Revealing 13 Facts of Misleading Aluminum Alloy Cables

Aluminum alloy cable technology and products have been invented and safely used in the United States for nearly half a century. Since 2006 and 2007, two American companies have brought technology and products to China respectively, which has initiated and set off a boom in the industry of aluminum alloy cable in China. Advanced aluminium alloy cable technology and products have gradually changed people's understanding of the cable industry and traditional cable, and opened up the vision of cable industry development. Advanced conductor aluminium alloy technology solves the defects and shortcomings of aluminium as cable conductor, and makes the Chinese people have been looking forward to a new type of conductor material to replace the resource-poor copper conductor material, and sees the hope and Prospect of realization. In the 1950s and 1960s, the national policy of replacing copper with aluminium has become possible with the progress of technology. The development of conductor material technology has injected new vitality and development opportunities into China's cable industry.

Nowadays, nobody in the industry knows about the aluminium alloy cable, and all kinds of users have gradually recognized and actively accepted this belated technology and product. There are many kinds of propaganda, concepts and statements about aluminium alloy cables on the market. There are many different kinds of products and technologies of true and false aluminium alloy cables. There are even different definitions of aluminium alloy cable technology. But what is the real aluminium alloy cable? How to define the aluminium alloy cable technology and products that have been used safely and maturely in the United States for nearly half a century? As the earliest person involved in the industry of aluminium alloy cable, the author makes an inventory of all kinds of disorders in the industry of aluminium alloy cable based on his understanding and understanding for many years.

Misleading Propaganda 1: Companies without alloy formulations, continuous casting and rolling equipment and processes can also produce qualified aluminium alloy cables

Fact: High-quality aluminium alloy conductor rod is the decisive factor of electrical and mechanical properties of aluminium alloy cable. Without high-quality aluminium alloy rod, the basic quality of conductor can not be changed in the later process of drawing, stranding, cabling, armor and so on. Aluminum alloy cable manufacturers must have the alloy formulation to produce AA8000 series conductor aluminium alloys, and have the production line of conductor aluminium alloy rod smelting, continuous casting and rolling. That is to say, they can produce conductor aluminium alloy materials. If they do not have this basic ability, where do they come from? The quality of rod is not controllable at all. How can we produce qualified aluminium alloy cable products? The products of this kind of enterprise are really worrying.

Misleading Propaganda 2: Aluminum alloy cable is superior to aluminum cable, even if the quality is poor.

Fact: Aluminum alloy cables that do not meet the national industry standard of aluminium alloy cables "rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cables" are substandard products and are genuine fake and inferior products. Perhaps it is not clear to many users that unqualified aluminium alloy cables are actually inferior to aluminium cables because the base material of conductor aluminium alloy is aluminium. Conductor aluminium alloy is a new material which is made by adding other metal elements into aluminium according to the core technology formula and process, and is a qualified conductor aluminium alloy material. Its electrical properties can be restored to the level of aluminium after processing, and its physical and mechanical properties are much better than that of aluminium. Unqualified so-called aluminium alloys can not be restored to the level of aluminium because of the lack of core technology, mature production technology and professional production equipment, and ultimately because of alloy formulation, smelting and processing technology, physical and mechanical properties of the aluminium alloys can not be effectively improved and improved. Not as good as aluminum. So choose unqualified aluminum alloy cable, rather choose aluminum cable, after all, aluminum cable is more economical and safer than unqualified aluminum alloy cable.

Misleading Propaganda 3: Principle of Aluminum Alloy Cable Replacing Copper Cable: Bigger Specification

Fact: Aluminum alloy for conductor is a new type of conductor material which is melted, cast and rolled by using pure aluminium as the base material and by using gold-smelting technology. High quality aluminium alloy has the same electrical properties as pure aluminium, and its mechanical properties are better than copper. When the cross section of aluminium alloy conductor is 1.5 times that of copper conductor, it achieves the same electrical properties as copper conductor (current carrying capacity, voltage drop, etc.). The rules of scientific and safe replacement of copper cables for aluminium alloy cables are below 50 mm (including 50) specifications for copper cables, one larger specification for aluminium alloy cables, and more than 70 mm (including 70) specifications for copper cables. Aluminum alloy cables must be replaced by two larger specifications in order to ensure the same electrical performance as copper cables and ensure safe use. In recent years, no matter the size of copper cable, the irresponsible and unscientific way of saying that aluminum cable is replaced only by a larger one is appeared in the domestic aluminum alloy cable market. In fact, these enterprises think that the aluminum alloy cable has just been popularized in China. The users do not know much about the performance of this product and only say that the cable carries current. Volume, not to mention voltage drop, voltage loss, fooling users, playing with the bad behavior of stealing. From the cost point of view, stealing one gear reduces the cost by an average of 26%, but the voltage loss of the cable after stealing will increase by 17-28% when it is used. This kind of bad behavior will directly damage the interests of users and cause potential safety hazards.

