ACSR to ACCC without considering ACSS

[apMechE]

Logical reason to jump from ACSR to ACCC without considering ACSS? Currently utilizing 477 ACSR on 69 line and being pushing to jump to ACCC without cconsidering any ACSS options.

 

[bacon4life]

Is there an ACSS conductor that meets the power transfer, maximum sag, and strength limitations of existing poles? It seems strange to have zero consideration of ACSS. However, I can imagine a situation where ACSS can be ruled out very early in the process.

Does the owner already have both ACCC and ACSS conductors? If I already had a workforce equipped to deal with ACCC, I would be hesitant to invest in the additional tooling and training for also maintaining ACSS.

 

[apMechE]

We have not used any ACSS. I think we need to make a comprehensive comparison table weighing the options based on the scenario and goal. The qualitative characteristics such as resiliency carries significant weight. Hard to step away from something that has steel in it. More or less, reps are pretty persuasive and without a solid reference on why you should consider it, easy for others to be enticed to try something new. The brakes are on for now.

 

[FacEngrPE]

I was unfamiliar with the abbreviations, so I looked them up.
Opinion - Both of these products look like they have a place in power distribution. The OP's position that the choice needs to consider the features of both products, including the need for any specialized training and tooling, is valid and necessary.
The conclusion may hinge on the risk of mixing up procedures / fittings in the field, and considering that risk of any resulting in service problems unreasonable.

Aluminum Conductor, Steel Supported. (ACSS)​

Construction

• Aluminum 1350-H19 wires, concentrically stranded about a steel core. Standard core wire for ACSR is class A galvanized
• Class A core stranding is also available in zinc-5% aluminum-mischmetal alloy coating.
• For aluminum-clad (AW) ACSR, please refer to the ACSR/AW catalog sheet
• Additional corrosion protection is available through the application of grease to the core or infusion of the complete cable with grease

https://www.southwire.com/wire-cable/bare-aluminum-overhead-transmission-distribution/acsr/p/ALBARE6

Aluminum Conductor Composite Core Conductors (ACCC): These are "High-temperature low-sag" (HTLS) Conductors with excellent electrical characteristics, excellent sag-tension characteristics and superior corrosion resistance to that of ACSR. As compared to ACSR they have lighter weight, comparable strength and current carrying capacity, lower electrical losses and superior corrosion resistance have given this conductor wide acceptance as a transmission conductor. It has found limited use, however, as a distribution conductor.
Construction
Fully annealed trapezoidal shaped aluminum wires concentrically stranded over hybrid carbon and glass fiber core (Composite Core)

https://apar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/4.-Aluminium-Conductor-Composite-Core-ACCC.pdf

 

[FPelec]

Hi, bacon4life, I expect the carbon fiber core (ACCC) solution to be significantly more expensive than ACSS but also somewhat lighter. In principle, I would not rule out other solutions using high-temperature aluminum alloys (ZTACIR or KTACIR) either. These latter options have far fewer challenges when it comes to clamps and joints compared to ACSS and ACCC.
I would not consider ACCC directly without first conducting a comparative analysis with the other HTLS solutions.