Multiphysics analysis of busbars with various arrangements under short-circuit condition

This study presents a coupled electric–magnetic–thermal–mechanical analysis of various busbar arrangements under short-circuit conditions. The Lorentz force, mechanical displacement, and temperature rise in three busbar arrangements are investigated. Busbar systems are studied considering the detailed two-way interactions among separate continuum physics. To this aim, the multiphysics modelling of busbar systems is presented where the coupled electric–magnetic–thermal–mechanical set of equations are solved numerically using finite-element method. Caused by electromagnetic force, the mechanical displacement of conductors in horizontal and vertical arrangements involving multiple conductors in each phase is illustrated. The effects of conductor cross-sectional area on the temperature rise caused by short-circuit current are also investigated. To verify the multiphysics modelling approach under high short-circuit currents, the simulation results are compared with those obtained by existing closed formulas. Moreover, after practical investigation of several busbar systems, the proposed multiphysics modelling approach is applied to the busbar system of a low-voltage switchgear installed in a cement plant.