Misleading Propaganda 4: Claiming to be the maker or even founder of national standards for aluminium alloy cables

Fact: American mature aluminium alloy cables are manufactured in accordance with ASTMB800-05 (2011), "8000Series Aluminum Alloy Wire Electrical Purposes - Annealedand Intermediate Tempers" and UL44-2010 "Thermoset-insulated wires and cables", and the "rated voltage 0.6" to be released by the National Energy Administration, the competent department of cable industry in China. Two standards for aluminium alloy cables, i.e. -1kV aluminium alloy conductor crosslinked polyethylene insulated power cables and "aluminium alloy wires for cable conductors", fully take into account the mature technology of aluminium alloy cables in the United States, so the standards are formulated mainly with reference to the main technical indicators of the above-mentioned foreign standards (note: ASTM is the American Material and Test Association). Abbreviation) "Rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable" and "aluminium alloy wire for cable conductor" are the national standards of the real aluminium alloy cable industry. As for the newly promulgated GB/T 2920-2013 Standard of Rare Earth High Iron Aluminum Alloy Rod for Electrical Engineering, it is mainly aimed at the production and sale of Rare Earth High Iron Aluminum Alloy Rod Material. That is to say, when you want to produce and sell Rare Earth High Iron Aluminum Alloy Rod Material, you should refer to this standard and be separated from the crosslinked polyethylene in accordance with the rated voltage of 0.6 There are differences between aluminium alloy cable for cable conductor and aluminium alloy cable for cable conductor in standard production and manufacture of aluminium alloy cable for cable conductor which meets the technical requirements of AA8000 series. Moreover, the newly issued national standard of electrical round aluminium rod (GB/T3954-2014), GB/T3954-2014 is based on the 2008 edition, and actively adopts ASTM, EN, BS and IEC standards of the United States, the United Kingdom and the International Electrotechnical Organization. The requirements, test methods and inspection rules of electrical round aluminium rod are improved, and a new brand number of 8 is added. The related contents of alloy electrician round aluminium rod 030 and 8A07 are a standard for materials of electrician round aluminium rod. For manufacturers without their own production capacity of conductor aluminium alloy materials, because they want to purchase materials like rare earth high iron aluminium alloy rods and 8030 aluminium alloy rods everywhere, the standards of "rare earth high iron aluminium alloy rods for electricians" and "electrical round aluminium rods" have relevance to these manufacturers. In fact, no matter which kind of aluminium alloy pole material is used, the conductor aluminium alloy wires and aluminium alloy cables produced must meet the requirements of "rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable" and "aluminium alloy wires for cable conductors". The quality of aluminium alloy cable products is mainly assessed by "rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable". Therefore, only those who participated in the formulation of "rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable" is the real standard maker of aluminium alloy cable products.

Misleading Propaganda 5: Qualified Aluminum Alloy Cables with Type (or Entrusted) Inspection Report

Fact: It is not enough to have a type (or commissioned) inspection report, but also to have three reports issued by the testing center of Shanghai Materials Research Institute, an authoritative testing institution. 1) Complying with the chemical composition test report of AA8000 series conductor aluminium alloy poles; 2) According to the national industry standard "rated voltage 0.6-1 kV aluminium alloy conductor cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable" to be promulgated by Shanghai Cable Research Institute, the 100-hour compressive creep test report of conductor aluminium alloy poles is issued on the basis of the test. According to statistics, most of them are The company does not have this report, even if there is this report, there is no 100-hour test according to the standard requirements; 3) 1000 thermal cycle test reports for aluminium alloy cables and terminals issued by the Quality Supervision and Inspection Center of Mechanical Industry Electrical Materials and Special Cables. These three reports are the most authoritative and important test reports to prove qualified aluminium alloy cables.

