Thermal Transients in Three‐Core Power Cable Systems: First Principle Modelling and Verification

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents research related to developing a thermal model for three‐core power cable systems used in offshore wind farms. Three‐core power cable systems are a significantly more complicated thermo‐electrical system than single‐core power cables, primarily due to the geometric asymmetry and the number of heat sources. There are tools available that can model thermal transients in three‐core cable systems, but these tools demand a nontrivial level of prerequisite knowledge and training on the part of the user. Therefore, this research aimed at developing and testing a first principle model specifically tuned for thermal transients in three‐core cables. The model has been tested by comparing its predictions with empirical temperature data collected from heat cycle testing on three‐core cables at Nexans' facilities. To increase the quality of the predictions, part of the research was also to measure the thermal properties of swellable tape and filling compound (used in three‐core cables). The first principle model's predictions correspond well with the empirical data, the research results are promising. The model must be tested more thoroughly with different use cases before it can complement or replace current working methods.