Electrical and Thermal Analysis of OPGW Cables Submitted to Short Circuit

Conditions
Luciana Gonzalez1, Victor Dmitriev1, Joo T. Pinho1, Srgio Colle2, Marcelo A. Andrade3,
Joo C. V. da Silva3, Mauro Bedia3
1
Universidade Federal do Par
Belm, Par, Brazil
+55-91-3201-7299,[email protected]
2
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Florianpolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
3
Prysmian Telecomunicaes, Cabos e Sistemas do Brasil S.A.
Sorocaba, So Paulo, Brazil

Abstract distribution depends on the parameters of each layer. In addition,

This paper presents a two-dimensional (2-D) electrical and thermal the skin effect causes a non-uniform current distribution. [3,4], and
analysis of OPGW cables submitted to short-circuit conditions. A thus, due to the joule effect, the heating will be greater in the
comparative analysis is made between two different types of sections of the cable where the electrical current density is higher.
cables: OPGW with only steel wires in the armor, and another with Trying to minimize this damage effect, some research has been
alternate aluminum and steel wires in the armor. The main done by modifying the geometry of the cable, its materials
parameters calculated are: electrical field intensity, current density physical parameters, or using different materials in the armor of the
and resistive heating. It is considered that all energy dissipated in cable [5].
the cable, due to the current through the conductive layers is
transformed into heat, and the electrical analysis considers the skin The core of an OPGW, inside the aluminum tube, consists mainly
effect. These parameters are calculated using a commercially of fiber optics, a dielectric core member and a jelly filled loose
available software based on the Finite Element Method. The aim of tube. Assuming that the thermal conductivity of the jelly is very
the study is to evaluate which cable presents lower heat for a given low, the center of the cable can be considered as a single dielectric
short-circuit current, and thus higher short-circuit current layer. Therefore, the models of cables used for simulations
capability. represent the core as a single dielectric material, which is sufficient
for this kind of study.
Keywords: OPGW; short-circuit; current density; resistive
heating; joule effect; skin effect. In this paper a comparative electrical and thermal analysis between
two different types of cables, both with 14 wires on the armor, is
made. The first model is an OPGW with steel wires in the armor,
named here as typical OPGW since it is a very common geometry.
1. Introduction The second is an OPGW with alternate aluminum and steel wires in
The study of OPGW technology has remarkable importance, since the armor, named as alternate OPGW. In the latter, aluminum is
it is used not only as a conventional ground wire, but also as a used in the armor in order to increase the current carrying capacity
communications channel through the optical fibers embedded in the [6].
core of cable. This cable was designed especially for installation in
power transmission lines with high capacity for conducting These geometries are shown in Fig. 1. The numbers in Fig. 1a and
electrical current [1]. Fig. 1b show which material constitutes each layer. Number 1
represent the dielectric core, 2 the aluminum tube (a) and the
The OPGW can have several geometric configurations and aluminum wires (b), and 3 the steel wires.
different materials in its structure, depending on the requirements
of each project. As an example, OPGWs with 12, 24, 48 optical
fibers, armor with different numbers of wires or with different
materials in its constitution can be mentioned [2].
These cables are designed so that their properties are preserved
even in risky situations such as lightning strokes and short circuits.
In such situations the passage of high electrical current through of
the cable can cause structural damage such as breaking the armor
wires or the tube that protects the optical fibers. In the latter case,
fusion of fibers may occur.
The maximum current, as well as the heat that the cable can bear
during the occurrence of short circuit, is one of the most important
features for the design of the cable.
The study of this phenomenon is a complex problem due some (a) (b)
factors such as the dependence of electrical and thermal properties
of the materials with temperature, the high magnetic permeability
of steel (material that is widely use in the armor), which implies Figure 1. OPGW cross sections with armor of steel (a) and
considerable increase in the skin effect, and also because of the alternate aluminum and steel (b).
geometric complexity of the cable.
OPGW cables are multi-layer structures therefore having different
physical parameters for each layer. As a result, the current density

