Fig.

Composite fiber - optic TENSILE STRENGHT ELECTRIC RESISTANCE

overhead ground wires OPGW 150 25
140 20

OHM / Km
Kg /mm2
130 15
120 10
110 5
100 0

n last years there has been a significant increase Simultaneous protection to the power lines and communication
in interest of the Power utilities for the application requirements handled by these cables are the basic reasons for
of the composite fiber-optic ground wires in the new trans- this interest.
mission lines or retrofit. The typical characteristics of these conductors are:
THICKNESS OF COATING
- Number of fibers contained between 4 and 16.
WEIGHT
- The optical bundle is placed inside an extruded aluminium 180
tube which provides mechanical protection and prevents 160 70
moisture or water penetration. 140
120 60
- The aluminium tube also provides a high conductivity to

mm

Kg / Km
dissipate lightning or uneven short-circuits. 100 50
80
- The aluminium tube sizes will depend on number of fibers 60 40
and diameter of the optical bundle. 40 30
- Subsequently, one or several layers of Araweld® wires are 20
stranded over the aluminium tube giving to this composite 0 20
an external appearance similar to the conventional earthwires
for transmission lines.
- Araweld® wires are the product of preference based on their
combined mechanical, electrical and corrosion resistance.
Figure 3 shows the construction of this composite with the Corrosion resistance
different components.
The corrosion resistance of the aluminium in any atmosphere is The used of Araweld® wires instead of galvanized steel prevents
Typical constructions with some of their technical characteristics
well known, and different systems like the climat test, based on this galvanic corrosion, because of the contact Aluminium/Alu-
are shown on the table of next page. Other alternative construction
the combination of wires and bolts, have been used to determine minium.
can be proposed to meet specific requirements of each particular
the corrosion resistance of pure aluminium or combined with Even existing small depositions of salty particles over the wire,
project.
other metals. Araweld® provides a longer operating life because of its thick
One of the main problem in conductors, and specially the ACSR, aluminium covering.
is the galvanic corrosion between aluminium and steel.
In a salty solution, the difference of potential of the zinc with
respect to aluminium is -300mV., and the steel +150 mV. It means
that the contact Al/Zn is anodic and zinc will tend to disappear,
while contact Al/St is cathodic and aluminium will suffer the
corrosion.
Araweld® Wires
Designación Diámetro Nominal Peso Resistencia Sección
0,15
mm Kg/Km W / Km a 20°C mm2

Figure 3 Depth of attack

0,10 4 Awg. 5,19 139,3 4,009 21,15
5 Awg. 4,62 110,5 5,056 16,77
Aluminium 99,5 6 Awg. 4,12 87,62 6,375 13,30
7 Awg. 3,67 69,48 8,038 10,55
8 Awg. 3,26 55,11 10,13 8,368
0,05
Layer or Layers Optical bundle 9 Awg. 2,91 43,71 12,78 6,632
of Araweld® wire 10 Awg. 2,59 34,66 16,12 5,261
Aluminium tube 11 Awg. 2,30 27,49 20,32 4,172
12 Awg. 2,05 21,80 25,63 3,309
5 10 Modulus of Elasticity: Strand 16,200 Kg / mm2; solid wire 16,500 Kg / mm2.
Coeficient of linear expansion: 0.000013
Time of exposure / years Tensile strength: In accordance to the applicable specification.
 Aluminium clad steel

Optical fiber grond wires

Code word Cross section Stranding and wire diam. Diám. ext/int. tube. Overall diam.
mm2 mm2 mm2 Nºx mm mm mm
Aluminium tube AW AA Total AW
Also, in order to verify the right adherence of aluminium and 57/24 24,4 57,30 81,70 13x2,37 7,90/5,60 12,64
steel to guarantee the minimum aluminium thickness by 10% 66/32 32,4 66,20 98,60 15x2,37 9,50/7,00 14,24
of the wire radius after drawing, along with the measurements 74/32 36,9 36,90 32,4 106,20 7x2,59(AW)+7x2,59(AA) 9,50/7,00 14,68
75/33 33,5 50,00 25,0 108,50 10x2,53(AW)+5x2,53(AA) 10,1/7,70 15,15
of the mechanical and electrical characteristics, each Araweld®
75/34 33,5 75,10 108,60 15x2,53 10,1/7,70 15,15
rod is subjet to the following tests: 83/32 32,4 83,00 115,40 13x2,85 9,50/7,00 15,20
- Twist test 83/34 33,5 83,42 44,2 116,98 14x2,75 10,1/7,70 15,60
88/47 47,5 44,20 135,90 7x2,84(AW)+7x2,84(AA) 10,4/6,90 16,00
- Reverse bending test to breaking
106/63 62,8 106,00 168,80 15x3,00 12,0/8,00 18,00

