Numerical Study on Electromagnetic Thermal Performance of Non-Metallic Armoured Optoelectronic Cable Winch System

Abstract

Non-metallic armoured optoelectronic cable winch systems (NAOCWSs) play critical roles in facilitating signal transmission and powering subsea equipment. Due to the varying depths in these applications, deploying the entire cable length is unnecessary. However, the portion of the cable that remains coiled around the winch can generate an electromagnetic field, which may interfere with signal transmission and induce electromagnetic heating. This can lead to elevated temperatures within the system, affecting the cable’s lifespan. Consequently, this study examines the distributions of magnetic and temperature fields within the NAOCWS with different currents (10–30 A) and numbers of winding layers (1–10). Findings indicate that the magnetic flux density (MFD) changes periodically, and the period is closely related to the distance between the cables. At the centre of the cable, the flux density is minimum. Temperature distribution correlates with both current amplitude and the number of winding layers, where an increase in either parameter amplifies the temperature variance between the edge and intermediate cables within the same layer. The current does not affect the internal temperature distribution pattern. With the number of winding layers determined, the layer where the highest temperature of the system is located is well defined and does not vary with current.