Misleading Propaganda 6: There is a website, the website is beautiful is the regular aluminum alloy cable manufacturers

Fact: Nowadays, network propaganda is various, so-called companies and network companies near brands are rampant, propaganda seems to be the same thing, what is the actual situation? Huffling tone, said that the test report also has, everything can be promised, but the vast majority of the supply is fake and inferior products. Here, we remind users to identify carefully. Firstly, we must verify the qualifications of enterprises, test reports, especially the three basic test reports mentioned above. We must verify the authenticity of the report on the website of the testing institution, and we must put forward the requirements for inspection of factories and on-site inspection, so that these false companies and products can not escape. Such companies are generally difficult to meet the requirements, this identification is necessary, do not only look at the price, otherwise it is inevitable to be deceived, the consequences are endless.

Misleading propaganda 7: The promotion and application of aluminium alloy cable must pass through the access of State Grid Corporation

Fact: Recently, the State Grid Corporation formally responded to the National People's Congress "Recommendations on Expanding the Application of Aluminum Alloy Cables in Electric Power Industry" and made it clear that "Aluminum Replaces Copper" is of great strategic significance. In order to further promote the application of Aluminum Alloy Cables in electric power system, it has been accepted. Enter the new technology catalogue of State Grid Corporation 2014 edition. This is really good news for the aluminium alloy cable industry. From then on, aluminium alloy cable can get rid of those meaningless debates and enter the power system market fairly, reasonably and legally. After all, the State Grid is a big user of cables. The development of aluminium alloy cable is a trend. It is an opportunity for aluminium alloy cable industry to enter the new technology catalogue of national network. But it is not known when the relevant enterprises can really benefit for the time being. It is understood that the current state grid has applied 10KV, 1KV and other voltage grade aluminium alloy cables. In the future, the State Grid will continue to pay attention to the technical development of 10-35KV aluminium alloy cables, especially after the promulgation and implementation of the national standard for aluminium alloy cables below 35KV in China, relevant applications will be carried out. That is to say, relevant standards should be perfect to develop relevant applications, and the technology and application of 10-35K aluminium alloy cable have no mature experience even in foreign countries. In addition to American-funded companies, domestic enterprises are still in the mature stage of technology and products. In fact, the State Grid is also an enterprise, but only a large user of cables. Its biggest demand for cables lies in high-voltage transmission. Of course, the amount of medium-voltage transmission and distribution cables is also considerable, but for various reasons, the choice of copper cables is more likely. The cables used for low voltage distribution in the State Grid are mainly concentrated in supporting fee projects in newly built residential areas and some industrial expansion projects. At present, the ancillary fee project of new residential area contracted by the State Grid does need access because of its business management requirements. However, the aluminum alloy cable is used in the industrial expansion project, and there is no access problem of the State Grid. The real opportunity for the aluminum alloy cable to enter the State Grid is the ancillary fee project of the new residential area. There are more monks and fewer porridges, and the access of aluminium alloy cables in the State Grid is only good for those enterprises that have really high quality products.

Misleading Propaganda 8: Aluminum Alloy Cable Connection Using Copper-Aluminum Transition Terminal is Safe and Reliable

Fact: As we all know, the most important aspects of power installation and transmission are cable product quality, connection terminals and terminal connection quality. Connecting terminals are the key to the safe and safe application of aluminium alloy cables. Aluminum alloy cables have only been in China for six or seven years. Because there were no aluminium alloy cables in the Chinese market before, there was no special terminal products for connecting aluminium alloy cables which matched the performance of the connected aluminium alloy cables. At present, when using aluminium alloy cables in our country, because the special aluminium alloy copper connection terminals which can not match the performance of the connected aluminium alloy cables can not be provided in the market, the copper-aluminium transition terminals used to connect aluminium cables and so-called micro-alloy terminals introduced by some manufacturers are mistaken to replace them, which are only used to improve the conductivity of the terminals. 。 This is a very unscientific application program and a wrong understanding. Because aluminium alloy cable is invented to solve the shortcomings and defects of pure aluminium cable, especially the poor creep resistance, but the copper-aluminium transition terminal used for aluminium cable is used in connection. The aluminium part of the terminal also has all the defects of pure aluminium. The performance of aluminium and aluminium alloy cable is different in the whole connection scheme. The existence of so-called high conductivity microalloys prevents the advantages and values of aluminium alloy cables from being brought into play. What is the difference between aluminium cables and direct use of aluminium cables? This connection scheme is extremely unreasonable, wrong and has potential security risks. The mistake of aluminium alloy cable in application is an unavoidable technical problem in the industry, which is related to whether aluminium alloy cable can be safely, safely and correctly applied, and truly let aluminium alloy cable return to its original advantages and values.

