Thermal Analysis of Air-Core Power Reactors

Zhao Yuan,Xiao-Gen Yin,Jun-Jia He,Shao-Fei Ning,Hong-Lei Li,Yuan Pan,Can Ding

doi:10.1155/2013/865015

Zhao Yuan, Xiao-Gen Yin + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/865015

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Abstract

A fluid-thermal coupled analysis based on FEM is conducted. The inner structure of the coils is built with consideration of both the structural details and the simplicity; thus, the detailed heat conduction process is coupled with the computational fluid dynamics in the thermal computation of air-core reactors. According to the simulation results, 2D temperature distribution results are given and proved by the thermal test results of a prototype. Then the temperature results are used to calculate the heat flux to predict the detailed heat transfer process in the packages of the reactors. The study in this paper may be useful in the design optimization in air-core reactors.

Highlights

With the development of power system, the usage amount of power reactors continues to rise more and more large capacity air-core reactors appear
The accurate temperature field computational methods are in need
A fluid-thermal coupled analysis based on finite element method (FEM) is conducted

Summary

Introduction

With the development of power system, the usage amount of power reactors continues to rise more and more large capacity air-core reactors appear. Two categories of numerical approaches were developed as “Network Modeling” [1–6] and finite element method (FEM) [7–10] The former can describe the heat transfer process clearly, but can only be used when critical temperatures such as hot spots are required and detailed local flow/temperature information is not [5]. In [11, 12], 2D and 3D fluid-thermal field coupled FEM models are built to compute the temperature field of power transformers and reactors. The inner structures were not considered and the details of temperature distribution and heat transfer process are not analyzed. The inner structure of the coils is built with consideration of both the structural details and the simplicity; the detailed heat conduction process is coupled with the computational fluid dynamics in the thermal computation of air-core reactors. The study in this paper may be useful in the design optimization in air-core reactors

Materials and Methods

Mathematical Modal

Results and Discussion

Conclusion