Thermal analysis of power cables in soils of temperature-responsive thermal resistivity

Conventional procedures for calculating current ratings of buried cables involve the concept of an ideal soil of uniform thermal resistivity. Having regard to the fact that actual soil can, as a result of cable heat generation causing migration of ground moisture, display local increases in thermal resistivity, it is shown that rating calculations can readily be made in relation to alternative idealised coils having various thermal-resistivity/temperature characteristics.