Learn how modern technology is improving the electric power grid

1. Learn How Modern Technology is Improving the Electric Grid Power www.ctcglobal.com Sep  2020

2. Introduction CTC Global is an ACCC conductor manufacturing company that was founded to develop, certify and deploy advanced technologies to improve the efficiency, capacity, reliability and resiliency of the electric power grid. Our primary product is high-capacity, low-sag CTC Global ACCC Conductor solutions. www.ctcglobal.com

3. How it used to be before  www.ctcglobal.com The For over one-hundred years, electricity has been delivered to consumers using bare overhead conductors that were made up of conductive aluminum strands wrapped around a core that consisted of steel wires. The steel wires were used to augment the strength of the conductive aluminum strands, which, in their most corrosive-resistant alloy, offered reasonable conductivity and modest tensile strength. 

4. What changed when demand for electricity grew As demand for electricity grew and new sources of generation were brought on line, many transmission and distribution lines became thermally constrained. This is due to the fact that, as electrical current increases, the temperature of the conductor rises.  The increase in conductor temperature is a function of the electrical resistance of the materials utilized.  Unfortunately, as aluminum wires are heated above ~95°C, they begin to anneal which causes a substantial loss of strength. www.ctcglobal.com

5. Upgrading existing transmission corridors without structural modifications Recognizing the challenge of increasing transmission line capacity, mitigating thermal sag, and improving conductor efficiency, CTC Global, of Irvine, California, USA, began developing the patented ACCC conductor in 2002.  As the project evolved, CTC Global developed a hybrid carbon and glass fiber core that resisted degradation from UV, chemical, thermal, and cyclic load fatigue that had previously plagued non-ceramic “polymer” insulators (NCI’s).  With a clear understanding of how to mitigate these and other environmental challenges, CTC Global began developing ISO certified manufacturing techniques and tooling to allow the cost-effective and continuous production of a pultruded composite core that utilized carbon and boron-free glass fibers embedded in a high grade thermoset resin.  www.ctcglobal.com

6. Upgrading existing transmission corridors without structural modifications While the carbon and glass fibers provide the composite core’s high tensile strength, the hybrid resin system helps improve the composite core’s flexural strength and effectively balances load sharing between the fibers, so they perform in a ‘unified,’ composite manner.  While CTC Global’s initial goal of increasing line capacity without exceeding sag limitations was readily achieved, other advantages also became apparent. As with Boeing, Airbus, NASA and other manufacturers who are relying on carbon hybrid composites to increasingly greater extents – not only for their improved strength to weight characteristics and corrosion resistance, but especially for their resistance to cyclic load fatigue – CTC Global’s ACCC conductor raised the conductor longevity bar substantially.  www.ctcglobal.com

7. ACCC Conductorenables longer spans on new transmission corridors While the ACCC conductor’s greater strength and improved thermal stability can enable longer spans between fewer and/or shorter structures on new transmission corridors – which serves to reduce capital costs – the ACCC conductor is also ideally suited for re-conductoring projects, because it is capable of carrying approximately twice the current of a conventional ACSR conductor without exhibiting excessive thermal sag. www.ctcglobal.com

8. Contact Us  Website: www.ctcglobal.com Phone: +1 949 428 8500 Fax: +1 949 428 8515 Email: info@ctcglobal.com Thank You