Electrical Engineering XYZ Question on Why silver is not used in overhead transmission lines.
Answer:
Silver is an excellent conductor of electricity, even better than copper. However, there are several reasons and certain limitations because of which silver is not widely used for this purpose. While cost is the major and primary reason for that, there are several other reasons as well. Given below is a brief overview of that:
- Cost: Silver is significantly more expensive than copper. While it has superior electrical conductivity, the high cost makes it economically impractical for large-scale applications like electrical transmission lines. Also see: Why longer cross arms improve String Efficiency
- Availability: Silver is also less abundant in the Earth’s crust compared to copper. The limited availability of silver further contributes to its high cost and makes it less practical for widespread use in infrastructure projects.
- Corrosion Resistance: Although silver is highly conductive, it is prone to tarnishing and corrosion when exposed to certain environmental conditions. Copper, on the other hand, forms a protective oxide layer that helps resist corrosion, making it more suitable for outdoor applications.
- Material Strength: Silver is a soft metal, and its mechanical strength is lower than that of copper. Transmission lines need to support their own weight, withstand environmental forces, and resist deformation. Copper’s greater mechanical strength makes it more suitable for these purposes.
- Technical Challenges: Using silver in transmission lines would require adapting existing infrastructure, manufacturing processes, and technologies, which can be technically challenging and costly.
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