Development of current squared - Time curves for simplified wire size selection for electric traction systems in automotive applications

Three models are implemented to study the behavior of DC current-carrying wires under steady (continuous) and transient (peak) conditions. Each model uses an energy balance. The steady state model provides the initial temperature for the transient models. I²t curves are developed with the transient models to guide and simplify the wire sizing process for peak current in design of DC electric traction systems. The main results of this work are focused on the temperature versus time solution from a general transient energy balance thermal model.