Mathematical modeling of nonstationary processes of heat and mass transfer in a rectangular cable channel

Abstract

This work is devoted to solving the problem of heat and mass transfer in a rectangular cable channel laid in the earth mass, taking into account the electric and magnetic dynamics processes in the metal elements of the power cable. The current load of power cables depends on the temperature field in the cable construction, which in turn the following factors influence: the conditions of heat transfer, thermal characteristics of the materials used, the induced currents in a metal screen of power cables, etc. The proposed mathematical model of the processes of complex heat and mass transfer is based on the laws of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. For the electrodynamics problem, equations of current density and a magnetic potential vector based on Maxwell equations are used. The problem was solved numerically under conditions of natural convection with taking into account the radiant energy by the finite element method in the Ansys Fluent software package. As a result, the power of heat losses in the metal structural elements of the power cable and the velocity and temperature fields in the cable channel were calculated. The temperature fields in the cable channel are presented and analyzed depending on the location of power cables. The different operating modes of the cable line are discussed. To analyze the heat processes in the cable channel, the nonstationary problem defining the heating time of cable lines to the limit values is solved. The heating curves of the cable lines operating in unsteady mode are obtained. The maximum operating time of the cable line in an overload and short circuit is determined.