International Wire & Cable Symposium 25 Proceedings of the 60th IWCS Conference
 The analysis is two-dimensional (2-D), in the frequency domain. 3. Numerical results and discussions
To obtain the numerical results a commercially available software, This section presents the performed simulations to represent the
based on the finite element method (FEM) was used. [7,8]. electrical and thermal behavior of the OPGW under short circuit
conditions. The calculated variables are the magnitudes of the
electrical field intensity, E, current density distribution, J, and
2. Problem description resistive heating, Q.
In situations of risk such as short-circuit, the cable should maintain The current density and the resistive heating in the cable with
its original features, i.e. there should be no damage to its structure. alternate armor wires are plotted for two different situations,
So, the maximum allowable amount of heat for each layer must be considering the radius passing through the steel and the aluminum
respected. wires.
When an electric current passes through the cable the material heats
The analysis was done for a short circuit current Icc = 7,8 kA, at the
up due to its electrical resistance. This is called resistive heating or frequency f = 60 Hz. This value for Icc was admitted to be an
joule heating. approximate value of the cables with geometrical dimensions and
In the optical fibers, the critical value of the temperature for the physical characteristics similar to those of the models under study.
silicon is 300C [9]. The dielectric core is the part of the cable with Fig. 2 shows the magnitude of the electric field E versus radius for
lowest maximum allowable value of temperature. The knowledge both cable models. In order to make the comparison between
of the critical temperature of the optical fibers is important for the models, the radius of the OPGW with alternate armor wires was
study of the conductive layers of the cable, since the maximum considered through the steel wire.
heating reached by the aluminum tube should be smaller than their
operating temperature limit. Therefore, the main goal in this paper
is to evaluate the temperature behavior of the conductive layers,
considering different materials in their structure.
The parameters to be analyzed are: electric field intensity, current
density distribution and resistive heating in the cross-section of the
cable.
The current flow in the cable causes heating in the structure due the
Joules effect [4], and so the generated resistive heating, Q (W/m3),
is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the current density
J according to
1
Q= J
2
(1)
2
where (S/m) is electric conductivity.
The electric conductivity is a function of temperature, given by

0
= (2)
1 + (T + T0 ) Figure 2. Magnitude of the electric field for both OPGWs
versus radius (at the steel wire).
where 0 is the electric conductivity at the reference
temperature, T0 , and is the temperature coefficient of resistivity The highest value of E is detected in the outer layer for both
[9]. models. The value of E in the aluminum tube is much smaller than
in the armor; it ranges from 2.35 V/m to 2.36 V/m for the typical
Table 1 shows the physical parameters used in the simulations.
model and from 2.3 V/m to 2.33 V/m for the alternate model, while
the maximum values for the steel wires are around 70 V/m and 50
Table 1. Physical parameters of the analyzed cables. V/m respectively.

Layers r r (S/m) Radius (mm) The magnitude of the current density, J, versus radius for both
cable models is presented in Fig 3, also considering the radius of
Dielectric 3.8 1 0 a = 2.35
the alternate cable through the steel wire.
Aluminum 1 1 3.96107 b = 4.35
Steel 1 280 0.2107 c = 7.00

At the dielectric core a perfect dielectric ( =0) was considered.

The parameters r and r are the relative magnetic permeability and
the relative electric permittivity of the layers, respectively.

International Wire & Cable Symposium 26 Proceedings of the 60th IWCS Conference
 The curve plotted in Fig. 4 shows a small increase in the value of
current density at the boundary between the tube and the aluminum
wire. This increase is more significant at higher frequencies.
Fig. 5 shows the resistive heating, Q, versus radius for both cable
models, considering the radius of the alternate cable through the
steel wire. In the second layer (aluminum), the Q values are close
for both the typical cable, 1.18 x 108, and the alternate, 1.06 x 108.
Since the current distribution in the cable is not uniform due to the
skin effect, the heating is unevenly distributed over the cross
section of the cable, as shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 3. Magnitude of the current density for both

OPGWs versus radius (at the steel wire).

These curves show that J through the aluminum tube has very close
values for both models. In the core, this value is zero since a
perfect dielectric was considered.
Analyzing the behavior of J in both models, one notes that the
largest possible damage is in the cables armor, which has the
largest current concentration. This situation, which occurs due to
the skin effect, will be more pronounced at higher frequencies and
higher values of magnetic permeability of the material. In the steel 3
layer the current density is greater in the typical cable, as was Figure 5. Resistive heating, Q (W/m ), in the steel layer for
expected after the analysis of E. both OPGWs.

For the alternate OPGW it is possible to see that the presence of

Fig. 6 shows the resistive heating versus radius for the alternate
aluminum in the armor causes a lower concentration of current in
cable, considering the radius through the aluminum wire.
the steel wires, enabling a reduction of risk of structural damage.
Fig. 4 shows the current density distribution J versus radius for the
alternate cable, considering the radius through the aluminum wire.

Figure 6. Resistive heating for the alternate OPGW versus

radius (at the aluminum wire).

Figure 4. Magnitude of the current density for the alternate

OPGW versus radius (at the aluminum wire).

International Wire & Cable Symposium 27 Proceedings of the 60th IWCS Conference
 Analyzing Fig. 6 one notes that the heating is different for the [9] G. J. Anders , Rating of Electric Power Cables: ampacity
aluminum tube and aluminum armor wires, as was expected after computations for transmission, distribution, and industrial
analyzing J in Fig 4. applications, IEEE Press Power Engineering series (1997).

