Aluminum conductor aluminum alloy reinforced (ACAR) is a composite conductor that uses a high-strength aluminum alloy core instead of a steel core, with an outer layer of highly conductive aluminum strands. Its core advantages lie in reducing resistance loss and vertical load. Its main drawbacks are lower tensile strength compared to steel core aluminum stranded wire and a larger wind deflection angle in strong winds.
Main Advantages:
Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction: Replacing the steel core (with a conductivity of only ~9% IACS) with an aluminum alloy core (with a conductivity of approximately 52.5%~53%) increases the effective conductive cross-section, significantly reducing DC resistance and minimizing line power loss.
Superior Sag Characteristics: Under the same outer diameter and tension conditions, sag is smaller or comparable, which helps reduce tower height requirements (approximately 3 meters in some projects).
Lightweight and Low Load: With a lower density than steel core structures, the vertical load is reduced by approximately 10%, making it more stress-friendly for foundations and tower materials, suitable for capacity expansion or geologically restricted areas.
No Hysteresis/Eddy Current Loss: The core is made of non-ferromagnetic material, eliminating the additional losses caused by the alternating magnetic field of a steel core.
Good Corrosion Resistance:The aluminum alloy core is more resistant to atmospheric corrosion than galvanized steel cores, exhibiting excellent lifespan, especially in non-extremely polluted areas.
Main Disadvantages:
Lower Mechanical Strength: Its tensile strength is lower than that of aluminum-coated steel (ACSR), making it unsuitable for applications requiring extremely high tensile strength, such as long crossings or heavy icing areas.
Larger Wind Deflection Angle: Due to its light weight and relatively low stiffness, the wind deflection angle is 2°~3° larger than that of aluminum-coated steel of the same specifications under high wind conditions, requiring calibration of electrical clearances.
Higher Cost: The cost of aluminum alloy materials and manufacturing processes is higher than that of ordinary steel cores, resulting in slightly higher initial investment.
Limited Heat Resistance: The heat resistance temperature of conventional aluminum alloy cores typically does not exceed 80~100℃ (unless a special heat-resistant alloy is used), limiting the improvement of high-temperature current carrying capacity. Recommended Application Scenarios
Recommended: Capacity upgrades and renovations of existing power lines, medium-span high-voltage transmission lines, corrosive environments (excluding strong salt spray), and lines sensitive to line loss.
Use with Caution: Long crossings, heavy icing areas, strong wind areas, or ultra-high-voltage trunk lines with extremely high mechanical strength requirements.
