Study of Temperature Field and Ampacity of 110kV AC Submarine Cables under Different Laying Conditions

Abstract

Abstract Submarine cables have complicated structures and high production process requirements. In order to make sure the submarine cables to operate safely and reliably, this paper takes into account how the different laying conditions of submarine cables affect the maximum allowable ampacity. A 110kV YJQ-1×500 XLPE submarine cable is taken as the research object, based on the finite element method, the electromagnetic-thermal coupling models of the submarine cable laying in underwater soil, seawater and pipeline is established respectively in Comsol Multiphysics to study their thermal field and ampacities. The results indicate that the laying conditions would affect the cables’ heat dissipation, submarine cable lays in seawater has the highest ampacity and lays in the pipeline in landing section of the cable has the lowest ampacity. Moreover, the variation of temperature of seawater would also influence the ampacity of the submarine cable.