Supported by engineering firm SNC Lavalin Marte and contractor MPO Montagens, Furnas Centrais Eletricas is nearing completion of the upgrade of a double circuit 138 kV line running from Santa Cruz to Jacarapagua, Brasil. The existing 795 kcmil (402.8 mm^2) Drake size ACSR conductor is being replaced with new 1078 kcmil (546.4 mm^2) Hamburg ACCC conductor.  

 

Although the new ACCC conductor contains 36% more aluminum than the ACSR conductor it replaced - not to mention slightly improved conductivity (63% IACS compared to 61% IACS) - its weight is identical (1093 lb/kft - 1627 kg/km). This allowed the upgrade to be undertaken without the need to modify or replace existing steel lattice structures.

 

The ACCC conductor's improved conductivity will reduce line losses through the entire range of operating conditions and the ACCC conductor's high-capacity and low-sag attributes will enable the double circuit line to carry more than twice the original current to accommodate load growth and higher peak demand conditions.

 

The finished ACCC conductor was manufactured by Conduspar Condutores Eletricos one of CTC Global's licensed and certified stranding partners, and the ancillary hardware was supplied by Tramontina, Forjasul and Preformed Line Products. The project was supported locally by CTC Global's Director of Business Development Latin America, Carlos Fornazzari and CTC Global's Installation Supervisor, Ismael "I-Man" Dones, who provided pre-construction training for 53 participants on the day before the project began in late March, and who remained on site until the project was well under way.  Upon completion, this will be the 15th ACCC conductor project to be energized in South America. Other projects are slated to begin in South America later this year.