Thermal Modeling and Experimental Validation of an

Encapsulated Busbars System

Ioan C. Popa and Alin-Iulian Dolan Doina Ghindeanu and Cătălin Boltaşu
Faculty of Electrical Engineering High Power Laboratory
University of Craiova ICMET
Craiova, Romania Craiova, Romania
e-mail: ipopa@elth.ucv.ro, adolan@elth.ucv.ro e-mail: bolcat@yahoo.com

Abstract— In this paper, we propose an approach for the

magnetic and thermal modeling of an encapsulated busbars
system for high voltage using QuickField software. This paper
proposes a numerical model developed by coupling of the
magnetic field problem with the stationary and transient heat
field problems for the geometry of a single-phase execution
busbars system. The coupling of problems is realized by
importing specific losses from the magnetic field problem as heat
sources for thermal field problem. The magnetic field problem is
also coupled to the electrical circuit. The shields are short-
circuited at both ends and they are connected to the ground. For
this constructive solution, in the shields occur induced currents,
approximately equals to those of conductors. Due to the shielding
effect, the magnetic field is practically zero outside of shield and
therefore the electrodynamic forces do not occur between phases.
In the model it was taken into account the variation of electrical
conductivity with the temperature. The thermal model has been
validated by experiment. The global coefficient of heat transfer
by convection and radiation used in thermal model was estimated Fig. 1. Three phase busbars system with short-circuited shields of both ends.
using the power losses computed by magnetic model. There is a
good agreement between numerical and experimental The construction of shielded busbars must meet the
temperature values. The presented model can be used for following requirements:
analysis, design and optimization of three-phase busbars system - The elimination of the ability to produce accidental short
in single phase execution. circuits (insulation pollution etc.).
- The elimination of the possibility of accidental electrocution
Keywords—coupled magnetothermal analysis; encapsulated by touching the bars under tension;
busbars system; heat transfer - The low annual costs (return of investments and the Joule
losses in the shields);
I. INTRODUCTION - Reduction of electrodynamics forces.
The shielded busbars systems are used to establish the If the shields are short-circuited and grounded at both ends
connection between the generator and the transformer in a then they produce a circulation of currents
power plant. There are two types of construction [1], [6]: ( I 1e = −I 1c , I 2e = − I 2c , I 3e = − I 3c ) approximately equals and
- Single phase execution with short-circuited shields at both
in opposite phase with corresponding currents of active
ends and connected to ground (Fig. 1) or with interrupted by
conductors (Fig. 1). This construction involves a close to zero
segments shield and connected to ground;
magnetic field outside the shield and therefore the
- Three-phase execution, with a common grounded shield.
electrodynamic forces acting between phases are close to zero.
For the single phase execution, the active conductor (of This is one of the advantages of this technical solution, but a
aluminum) is placed in a metal grounded shield (also of disadvantage is represented by the Joule losses in the shield.
aluminum). For the three-phase execution all the active
conductors are arranged in a common grounded shield. II. MODEL EQUATIONS
Internal insulation (between the active conductor and the
shield) is performed in air at normal pressure or with SF6 gas A. Magnetic Field Analysis
at a pressure of 3-5 bars. The governing equation for AC magnetics analysis for
rated and short-circuit currents is

978-1-4799-5817-7/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE

 ∂ ⎛ 1 ∂A ⎞ ∂ ⎛ 1 ∂A ⎞ ∂A
⎜ ⎟+ ⎜ ⎟−σ = −J s (1)
∂x ⎜⎝ µ ∂x ⎟⎠ ∂y ⎜⎝ µ ∂y ⎟⎠ ∂t

where A is the magnetic potential vector, µ is the permeability,

σ is the electrical conductivity and Js is the source current
density. In Fig. 3 is presented the electric circuit model.

B. Heat Transfer Equations

In steady-state regime the thermal governing equation is

Fig. 2. Heat transfer mechanism of a single-phase busbar.

∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞ ∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞
⎜λ ⎟ + ⎜λ ⎟⎟ + S = 0 (2)
∂x ⎝ ∂x ⎠ ∂y ⎜⎝ ∂y ⎠

where T is the temperature, λ is the thermal conductivity and S

is the source term (power losses in conductors and shields).
In transient regime the thermal governing equation is

∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞ ∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞ ∂T
⎜λ ⎟ + ⎜λ ⎟⎟ + S = ρc p (3)
∂x ⎝ ∂x ⎠ ∂y ⎜⎝ ∂y ⎠ ∂t
Fig. 3. Electric circuit model for rated current.
where ρ is the mass density and cp is specific heat.
The heat transfer mechanism in busbar is done in Fig. 2. The over-temperature and the temperature of the shield are

C. Shield temperature Pe
∆T = , T2 = Tma + ∆T (8)
The global thermal transmissivity is [2], [3], [4], [6] α

α = M (T2 − Tma )0.2 (4) D. Conductor temperature

To determine the active conductor temperature is
calculated both heat flux transferred by conduction and
0.2 convection and heat flux transferred by radiation.
⎛ λ4 c p ρ 2 β g ⎞
M = 3
2.65 K B εTma + 0.9⎜ ⎟ (5) The heat flux transferred by convection and
⎜ µd 2 ⎟ conduction from the active conductor to shield is
⎝ c ⎠
approximated by the relationship [7]
where KB – Boltzmann constant, ε - shield emissivity, λ - air
thermal conductivity, cp – air specific heat capacity, ρ - air 0.2
density, β - volumetric expansion coefficient, g - gravitational ⎛ ρ(r − r )3 ⎞ ⎛r ⎞
P1c = (T1 −T2 ) 1.2
⋅ 2πλ ⋅ 0.4⎜ 2 1 Pr⎟ ⋅1/ ln⎜⎜ 2 ⎟⎟ (9)
acceleration, µ - dynamic viscosity, dc – characteristic ⎜ µ ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ r1 ⎠
dimension (dc = r2 - r1).
The specific thermal flux from shield to environment is where r1 - exterior radius of active conductor, r2 - inner radius
of the shield and the parameters λ, ρ, µ and Pr (Prandtl
number) concern the gas between active conductor and shield.
P1 + P2 P1 + P2 The difference r2 – r1 is considered the characteristic
Pe = = = α ∆T (6)
A πD dimension. The relationship (9) can be written

where A is exterior surface shield area per length unity, D is

P1c = b(T1 − T2 )1.2 (10)
outer shield diameter and ∆T = T2 – Tma.
From (4) and (6) results the global thermal transmissivity
0.2
⎛ ρ( r − r ) 3 ⎞ ⎛r ⎞
(
α = M Pe )
0.2 1 / 1.2
(7)
b = 2πλ ⋅ 0.4⎜ 2 1 Pr ⎟
⎜
⎝ µ ⎟
⎠
⋅ 1 / ln⎜⎜ 2
⎝ r1
⎟⎟
⎠
(11)
 The thermal flux transferred by radiation from active
conductor to shield is calculated by relationship
(
P1r = c T14 − T24 ) (12)
r2 = 0.23 m, Pr = 0.713, results the global heat transfer
coefficient α = 7.01 Wm-2K-1, shield temperature θ2 = 28.4 °C
and active conductor temperature θ1 = 39.1 °C.
In Fig. 4 is presented the block diagram of coupled
problems. The magnetic problems are also connected with
electric circuit problems.

⎛1 ⎛ 1 ⎞r ⎞ III. RESULTS
c = 2π r1 K B / ⎜ + ⎜⎜ − 1⎟⎟ 1 ⎟ (13)
⎜ε ⎟
⎝ 1 ⎝ ε2 ⎠ r2 ⎠ The Fig. 5 - 7 shows the magnetic flux density and
temperature distribution for busbars system geometry with
Adding the two thermal flux, from (10) and (12) results dimensions presented in table IV. In table I the different
physical quantities are presented. In table III can be seen a
good agreement between numerical and experimental results.
b(T1 − T2 )1.2 + c(T14 − T24 ) = P1 (14)

where the coefficients b and c are known (from (11) and (13))
and T2 is absolute shield temperature and it is known. The total
thermal flux P1 is computed by AC Magnetic model (table I).
The conductor temperature T1 is done by solving of (14).

E. Analytical results
With the next values of quantities in equations (4) – (14):
Fig. 4. Coupled problems for transient thermal analysis for short-circuit current
θma = 16.15°C, λ = 0.027 Wm-1K-1, ε = 0.61, β = 0.003194, (In – rated current).
cp = 1010 Jּkg-1K-1, ρ = 1.128 kgּm-3, dc = 0.97 m,
P1 = 43.75 W/m, P2 = 19.93 W/m, ε1 = ε2 = 0.9, r1 = 0.05 m,

Fig. 5. Magnetic flux density lines (shield effect) and current density distribution.

