Self-cleaning cable assemblies
A cable assembly includes a conductor and a self-cleaning layer that surrounds the conductor and includes one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst. Overhead high voltage electricity transmission lines are formed from these cable assemblies. Methods of reducing surface buildup on a cable are also provided.
1. A cable assembly, comprising:
a conductor;
a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor, the self-cleaning layer comprising one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst; and
an intermediate layer surrounding the conductor and disposed between the conductor and the self-cleaning layer, the intermediate layer formed from an inorganic, non-photocatalytic material; and
wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and electrocatalyst are in a crystalline state and have an average particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.
2. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst or the electrocatalyst comprises a semi-conductive material or conductive material.
3. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and the electrocatalyst comprises titanium oxide.
4. The cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the titanium oxide is in an anatase crystalline state.
5. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning layer further comprises a co-catalyst.
6. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning layer has a thickness of 5 microns or less.
7. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and the electrocatalyst comprises more than 90%, by dry weight, of the self-cleaning layer.
8. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning layer is free of polymer.
9. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the water contact angle for the cable assembly is reduced by 7% or more after exposure to the ultraviolet light.
10. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 20 μm to about 40 μm.
11. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning layer conforms to the intermediate layer.
12. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning layer is the outermost layer of the cable assembly.
13. An overhead high voltage electricity transmission line formed from the cable assembly of claim 1 .
14. The overhead high voltage electricity transmission line of claim 13 , wherein the conductor comprises:
a core, the core comprising one or more of carbon fiber composite, glass fiber composite, aluminum, and aluminum alloy fibers reinforced in aluminum; and
one or more electrically conductive wires, the one or more electrically conductive wires surrounding the core.
15. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductor comprises a plurality of conductive wires.
16. A cable assembly, comprising:
a conductor;
a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor, the self-cleaning layer comprising a first photocatalyst comprising titanium oxide; and
an intermediate layer surrounding the conductor and disposed between the conductor and the self-cleaning layer, the intermediate layer comprising from 10% to 35%, by weight, of one or more of a second photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst;
wherein the titanium oxide is in a crystalline state and has an average particle size of 10 nm to 50 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.
17. A cable assembly, comprising:
a conductor; and
a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor as the outermost layer of the cable assembly, the self-cleaning layer comprising one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst and being free of polymer; and
wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and electrocatalyst are in a crystalline state and have an average particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.