Potential Properties and Applications of Wires with Helical Structure in High-Voltage Overhead Power Lines and PV Systems

High-voltage overhead power lines consist of the non-insulated, densely packed round or trapezoidal aluminum strands supported by a reinforced core. This configuration may ensure the acceptable investment cost, mass per unit length, and aerodynamic effects caused by wind; however, the ampacity is lower than those of copper wires, which limits the power transmission. Today, it is especially important, since the peak power generation of, e.g., photovoltaics forces power lines to casually distribute high currents. To potentially improve long- and short-term capabilities of energy distribution, instead of a cylindrical wire, the helical structure was proposed. Preserving an identical core, the conductor was formed as many elongated helices wrapped around an aluminum tube. The design was meant to significantly enlarge the outer surface of the wire, improving the heat transfer of the line, which then allowed us to enhance its ampacity. The solution was investigated numerically utilizing a 3D model with the coupled electrical, heat transfer, and laminar flow analysis. Based on this, the parameters (unit weight, unit resistance, and aerodynamic drag) of such modified wires were identified. Then, at different current loadings and wind speeds, the conductors were studied and compared with the ACSS (aluminum conductor steel-supported). The optimal variants of helical wires were suggested and the results indicated that using the helical conductor makes it possible to increase the ampacity of power lines (with the same unit weight, resistance, and cross-section of the ACSS wire) by 44% at low wind speed, even up to 160% at higher temperatures.