Evaluation of thermal performance for air-insulated busbar trunking system by coupled magneto-fluid-thermal fields

The temperature rise of a busbar trunking system is a vital factor that affects its performance. In this paper, a two-dimensional coupled magneto-fluid-thermal finite element analysis model is presented for the evaluation of electrical heating and natural convection for busbar trunking systems. The power-frequency harmonic magnetic field, eddy currents and power loss of an air-insulated busbar trunking system are calculated first; then the Joule heat is coupled into the fluid field analysis as a heat generation load. The thermal field is directly coupled with the fluid field. Investigations show that there is a best midterm space between busbars that can make the temperature rise lowest. The bigger the size of the shielding, the lower the temperature rise of the busbars. Experimental results prove that this model can approximately simulate the thermal field of an air-insulated busbar trunking system.