Proximity Heating Effects in Power Cables

Abstract—This paper relates to the study of power system harmonics in the built environment and in particular, cable heating caused by proximity effects due to harmonic distortion. Although in recent years, some movement has taken place in the standards to offer harmonic de-rating factors, heating in cables due to skin and proximity effects has not been quantified effectively. Thus, in this paper we present a model for proximity heating and consider numerical simulations to assess this effect in both two- and three-dimensions for different harmonics. Example results are presented to illustrate the model developed which is based on a general solution for the Magnetic Vector Potential in the Fresnel zone. The model provides the basis for using voxel modelling systems to investigate proximity effects for a range of configurations and complex topologies with applications to the design of power cables, cable trays and ducts, inter-connections, busbar junctions and transformers, for example. Index Terms—AC power cables, electromagnetic induction, proximity heating effects, harmonic distortion, Fresnel zone simulation. I