Why is aluminum used as an overhead cable?

Copper and aluminium are most frequently used as the electrical conductors in electrical cables due to their low resistance and excellent conductivity. For this reason aluminium finds favour in large size cables and cables for overhead power distribution.

What properties of aluminium make it suitable for overhead power cables?

Aluminum is an excellent heat and electricity conductor and in relation to its weight is almost twice as good a conductor as copper. This has made aluminum the first choice for major power transmission lines.

What are the uses of aluminium?

Aluminium is used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils, kitchen utensils, window frames, beer kegs and aeroplane parts. This is because of its particular properties.

What can aluminium be used for?

It is soft and malleable. Aluminium is used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils, kitchen utensils, window frames, beer kegs and aeroplane parts.

Why is aluminum used instead of copper in transmission and distribution lines give five reasons?

Aluminum is having low density, high ductility, good corrosion resistance and good conductivity, which makes it suitable to use as electric conductor for transmission and distribution of electricity.

What are aluminum uses?

In addition to power lines and cables, aluminum is used in motors, appliances, and power systems. Television antennae and satellite dishes, even some LED bulbs are made of aluminum.

Why overhead electrical power cables are made from aluminium with a steel core?

The use of higher strength steel cores increases the tensile strength of the conductor allowing for higher tensions which results in lower sag. Aluminium-clad steel offers increased corrosion protection and conductivity at the expense of reduced tensile strength.

What are the advantages of Aluminium?

Advantages of Aluminium

• Aluminium is an extremely versatile metal with a number of advantages, it is recognised for being both lightweight and flexible.
• Light Weight.
• Corrosion Resistance.
• Electrical and Thermal Conductivity.
• Reflectivity and Ductility.
• Odourless and Impermeable.
• Recyclability.
• See also: Uses of Aluminium.

Why is Aluminium an important metal?

It has great importance because it combines the strength of metals such as iron with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malleability.

Is Aluminium a good conductor of electricity?

Aluminum. Aluminum is yet another metal known for its high conductivity of electricity. Though by volume its conductivity is only 60\% of copper, by weight, one pound of aluminum has the electrical current-carrying capacity of two pounds of copper. Aluminum is often used in satellite dishes.

Why are aluminium cables used for overhead power lines?

That is why the most used conductors for overhead power lines are aluminium. Aluminium cables: Are cheaper. Are lighter in weight. Have the same conductivity as copper when comparing it on the basis of loading. More about the advantages of aluminium cables?

What are the advantages of aluminum cables?

It has a low density and high conductivity, so it can transport current with minimal losses, while also being light enough to not need large support structures. However, pure aluminium (used in overhead cables) is not very strong so these cables are reinforced with steel.

What are the applications of aluminum in Electrical Engineering?

Aluminium applications – Electrical engineering -… Today, along with copper, aluminium ensures power transmission worldwide. … Therefore, only aluminium wires are used in main overhead power lines. Aluminum is cheaper and lighter. The downside is aluminum is not as strong as copper.

Why are power cables made of aluminum and not sodium?

The power cables are mostly built with aluminum and not with sodium because sodium is highly reactive. Aluminium on the other hand is reactive as well but it only reacts one and them becomes aluminum oxide. Sodium keeps on reacting therefore is too dangerous.