The Economics of Technology Adoption for Transmission Lines

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The Economics of Technology Adoption for
Transmission Lines

• California Public Utilities Commission
• San Francisco, CA
• January 22, 2009
• John Chan
• Program Manager, Power Delivery Utilization
• 650.855 2452 jchan_at_epri.com

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Contents

• What is an overhead transmission line?
• Components
• Materials for Components
• What new materials are available?
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Some Examples

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Overhead Lines Components

• Structures
• Conductor
• Accessories hardware and insulators

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Some Typical Structures
Lattice Steel
Concrete Pole
Tubular Steel
Wood Pole with Composite Insulator
Wood Frame
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Structure Materials

• Wood (solid and laminated wood)
• Steel (lattice, pipe, tubular)
• Concrete
• Composite
• New techniques resulted in increased pole
  production rates overall higher quality
• An alternative to wood, steel and concrete poles
• Composite lighting standards now common

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Insulator Materials
Composite
Porcelain
Glass
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Conductor Types

• Copper wire
• Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR)
• Steel wire
• HTLS (High-Temperature Low-Sag) conductor

ACSR Most Common Conductor
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Basic Conductor Design Concept

• High strength material inner core for support
• High conductivity material outer layers for power
  transfer

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Conventional versus HTLS Conductors
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• Existing clearances can be maintained at higher
  temperature if the replacement conductor has
• Less initial sag
• Less plastic and thermal elongation

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Commercially Available HTLS Conductors

• Extra High Strength Steel Core ACSS (Aluminum
  Conductor Steel Supported)
• GTACSR (J-Power Gap-Conductor)
• Invar Conductor (from J-Power, Furukawa,
  Fujikura, LG Cable)
• ACCR (3M Aluminum Conductor Composite-Reinforced)
• ACCC (CTC Aluminum Conductor Composite Core)

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Extra High Strength Steel Core ACSS

• HS285 (Southwire)
• High strength
• Moderate weight
• High modulus
• Moderate CTE
• High temperaturewithstand
• Known steel performance
• Installs easily

Extra High Strength Steel
Aluminum
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GTACSR (Gap-Conductor)

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Composite Core Conductors
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Price Comparison for HTLS Conductors with Respect
to CurrentCarrying Capacity (as of March 2008)
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Observations from HTLS Conductor Demonstration
Project

• HTLS conductors generally behaved as the
  manufacturers claimed
• Price is only one of the factors in selecting the
  proper HTLS conductors, technical characteristics
  such as the sag and tension behavior must also be
  considered
• Not all HTLS conductors are at the same level of
  maturity
• Longevity of some HTLS conductors has yet to be
  proven (further study being carried out on
  composite core conductors)
• Hardware for HTLS conductors are different than
  that used for conventional conductors
• Maintenance procedure for HTLS conductors could
  be different (under investigation)
• Composite core and Gap conductors must follow
  manufacturers stringing procedure and
  recommended equipment

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New vs. Traditional Structures (Wood vs. Tubular
Steel)
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H- Frame using Laminated Wood Cross-arm
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Application of New Insulator Materials
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Big and Bold Designs
A Laminated Wooden Structure in Finland
A Steel Structure in Holland
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Anti-camouflage large tower in Kuala Lumpar
Close-up View
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Other Interesting Structures
Mickey Mouse Structure in Orlando, Florida
Bird Head Structures in Finland
Spar-Buoys of Espoo Structures In Findland
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Overhead Underground Cable Transition Structures
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Conclusions

• Balance among
• Aesthetic
• Cost
• Technical (Reliability)
• Comparison Example
• Conventional Overhead Line
• Compact Overhead Line
• Underground Cable

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Comparison of Difference Types of Lines
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TogetherShaping the Future of Electricity