Life Cycle Cost based modeling and economic evaluation of 10 kV aluminum alloy power cables

The differences among the traditional copper power cables, overhead electric conductors and aluminum alloy power cables draw more and more attention with the promoting of the aluminum alloy power cables in 10 kV distribution network. This paper establishes LCC (Life Cycle Cost) model of the power lines in distribution network considering four parts, including investment cost, operation and maintenance cost, failure cost and discard cost. By using the LCC model, the economic differences among the aluminum alloy power cables, the copper power cables, and the overhead electric conductors are analyzed according to a practical power cable project in Fujian Province in China. The comparison result shows that the aluminum alloy power cables have the advantage in economic cost in the specific case.