Group items tagged

Thanks to some new technological breakthroughs, however, copper wire may be making a comeback. Current download speeds offered to end users range from 2Mbps-50Mbps, but we are all looking towards 100Mbps as the next milestone. While you may think fiber optic would be required for that, Nokia Siemens Networks has managed to employ phantom circuits to boost data-carrying capacity over copper wire to as much as 825Mbps over short distances of around 400 meters. While the tech that achieved such high speeds may be a few years away, Ikanos has unveiled its NodeScale Vectoring technology allowing a minimum of 100Mbps data speeds over the same wires. It works by eliminating crosstalk on existing cabling allowing for much higher performance.

Heretofore, joining large aluminum underground power cable to aluminum or copper power cable with compression connectors was not feasible because of premature failure of the connector joint under electrical current loading. Unlike the long andbulky compression connectors used on bare overhead power lines where space is not a premium, underground compression connectors must be short to keep manhole size small and to reduce the time required to insulate the joint with hand-wrapped tape or otherinsulating materials. Overhead line connectors receieve appreciable cooling from air currents whereas commonly used paper or plastic insulation restricts the cooling of underground cable joints. Metal particle-filled grease joint compounds used inoverhead line compression connectors are not used for underground cable for several reasons. First, its use is precluded because of the possiblity of migration of the compound into the paper or along the insulation resulting in voltage puncture of theinsulation from ionization. Secondly, joint compounds of grease do not offer much improvement over no compound because grease will move under pressure and therefore does not constrain relative movement of connector and conductor strands whereashardenable resins such as epoxy do.

[0003] Mainly for reasons of saving weight, cables having a central conductor made of copper, a metal which is a very good conductor of electricity, are often replaced by cables in which the central conductor is made of aluminum that is covered in a layer of copper, with the copper layer constituting about 15% of the diameter of the cable while the aluminum thus occupies about 85% of the diameter of the cable.

Systems and methods presented herein provide for elastic conductors. The elastic conductors may be configured with a primary that includes an elastic material and a conductive material. For example, the primary may have an elastic fiber, such as spandex, with a conductive material, such as a braided metal wire, wrapped thereabout. Alternatively, the primary may be configured from an elastic material with a conductive material, such as certain nanopartiuclates, embedded therein. The elastic conductors may be used in a variety of ways to form various types of cables. For example, the elastic conductors may be configured to form coaxial cables, USB cables, twisted pairs, etc. The elastic and flexible nature of the cables may make their uses advantageous in wiring environments that are subjected to strain or other harsh conditions. Moreover, the relatively light weight of the cables may make their uses more advantageous in transportation (e.g., aircraft, automobiles, etc.).

The electrical sector contributes the highest with 36 per cent, while the automotive and construction sectors share 22 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, an ICRA report said

Most importantly, replacement of steel and copper by aluminium in the automobile and power transmission sectors, respectively, is likely to support the aluminium demand.

Being a good conductor of electricity, aluminium has been gradually replacing copper in the power transmission sector. Given the same weight of the metal aluminium is twice as good in electrical conductivity when compared to copper.

Furukawa Electric supplies the aluminum harness for back door harness of Toyota's new model launched in January. The harness realized around 15% lower weight than copper harness. Furukawa Electric also got the aluminum harness order for Toyota's new model launched in the summer.

Leoni, the leading provider of cables and cable systems to the automotive sector and other industries, now offers a solid aluminium conductor for the motor vehicle industry to wire the battery as an alternative to the common copper cable. It can be shaped in three dimensions and weighs only about half as much as the conventional component. Leoni will present this product for the first time at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, together with other lightweight construction solutions.

This cable is used in 154kV or higher overhead transmission lines. Lighter in weight than copper line and lower in cost, this product also has the advantage of higher tensile strength.

Fabrizio Longo, Tyco Electronics product manager, says: "Many medium- and high-volume manufacturers of FHP motors for appliance, heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment are evaluating a switch from copper to aluminium magnet wire to reduce raw material costs. Copper contributes on average about 30 per cent to the overall production cost of a FHP electric motor. Switching from copper to aluminium conductors can also reduce transportation costs, as aluminium is about one-third of the weight of copper. Our interconnection system allows manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively bridge the transitions many are making from copper to aluminium magnet wires."