COMPARISON BETWEEN FINITE-ELEMENT AND TRADITIONAL PROCEDURES FOR THE PREDICTION OF BUSBAR BEHAVIOR

This paper investigates the multiconductor busbar behaviour under AC c onditions with the aim of comparing the predictions of traditional cir cuit models with a more accurate analysis based on the electromagnetic field computation. This analysis employs a two-dimensional finite-ele ment technique including eddy-current effects. In linear systems this approach leads to a circuit model described by an impedance matrix, wh ile, in presence of saturable media, field and circuit equations are s imultaneously solved by a voltage-driven field formulation. The paper analyses the behaviour of two different busbar systems when a short-ci rcuit current flows through them; the results obtained by the proposed approach are compared with those deduced according to the methods sug gested by the IEC Standards and by the symmetrical components.