Electromagnetic and thermal analysis of underground power solid‐conductor cables under harmonic and unbalancing currents based on FEM

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, electromagnetic and thermal analyses are performed on underground power solid‐conductor cables under harmonic and unbalancing currents. The loss, life time, and produced magnetic field are calculated. Different balanced and unbalance load currents and also sinusoidal and harmonic profiles are considered. Moreover, the effects of different distances between cables are analyzed. Power cable losses and produced magnetic fields around power cables are computed based on electromagnetic analysis by using finite element method. Furthermore, finite element method thermal simulations are conducted to determine the cable life time based on Arrhenius model. Underground medium‐voltage cables with metallic sheaths in flat and trefoil formations are considered. Metallic sheaths are bonded together and grounded in the single point or both ends. So, the effects of eddy and circulating currents of sheaths on power cable parameters are studied. Simulation results show the important effects of unbalancing and harmonic currents on the power cables parameters. Also, the effects are dependent on the harmonic frequency orders, installation method, and grounding system types.