Characteristics Optical fiber grond wires

Code word Unit weight Rated strength Electric. resist. at 20ºC Shortcircuit capacity

of the ARAWELD® wires kg/km

Total
kN ohm/km I2t

- Araweld® wires provide 33% the conductivity of an aluminium 57/24 470,00 75,50 0,6540 34,0
wire of the same size and 1,91 times the conductance of steel. 66/32 573,00 86,80 0,5219 50,7
he electrical characteristics of the aluminium and 74/32 457,00 62,49 0,3712 100,0
- The tensile strength is over 140 Kg / sqmm.
75/33 535,00 76,10 0,3956 90,0
its performance against corrosion, along with - Because of their thick cladding of aluminium the weight is 75/34 637,76 101,10 0,4855 80,0
high mechanical resistance of the steel make the ARAWELD®. 15% lower than a steel wire of the same size. 83/32 676,00 103,60 0,4740 88,0
83/34 690,80 111,94 0,4637 91,0

ARAWELD® Process 88/47

106/63
580,00
891,00
31,80
131,00
0,2827
0,2866
187,0
188,0

ECN Cable Group by means of an advanced process achieves a PProperties of Araweld® overhead ground wire compared with
metallurgical and inseparable bond between the aluminium and galvanized steel and aluminized steel (Fig. 1) Technical characteristics composite fiber-optic overhead ground wires (OPGW)
the steel, guaranteed by the quality control on the cladding line. Designation Type Composition Overall diam. Cross sectional area N. of opt. fibers Weight Máx. eléc. resist. R. ten.strength Mod.elast. Coef. of linear I2.t
Comparative graphics for a 3.26 mm. wire in the different
Such a control is based on: No./Ø No./Ø Ø
mm mm2 mm2 mm2
materials: mm2 (mm)
AW
(mm)
Alloy
(mm)
Tube Al AW Alloy Tube Al
Total Kg/Km Ω/km Kg Kg/mm2 ºC-1 kA2.S
- Cleaning of the steel
A Galvanized steel A class, according to ASTM B - 498 83/32 1 13/2,85 - 9,50/7,00 15,20 82,9 - 32,4 115,3 6./8./12. 677 0,4739 10.560 13.350 14,25 x 10-6 > 86,7
- Cleaning of the aluminium
B Galvanized steel B class, according to ASTM B - 498 106/63 2 15/3,00 - 12,00/8,00 18,00 106,0 - 62,8 168,8 6./12. 891 0,2866 13.350 12.400 14,80 x 10-6 >188,0
- Operating temperature 66/32 3 15/2,37 - 9,50/7,00 14,24 66,2 - 32,4 98,6 4./6. 555 0,5219 9.050 13.600 14,50 x 10-6 > 50,7
C Galvanized steel C class, according to ASTM B - 498 32+64/35 4 4/3,20 8/3,20 9,60/6,90 16,00 32,1 64,3 35,0 131,4 8. 525 0,2808 6.500 8.600 14,30 x 10-6 >137,8
- Bonding atmosphere
AW Araweld® according to ASTM B - 502
AZ Aluminized according to ASTM B - 341
Fiber optic characteristics
Typ Overall diam. Outer diameter Type of construction Attenuation Wave length Max. attenuation Max. spectral dispersion Cut-off wave length General Specification
μm
μm nm dB/Km ps/nm Km
Loose Primary coating
Single Mode 125 9,5 1 250 Core 1.300/1.550 0,50/0,30 1.300 nm< 3,5 1.100/1.280 CCITT G-652
1.550 nm< 18,0