel core wire for use at maximum benefit with aluminum conductor steel supported  (ACSS) and ACSS trapezoidal wire (ACSS/TW) products as well as with  aluminum conductor steel reinforced self damping conductor (ACSR/SD) for power transmission line applications.

“We are pleased to introduce this new stronger steel core product, Ultra HS, which offers lower sag on transmission lines and thus saves on tower height,” said Howard H Atkins, director, business development and marketing at Alcan Cable, part of Alcan Engineered Products.

“There are cases where standard steel core wire in ACSS will not provide the necessary sag profile. Our new Ultra HS steel core wire gives our customers another option.”

Conductors with Ultra HS core wires provide the lowest sag possible on steel core transmission lines operating at temperatures up to 250 degrees C. For self damping conductors, the higher strength steel core increases their rated breaking strength and offers lower sag while still providing its usual vibration protection, up to operating temperatures of 100 degrees C.

With standard ACSR, Ultra HS steel core wires will provide a stronger conductor that can be installed within the usual tension limits used to prevent vibration damage.

Alcan Cable’s Ultra HS steel core wires are manufactured in accordance with ASTM B 958 standards and are available for a wide range of transmission cables.

ACSR/SD conductors

Alcan’s ACSR/SD conductors are manufactured with two layers of 1350 H-19 trapezoidal shaped aluminum wires concentrically stranded around a steel core of round coated steel wires. On certain larger conductor constructions, the trapezoidal shaped wires are surrounded by a layer of round 1350 H-19 aluminum wires. The steel core and the two layers of trapezoidal shaped aluminum wires are separated with a gap to provide the self-damping characteristics.

Steel core wires are protected from corrosion by aluminum-clad, galvanised, or zinc – 5 per cent aluminum mischmetal alloy coating. Standard-, high-, extra- and ultra-high-strength steel are also available.

Alcan’s ACSR/SD cable meets or exceeds industry requirements per ASTM specifications B701.

ACSS conductor

ACSS is a composite concentric lay stranded conductor consisting of a stranded steel central core with one or more layers of 1350-0 aluminum wires. HiTemp EC conductors are made of either round wire (designated ACSS) or with trapezoidal aluminum wires (ACSS/TW).

The major difference between this conductor and ACSR is that the aluminum strands in an ACSR conductor are hard drawn, while those of an ACSS conductor are fully annealed. The fully annealed aluminum wires are softer and have higher ductility than hard drawn aluminum wires and are more susceptible to damage during installation and handling.