SBIR Phase I: Attachment Interface Design for an Advanced Composite Power Transmission Cable

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop and demonstrate an attachment interface for an advanced carbon composite transmission conductor for electrical power. The attachment will interface with existing power transmission hardware and techniques. In the project the tasks will involve reviewing existing techniques for composite cable connections, possibly from other industries; initial design and analysis of interface hardware; fabrication of hardware and structural testing; evaluation of test reults and recommendations for final design including field installation considerations. Commercially, the advantages of an advanced carbon composite transmission conductor are the lower weight and higher power capacity over conventional bare overhead conductors. The weight savings will allow for a higher packing density on existing transmission towers. This higher packing density will ease or eliminate the need for new power transmission right-of-ways, which are difficult to obtain. The higher power capacity will allow for higher peak power delivery during power crisis and avoiding power transmission bottlenecks over conventional conductors.