DOE OSTI2018
To avoid the high costs and environmental and regulatory challenges of building new lines to meet the power demand, utilities are searching for ways to increase power transmission capacity on existing lines and thereby. This could involve upgrading the network lines with conductors capable of transmitting greater capacity. In recent years, conductor manufacturers have begun producing new conductors that can operate at higher temperatures without violating present electrical clearances to ground and other objects. One new conductor technology is a carbon composite core with PPS polymer matrix and PEEK capping layer composite conductor, manufactured by Southwire Inc. The conductor uses new materials, which have not previously been used for overhead lines. The project made an initial characterization of the composite core to define the material used in the manufacture of the composite. Several analytical procedures were then conducted to evaluate the physical-chemical impacts on the composite as a result of thermal exposure. These procedures included thermogravimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal mechanical analyses, and optical microscopy. Mechanical three-point flexural tests, tensile tests, creep tests, and dynamic vibration tests were then performed to estimate the potential degradation after thermal aging. The report provides the basis to develop a qualification testing protocol for the carbon composite core at targeted service environments. The work covers the design of the qualification testing protocol and the follow-on validation testing to support the proposed methods. The research includes the following approaches: initial characterization, performance of thermal aging, characterization of the aged material, comparison of aged properties or characteristics to the original, and concluding by the findings through the developed qualification procedures.
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