Composite conductor cable installed in Russia

 The first phase of an electrical transmission line upgrade is completed in Siberia. The composite-cored cable helped to increase the capacity of an existing 110kV transmission line.

With the support of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm Meridian LTD., and contractor Sibir' Electrosetstroy Mechanical Division 54, ОАО Tyumenenergo, one of Russia's largest interregional distribution grid companies, completed the installation of 619 kcmil (313.8 square mm) "Oslo size" ACCC composite conductor cable to increase the capacity of an existing 110 kV transmission line near Tyumen City in the Tyumen Region of West Siberia. The conductor cable was manufactured by CTC Global (Irvine, Calif., USA).  Founded in 1979, ОАО Tyumenenergo supplies more than 3.5 million people within its 1.4 million square kilometer service area via more than 38,000 kilometers of transmission lines.

Meridian Ltd, based in Saint Petersburg, designed the line using ACCC Oslo size conductor due to its high electrical capacity and resistance to extreme climatic conditions. While the area is highly susceptible to extreme wind and heavy ice load conditions, temperatures in the region also vary from -50 deg.C to +40 deg. C. The ACCC Oslo offered an optimal solution for the reconductor project due to its proven ability to withstand such extremes.

The ACCC conductor was manufactured and delivered by SimRoss-Lamifil LLC., who also provided training and field support as they had successfully completed two previous installations in Russia. The second phase of the Tyumenskaya-Ozhongino project is slated to begin next month. The next phase of the project will employ 832 kcmil (421.4 square mm) "Brussels" size ACCC conductor.

ACCC conductor has a hybrid carbon and glass fiber core, a higher-strength, lighter-weight material that can incorporate additional conductive aluminum without a weight or diameter penalty. Cable based on this technology reduces thermal sag, carries more current, reduces line loss by 25-40 percent, and enables longer spans between fewer and/or shorter (less expensive) support structures.