Bus bars are essential components of our world, although they don’t seem that way. But their excellent electrical conductivity, durability, and resistance to corrosion make every device better. Let’s take a dive into some details regarding a bus bar with copper and investigate its various applications up close.
Copper in bus bars makes a real difference
A bus bar is a metal element used for the transmission of electric current in industrial and electrical equipment. CNC machines, temperature controllers, switchboards… The list goes on. Therefore, busbars should be made with a material that enhances the performance of that power distribution. But there are other factors to consider as well.
That’s why renown bus bar manufacturers use copper or aluminum due to their additional properties, including lightness and inherent antimicrobial qualities. It might sound strange, yes, but medical devices and surfaces of healthcare settings require antimicrobial properties in bus bars. Modern copper alloys provide such qualities without additional help from chemicals.
Apart from that, copper is a valued bus bar material due to high electrical conductivity ratings among metals, naturally, while being a strong heat exchanger at the same time. Thermal management in electronics is extremely vital, so the ability to conduct temperature effectively makes copper a perfect choice.
This metal is also highly malleable and ductile, meaning it can be easily shaped into thin components without breaking. And the corrosion resistance of copper in bus bars allows it to form a protective patina when exposed to the elements, which helps prevent further corrosion. This property is particularly beneficial in outdoor and industrial applications.
Ease of joining provides additional value. It enables effective connections in electronic assemblies and electrical circuits of any sort. And if that’s not enough, this particular metal is 100% recyclable without losing its properties. That makes it both budget and environmentally friendly option.
The implementation of a copper bus bar
The above properties of copper bus bars collectively contribute to their widespread use in electrical systems, electronics, plumbing, construction, and many other technological innovations. They are much more functional than traditional cables, especially at high current intensity. That’s why such components are most often used to connect transformers to the power grid in control cabinets. For the same reasons they are also used in transport, e.g. in the rail industry, where they supply electricity to vehicles.
Furthermore, copper bus bars play a crucial role in solar power plants and wind farms by connecting multiple solar inverters or wind turbine generators to the central grid connection point. At the same time, the components minimize energy losses other materials can’t prevent.
This is the reason why copper bus bars are used to connect various parts of any transformer, ensuring efficient power flow. In high-performance data centers, on the other hand, bus bars are employed in power distribution units (PDUs) to provide reliable electricity to servers and networking equipment while maintaining thermal management.
Time to summarize. Copper in bus bars is vital in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of modern electrical systems across various applications. Their favorable properties make them a preferred choice in many electrical engineering projects, including the medical industry, due to antimicrobial properties. That versatility is the reason why a simple bus bar can make a big difference in the modern world.
