OPGW Cables

Tratos OPGW Cables are capable of providing the grounding and lightning protection required by overhead transmission lines combined with an optical transmission path along new or existing low and medium tension network lines.

Since the telecommunication market has been opened up to new operators, data transmission and video service providers, there is now the opportunity to install OPGW cable in a wide variety of transmission line installations. 

In its OPGW conductors, Tratos combines its experience and expertise in the supply of innovative hybrid designs of HTLS conductors and optical fibre transmission systems. The intrinsic central tubular design of Tratos HTLS conductors simplifies the inclusion of optic fibres into the cable and provides enhanced mechanical protection to these fibres. 

The use of a carbon composite strength member in place of traditional steel centres allows a greater volume of aluminium to be included without any weight penalty, this can be further increased by the used of shaped trapezoid aluminium or aluminium alloy wires. Encasing the stranded carbon composite strength member in a jelly-filled, seamless aluminium sheath allows for the inclusion of the optical fibres in an enclosed, protected environment.

Tratos OPGW cables offer the operator

• The ability to include multiple optical fibres
• Greater tensile strength to resist snow, ice and wind loadings
• Lightest weight for a given fault current
• Smallest dimensions for a given fault current
• Lowest sag in both normal and fault conditions
• Existing pylons and installation techniques can be used 

Tratos can tailor the design of OPGW cables to meet the specific characteristics of the overhead transmission lines with which they are used.

Tratos not only supplies OPGW conductors, but it also manufactures a complementary range of High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) overhead conductors made from an innovative hybrid lightweight carbon fibre/glass/aluminium sheathed central strength member with high-temperature zirconium-aluminium wires (TAL) as the conducting element.