Aluminium Wire for wind turbines: why is it better than copper?

During World War II, a dearth of copper arose. Several industries switched to using aluminum then. Its supply was good and it was less costly than copper. The 1940’s saw high-power transmission lines getting converted to aluminum ones from copper. In the 1950’s, secondary power distribution lines also started using aluminum.

Today, you can find almost all standard transformer lines using aluminum. Of course, copper wound transformers are more compact than aluminum ones, certain qualities give aluminum an edge over copper.

Features of aluminum wire

It’s true that both aluminum and copper oxidize with time; but there’s a difference. Aluminum continues to oxidize until all the exposed surface is covered with oxide film. Then oxidation stops. It may continue, if the oxide barrier is broken and the conductor is again exposed to air.

On the other hand, copper oxidizes completely with time.

Aluminum oxide that forms with oxidation thwarts chemical reaction between the wire insulation and the metal. Also, the oxide is a good insulator of electricity.

On the other hand, copper serves as mild catalyst that fastens the decomposition of wire insulation.

These differences make aluminum the preferred choice. Aluminum wound transformers are found to exhibit a longer life than copper ones.

There is another thing to note here…

Aluminum’s heat storage capacity is around 2.33 times more than that of copper. So, aluminum wound transformers show high thermal storage capacity than copper ones. This gives them the strength to endure more surge of current and overloading episodes.

Copper is famous for its super conductivity; but on a per pound basis, it is found that aluminum ranks twice as higher in conductivity than copper.

Cost wise benefit

Since ages, aluminum has been cheaper than copper, especially when applied in wind cables. Copper metal is found to be about twice costlier than aluminum metal.

The difference in price is due to the fact that raw aluminum is highly available. It is the third most commonly found element in the upper crust of the Earth. First is oxygen and second is silicon. Copper comes 25^th in availability. This makes copper more precious and costlier than aluminum. Moreover, its cost fluctuates a lot, while aluminum’s stays more stable.

That’s why aluminum is beneficial in long term projects. Due to unpredictable prices of copper, there is a possibility that the project might suffer financial crisis in the future if dependent on copper usage. This is why big projects involving wind turbines prefer aluminum to copper. A stable price situation is necessary for accurate estimates.

Besides, wind turbines can tower up to a height of 328 feet. They may use heavy-gauge wire for electricity transmission to the ground. Aluminum’s extremely light weight can help to reduce weight of cable and alleviate the need for extra supports. This can remove unnecessary stress on cable connectors. Overall, the design becomes easier to install.

Looking into these characteristics of aluminum, it makes sense to use this metal in big projects that require colossal amounts of wiring. The metal gives a more cost-effective estimate.

Names like Rajasthan Electric are known for their excellent aluminum wire, copper wire, nickel wire, and more.