MODELING OF STATIONARY THERMAL FIELD OF CURRENT CONDUCTIVE BUSBARS OF SHIPS MAIN SWITCHBOARDS

Abstract

The article simulates the stationary thermal field of conductive busbars of ship's main switchboards. The research is largely related to the issues of reliable transmission of high-power electricity in ship power systems. The work considers the feasibility of using conductive busbars instead of power cables in some sections of the main current routes, as well as the advantages of conductive busbars made of electrolytic copper when used in shipbuilding. Mathematical expressions for checking current-carrying copper busbars for thermal stability by analytical methods, as well as for choosing the cross-section of current-carrying busbars for the allowable long-term current are given. The spatial geometric, finite element and visualized physical model of single-lane current-carrying busbars of rectangular cross-section 120×10 mm were created. The single-lane current-carrying busbars are placed relative to each other on wide sides and mounted on steel rectangular bases with the help of special ceramic fasteners. The visualized physical model contains information about the basic physical properties of electrical materials used in the spatial model and are necessary for the calculation. Using the numerical calculation method, pictures of the distribution of the main electrical and thermal quantities at the maximum allowable long-term current of 2950 A are obtained: electric potential, current density, heat flow, heat flux density, resistive heating and temperature. The functional dependence of the temperature on the current flowing through single-strip conductive copper busbars of rectangular cross-section 120×10 mm in the current range from zero to 3000 A was constructed, taking into account the dissipation of the generated heat from the outer surfaces of the busbars into the environment due to free convection and thermal radiation. The advantages of using the numerical method of calculation in solving field problems of marine electric power are shown.