Description
The overhead power conductors carry electricity power from distribution feeders to consumers, providing a necessary service. In the Australian distribution network, Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) cables are widely utilised. They offer increased strength and conductivity by combining both steel and aluminium strands. Due to factors like current flow, elevated ambient temperatures, direct sunlight exposure, and short circuit currents, these conductors can be subjected to elevated temperature levels. Operating at higher temperatures can alter the mechanical characteristics of the conductor materials. Consequently, the mechanical strength of conductors diminishes when powerlines consistently operate under these conditions. Conductors are set up in various environmental conditions, resulting in different wind load impacts. While the temperature rise can be somewhat offset by these wind variations in terms of cable strength, it still introduces extra tensile stress in the conductor. Hence, this research aims to determine the combined effects of thermal and wind factors on the reduction of strength and increased tension in ACSR cables. In this study, laboratory tests were performed to determine the decrease in the tensile strength of conductors under steady-state elevated temperature scenarios. Additionally, CFD modeling was employed for numerical simulations to examine the combined influences of wind and temperature. Using results from both methods, precise forecasts were provided to understand the performance of conductors when subjected to combined temperature and wind effects.
