Smart Conductors

Mercury Cable & Energy is contributing to the Smart Grid movement through a new line of composite products built around the High Voltage Composite Reinforced (HVCRC) Smart Conductor. Through more than 10 years of research and development by industry-leading engineers and scientists, Mercury Cable developed a way to greatly improve transmission capacity through a patented composite core for use in transmission conductors.

Additional benefits of composite vs. steel reinforced cables are:

  • Reduced Sag

    HVCRC experiences less sag than the traditional ACSR distribution lines due to its lighter weight and higher temperature tolerance. HVCRC is tolerant up to 150 degrees Celsius continuous use, reducing heat-induced sag in periods of peak demand. Reducing sag is a key factor in increasing ampacity during the transmission process.

  • Lower Resistance & Greater Ampacity

    Engineered from non-metallic materials, HVCRC does not suffer from inductive interference like ACSR and ACSS. This reduced interference lowers line losses, significantly leading to more electricity delivered or lower power generation needed. By using pre-annealed trapezoidal shaped aluminum strands, HVCRC conductors have 28 percent more aluminum in comparable sized conductors, allowing for significantly more ampacity to be delivered in the same transmission corridor or on a per line basis.

  • Durability

    Engineered from non-metallic materials, HVCRC is not affected by corrosion, a typical problem with conventional transmission cables. Salt, air pollution and galvanic corrosion from metal on metal contact all play a role in weakening traditional steel cores over time. Our world class production team has consistently produced results that dwarf our competitors and set new standards for quality.

  • Tensile and Flexural Strength

    Unlike some composite conductors, the composite core of a HVCRC line is not brittle or fragile. Consequently, they can be wound around standard reels (with appropriate bend radius) and handled by workers and linesmen without the need to employ special handling procedures for installation and can be pulled to the appropriate tension with a standard pulley system. Based on published results, HVCRC is the strongest conductor available in the market.

  • Cost Efficiency

    HVCRC exhibits less sag, so they can cover much greater spans than other cables pulled to the same tension. As a result, fewer poles and towers are required in the design of HVCRC lines, which along with lower line losses, reduces costs for both distribution companies and consumers.