EoW July 2009

technology news

Non-ferrous wire drawing Euroalpha srl is specialised in wire drawing equipment for non-ferrous materials, copper, aluminium and aluminium alloys. Over fifteen years ago, Euroalpha introduced the use of the individual motors on rod breakdown lines, to provide a machine with control slip and adjustable wire elongation for each draft. Today, the company introduces a new multi-wire line for the automotive market; an innovative machine with a transmission system that eliminates gears and an independent AC motor to move each capstan.

American Superconductor Corporation has announced the expansion of its strategic alliance with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI) and has received a new order for its high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire. SECRI will use the wire to develop and manufacture a 30-metre-long, 35 kilovolt (kV) cable system. SECRI is the leading research, development and standardisation institution for China’s wire and cable industry and is one of two centres that test and certify power cables for China. “In addition to the transmission voltage superconductor cables we have been developing, we now are developing distribution voltage superconductor cable systems for the Chinese market,” said SECRI’s General Manager Wei Dong, “We are confident that our continued successful cooperation with AMSC will enable rapid adoption of superconductor cable systems. We expect the first superconductor cable deployment in China’s power grid system to occur early in the next decade and that this will lead to widespread adoption of superconductor cables throughout China.” Power cables made with AMSC’s HTS wire inside can conduct up to 10 times the amount of power of conventional cables, which are made with copper wire inside. They can be placed strategically in the power grid to draw flow from overtaxed conventional cables or overhead lines to mitigate grid congestion experienced in urban centres. They also can automatically suppress dangerous power surges to create resilient, ‘self-healing’ grids that can survive attacks and natural disasters making them an ideal modernisation tool for metropolitan power grids. American Superconductor Corporation – USA Website : www.amsc.com Strengthened alliance with SECRI

▲ ▲ An example of Euroalpha wire drawing machinery

The benefits of the new system are said to include: • The elimination of friction and noise caused by the gear transmission system • More ergonomic machine construction for maintenance and energy saving, and plant flexibility • Minimised slip operation, no noise protection cabinet necessary • Adjustable wire elongation for each draft (depending on the die schedule and installed power) • Fast outlet diameter change • Excellent wire surface quality at high production efficiency • Slippage values close to zero prevent high wearing of pulling capstans and excessive production of metal dust • Exclusion of intermediate motors in capstan andminimal slippage reduces energy consumption compared to a traditional machine with gearbox motorisation • Wide range of wire size production

Euroalpha srl – Italy Fax : +39 0424 72780 Email : info@euroalpha.it Website : www.euroalpha.it

. . . the most important source of information in the wire and cable industry . . .

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EuroWire – July 2009