Misleading Propaganda 9: Claiming so-called high conductivity aluminium alloy cables

Fact: In order to achieve some propaganda purposes, some enterprises say that the conductivity of aluminium alloy cables is beyond common sense. In fact, they meet the propaganda figures at the cost of losing other performance requirements of cables. According to the national standards, the products of these enterprises can be judged as unqualified products. These enterprises call their aluminium alloys as high conductivity aluminium alloys. After consulting these enterprises'test reports, the test basis is basically self-defined enterprise standards. For example, the tensile strength index is 59-120 Mpa (national standard is 98-159 Mpa), the actual tensile strength test result is 86 Mpa, and the conductivity is 62.5% (known as the world's largest). High). In fact, reducing the tensile strength is conducive to improving the conductivity, and qualified conductor aluminum alloy is to meet the requirements of chemical composition, elongation, tensile strength, conductivity, compressive creep performance. If the tensile strength is not qualified, what is the significance of high conductivity?

Misleading propaganda 10: exaggerating the so-called rare earth high iron and aluminium alloy cable

Fact: Academician Huang Chongqi of Shanghai Cable Research Institute studied and developed rare earth aluminium alloy in the 1980s, and obtained the national invention patent. Some enterprises have learned from the scientific research achievements of Academician Huang, that is, adding trace rare earth into the aluminium base material with insufficient purity to improve the mechanical properties of aluminium material, and developed high-iron rare earth aluminium alloy cable. The Research Report issued by the R&D team of Shanghai Cable Research Institute at the annual conference of cable industry in 2013 clearly pointed out the scientific conclusion that "the purity of aluminium is 99.7%, the content of silicon is less than 0.04%. It is not necessary to add rare earth to make conductor aluminium alloy". Therefore, it is meaningless to add rare earth in qualified aluminium materials. If poor purity aluminium materials are used as the base material of conductor aluminium alloy, rare earth can only be added to make up for the lack of material performance. Moreover, the national standard for the composition of qualified conductor aluminium alloy clearly stipulates that the maximum iron content is not more than 1%. Therefore, the statement of high iron, rare earth and aluminium alloy can only be understood as artificial hype concept. In the compilation instructions of the national industry standard "Aluminum Alloy Wire for Cable Conductor", the statement of rare earth, high iron and aluminium alloy has been clearly negated.

Misleading propaganda 11:10,000 Li enclosure, 1000 mu construction plant, 10 billion production capacity of aluminum alloy cable manufacturers

Truth: Some enterprises claim to be Sino-US joint ventures, but in fact they are thoroughly Township enterprises, and their business licenses are clearly written. Some enterprises publicize that they have built factories all over the country and have numerous production bases with annual production capacity of tens of billions of dollars, which is even more than some old-fashioned copper cable leading enterprises in China, but the actual annual sales are not enough to publicize, which makes people wonder whether these enterprises are carrying out land enclosure campaign and seeking capital operation. Speculation for short-term benefits? Therefore, we have to be cautious when choosing this kind of enterprise products.

Misleading Propaganda 12: Aluminum Alloy Cables can be Produced with Advanced Equipment

Fact: Some enterprises claim to have imported advanced technology and equipment from abroad. In fact, when importing advanced equipment, they did not import technology and technology at the same time, which made the advanced nature of equipment unable to be brought into full play. What's more, they should fake imported equipment even though they are clearly domestic equipment. Therefore, it is not enough to publicize advanced production equipment alone. Even with advanced production technology and equipment, limited by personnel, technology and experience, good equipment is not necessarily the most effective use. Owing to the systematicness and complexity of production line, it is difficult for general manufacturers to ensure the stability and smoothness of imported equipment in the production of aluminium alloy cable. Without mature production technology and experience, it is difficult to ensure product quality. Everyone who has done production knows that the production line is a systematic project.