Composite Core Power Lines

Conventional power lines are made of aluminum conductor cables wrapped around a central steel cable for structural support. A new cable being developed by the M.C. Gill Composites Center at the University of Southern California and Composite Technology Corporation replaces the steel cable with a pultruded carbon and glass composite. The Aluminum Conductor Composite Core (ACCC) cables are lighter and stronger than conventional steel cables. More aluminum can be used, so they can transmit up to twice as much power with lower line loss in the same size cable, and they can safely operate at higher temperatures. CTC provides a nice closeup picture of the cable on their Web site.