Conductor For A Power Transmission Cable And A Process For The Production Of The Conductor

Abstract

A conductor for a power transmission cable including at least two separate lengths of conductors, having at least 99.5% by weight aluminium, and the remainder other metals or substances except a titanium content of at most 0.02% by weight. The at least two lengths of aluminium conductors joined together by a weld. The welding material alloy has an aluminium content of at least 85.2% by weight, a silicon content of from 4.0 to 13.0% by weight and the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.8% by weight, other metals and/or substances; or an aluminium content of at least 99.5% by weight, a titanium content of from 0.10 to 0.50% by weight and the remainder up to 100% by weight, other metals and/or substances.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conductor for a power transmission cable comprising:
 at least two separate lengths of aluminium conductors, wherein the aluminium content of the lengths of the aluminium conductors is at least 99.7% by weight, and the remainder up to 100% by weight includes other metals and/or substances, and wherein a titanium content in the remainder is at most 0.02% by weight, based on the total weight of the lengths of the aluminium conductors,   the at least two lengths of the aluminium conductors being joined together by means of a metal inert gas welded or tungsten inert gas welded joint including a welding material alloy, wherein the welding material alloy has an aluminium content of at least 85.2% by weight, a silicon content of from 4.0 to 13.0% by weight, and wherein the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.8% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances.   
     
     
         2 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the welding material alloy has an aluminium content of at least 92.3% by weight, and a silicon content of from 4.5 to 6.0% by weight, and wherein the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances. 
     
     
         3 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the other metals and/or substances in the welding material alloy include one or more of Si, Mn, V, Cu, Ti, Zn, Fe, Be, and Mg. 
     
     
         4 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the other metals and/or substances in the lengths of the aluminium conductors include one or more of B, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mn, Si, V, Ti, and Zn. 
     
     
         5 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the welded joint is a v-joint. 
     
     
         6 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the lengths of the aluminium conductors have a structure of a stranded conductor, a solid conductor, a profile wire conductor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the welding material alloy has an aluminium content of at least 85.2% by weight, and a silicon content of from 11.0 to 13.0% by weight and the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.8% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances. 
     
     
         8 . A process for producing a conductor for a power transmission cable, comprising:
 providing at least two separate lengths of aluminium conductors for a power transmission cable, wherein the aluminium content of the lengths of the aluminium conductors is at least 99.7% by weight, and the remainder up to 100% by weight includes other metals and/or substances, and wherein a titanium content in the remainder is at most 0.02% by weight, based on the total weight of the lengths of the aluminium conductors; and   joining the lengths of the aluminium conductors together by means of welding, wherein the welding is performed by using a welding material alloy having an aluminium content of at least 85.2% by weight, a silicon content of from 4.0 to 13.0% by weight and the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.8% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances;   wherein the welding is metal inert gas welding or tungsten inert gas welding.   
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein said joining the lengths of the aluminium conductors together comprises welding the lengths of the aluminium conductors together to form a v-joint. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8 , further comprising applying an insulation system to cover the conductor radially outwards. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the welding is performed by using a welding material alloy having an aluminium content of at least 92.3% by weight, a silicon content of from 4.5 to 6.0% by weight and the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the other metals and/or substances in the welding material alloy include one or more of Si, Mn, V, Cu, Ti, Zn, Fe, Be, and Mg. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the other metals and/or substances in the lengths of the aluminium conductors include one or more of B, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mn, Si, V, Ti, and Zn. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the lengths of the aluminium conductors have a structure of a stranded conductor, a solid conductor, a profile wire conductor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A power transmission cable, comprising:
 at least one conductor, the conductor including:
 at least two separate lengths of aluminium conductors, wherein the aluminium content of the lengths of the aluminium conductors is at least 99.7% by weight, and the remainder up to 100% by weight includes other metals and/or substances, and wherein a titanium content in the remainder is at most 0.02% by weight, based on the total weight of the lengths of the aluminium conductors; 
 the at least two lengths of the aluminium conductors being joined together by means of a metal inert gas welded or tungsten inert gas welded joint including a welding material alloy, wherein the welding material alloy has an aluminium content of at least 85.2% by weight, a silicon content of from 4.0 to 13.0% by weight, and wherein the remainder up to 100% by weight and at most 1.8% by weight, based on the total weight of the welding material alloy, includes other metals and/or substances. 
   
     
     
         16 . The power transmission cable according to  claim 15 , further including an insulation system that covers the at least one conductor coaxially and radially outwards. 
     
     
         17 . The power transmission cable according to  claim 16 , wherein the insulation system comprises a first semi-conducting layer, an insulation layer, and a second semi-conducting layer surrounding the at least one conductor. 
     
     
         18 . The power transmission cable according to  claim 15 , further comprising an outer protective system which provides mechanical protection for the at least one conductor. 
     
     
         19 . The power transmission cable according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least two lengths of the aluminium conductors are joined together by means of a butt weld. 
     
     
         20 . The power transmission cable according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the other metals and/or substances in the welding material alloy include one or more of Si, Mn, V, Cu, Ti, Zn, Fe, Be, and Mg; and   the other metals and/or substances in the lengths of the aluminium conductors include one or more of B, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mn, Si, V, Ti, and Zn.