Luciana Pereira Gonzalez was born in

4. Conclusions Belm, Par, Brazil in 1977. She received
This paper presented an electrical and thermal analysis of two the B.Sc. and M.Sc degrees in Electrical
models of OPGW submitted to short-circuit conditions, using a Engineering from the Federal University of
software based on the finite element method, considering a 2-D Par (Brazil) respectively in 2006 and 2008.
analysis in the frequency domain. She is now a postgraduate student at UFPA
and her research interests have been centered
Steel has a high magnetic permeability (r), which enhances the on electromagnetics.
non-uniform distribution of electric current and temperature due to
skin effect. One way to minimize this effect is introducing
aluminum (r = 1).
The analysis of Figs. 3 to 6 shows that the presence of aluminum in
the armor causes a lower value of J in the steel wire, and thus the Victor Dmitriev is currently professor at the
heat developed in the wires, which gives the cable a higher current Federal University of Par, Belm, Brazil.
capacity. Dr. Victor Dmitriev has more than 120
papers in scientific journals, several books
and patents. The fields of his scientific
interest are microwave, millimeter wave and
5. References optic components, application of group
[1] K. Q. da Costa, V. Dmitriev, J. T. Pinho, S. Colle, L. theory to electromagnetic problems, complex
Gonzalez, M. A. Andrade, J. C. V. da Silva, and M. Bedia, media, nanophotonics, and mathematical
Analytical Model for Calculation of Current Density methods of electromagnetic theory.
Distributions over Cross-Section of a Multi-Conductor Cable,
Proceeding of the 55rd IWCS / Focus Conference, Providence,
Rhode Island, USA (2006). Joo Tavares Pinho received the B.Sc. degree in
electrical engineering from the Universidade
[2] H. Ito, T. Takahashi, Y. Namekawa, H. Takagi, Development Federal do Par (Brazil) in 1977, the M.Sc.
of Thermo-resistant Wrap-on type OPGW, Hitachi Cable degree in electrical engineering from the
Review no.18 (1999). Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de
[3] Z. Miro, J. Franc and T. Igor, Skin Effect Impact on Current Janeiro (Brazil) in 1984, and the Dr.-Ing. degree
Density Distribution in OPGW Cables, Electrotechnical in electrical engineering from the Rheinisch-
Review, Vol. 70, pp. 17 21 ( 2003). Westflische Technische Hochschule Aachen
(Germany) in 1990. He has been with the Faculty
[4] J. Franc, Z. Miro, T. Igor and U. Ivo, Distribution of current
of Electrical Engineering of the Universidade Federal do Par since
density in layers of overhead bare conductors, Power System
1978, and is presently a full professor and leader of a research group
and Communications Infrastructures for the Future, Beijing,
(September, 2002). on energy alternatives and microwave applications. His research
interests have been centered in electromagnetics, and in the
[5] L. Gonzalez, J.T. Pinho, V. Dmitriev, S. Colle, , M. A. application of hybrid systems for the generation of electricity.
Andrade, J. C. V. da Silva, and M. Bedia, Anlise
Eletromagntica de cabos OPGW Utilizando o Mtodo de
Elementos Finitos, MOMAG 2008 13 SBMO Simpsio Prof. Sergio Colle
Brasileiro de Microondas e Optoeletrnica e 8 C BMag Mechanical Engineer degree in 1970 UFSC.
Congresso Brasileiro de Eletromagnetismo, Florianpolis, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Santa Catarina, Brazil, (2008). in 1972 COPPE/University of Rio de Janeiro.
Doctor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
[6] S. Colle, M. A. Andrade, J.T. Pinho, J. C. V. da Silva, M. in 1976 COPPE/University of Rio de Janeiro.
Bedia, C. E. Veiga, and J.N. Scussel, Temperature Response Professor of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer
of OPGW with Armored Aluminum Covered Steel Wires - and Solar Energy Department of Mechanical
Aluminum Alloys Wires Submitted to Short-Circuit, Engineering UFSC since 1974. He is presently head of LEPTEN.
Proceeding of the 56rd IWCS / Focus Conference, Providence,
Rhode Island, USA (2007). Marcelo de Araujo Andrade was born in
[7] John L. Volakis, Arindam Chatterjee, Leo C. Kempel, Finite Florianpolis SC Brazil in 1965. He
Element Method for Electromagnetics: Antennas, Mic graduated in Mechanical Engineer from
rowaves Circuits, and Scattering Applications, New York: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in
IEEE Press (1998). 1988. He joined Prysmian
[8] COMSOL software, website: http://www.comsol.com/. Telecomunicaes Cabos e Sistemas do
Brasil in 1988 and actually he is in charge of
Comercial and R&D Direction.

International Wire & Cable Symposium 28 Proceedings of the 60th IWCS Conference
 Joo Carlos Vieira da Silva was born in So
Paulo SP Brazil in 1959. He graduated in
BSc Physics from Universidade de So
Paulo in 1982 and Electrical Engineer from
Faculdade de Engenharia de Sorocaba in
1991. He joined Prysmian Telecomunicaes
Cabos e Sistemas do Brasil in 1977 and
actually he is in charge of Product
Engineering Department.

Mauro Bedia Jr. was born in So Paulo

SP Brazil in 1970. He graduated in
Mechanical Engineer from Faculdade Santa
Ceclia in 1996. He joined Prysmian
Telecomunicaes Cabos e Sistemas do
Brasil in 1989 and actually he is
responsible for OPGW and ADSS cable
development.

International Wire & Cable Symposium 29 Proceedings of the 60th IWCS Conference