Fig. 6. Magnetic flux density distribution along X axis (shield effect) at rated current (In=2000 A).
 Fig. 7. Thermal field distribution in steady-state for rated current (In=2000 A, θamb=16.15 °C, λ=7 W/m-1K-1).

TABLE I. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES IN BUSBARS SYSTEM AT RATED CURRENT (In = 2000 A, RMS value)
Conductor 1 Conductor 2 Conductor 3 Shield 1 Shield 2 Shield 3
Joule heat [W/m] 44.12 44.12 44.12 20.46 19.99 19.53
Total current (peak value) [A] 2828.4 2828.4 2828.4 2862.1 2828.5 2795.9
Total inductance [H/m] 3.289ּ10-7 3.241ּ10-7 3.155ּ10-7
Impedance [Ω/m] 1.025ּ10-4 1.021ּ10-4 1.011ּ10-4
Resistance [Ω/m] 1.568ּ10-5 1.683ּ10-5 1.557ּ10-5
Reactance [Ω/m] 1.013ּ10-4 1.007ּ10-4 9.988ּ10-5
Voltage drop [mV/m] 204.95 204.11 202.14 1.597 1.597 1.597

TABLE II. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES IN BUSBARS SYSTEM AT SHORT-CIRCUIT REGIM (It = 50 kA, RMS value)
Conductor 1 Conductor 2 Conductor 3 Shield 1 Shield 2 Shield 3
Joule heat [kW/m] 25.414 25.413 25.414 12.16 11.947 11.681
Total current (peak value) [kA] 70.876 70.876 70.876 71.807 71.314 70.519
Voltage drop [V/m] 5.113 5.092 5.046 0.038 0.038 0.038

and impedance of each conductor, magnetic energy, voltage

TABLE III. TEMPERATURES OF CONDUCTOR AND SHIELD drop etc.
Temperature Experiment QuickField
The numerical model can be used to design and optimize
Conductor, θ1 [oC] 39.6 37.56 the geometry of busbars system in single phase execution,
Shield, θ2 [oC] 29 28.05 experimentally validated for the thermal field problem.

TABLE IV. DIMENSIONS OF A SINGLE-PHASE BUSBAR

References
Inner Diameter Outer Diameter
Component Material [1] I. Popa, M. Ciontu, A. I. Dolan, “QuickField Analysis of a Three-
[mm] [mm] Phase Encapsulated Busbars System,“ Annals of the University of
Conductor Aluminum 80 100 Craiova, Year 37, No. 37, 2013, pp. 22-28.
Shield Aluminum 460 468
[2] H-K. Kim, Y-H Oh, S-H Lee, “Calculation of Temperature Rise in
Gas Insulated Busbar by Coupled Magneto-Thermal-Fluid Analysis,“
TABLE V. TEMPERATURE EVOLUTION AT SHORT-CIRCUIT Journal of Electr. Eng. & Tech. Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 510-514, 2009.
Temperature Time [s] [3] R. Coneybeer, M. Marietta, W. Z. Black, G. Woodruff, R. A. Bush,
[oC] “Steady-State and Transient Ampacity of Bus Bar,“ IEEE Trans. on
1 5 10 20
Power Delivery. Vol. 9, No. 4, October 1994, pp. 1822-1829.
conductor 41.25 56 74.44 111.14
shield 29.96 33 36.88 44.53 [4] J. K. Kim, S. C. Hahn, K. Y. Park, H. K. Kim, Y. H. Oh,
“Temperature Rise Prediction of EHV GIS Bus Bar by Coupled
Magnetothermal Finite Element Method,“ IEEE Transactions on
IV. CONCLUSIONS Magnetics. Vol. 41, No. 5, May 2005, pp. 1636-1639.
The QuickField model in rated and short-circuit regimes [5] J. K. Kim, J-Y. Lee, S-B. Wee, S-C Hahn, “A Novel Coupled
allows the following facilities: determination of the losses in Magneto-Thermal-Flow Analysis for Temperature Rise Prediction of
conductors and shields (by Joule effect and eddy currents); Power Apparatus,“ Proceedings of International Conference on
Electrical Machines and Systems, 2008 - ICEMS 2008, pp. 585-588.
determination of the temperature distribution in busbar
[6] Gh. Hortopan, Electrical Apparatus, Vol. 1 – principles, Tehnica
system in single-phase execution; determination of physical Edition, Bucharest, 2000 (in Roumanian).
quantities such as resistance in AC, impedance, inductance
[7] Tera Analysis Ltd. QuickField Software version 5.10 Professional
and User Manual. http://quickfield.com, 2014.

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