Temperature dependent electrical resistance - QuickField simulation example
Temperature of an aluminum bus pipe carrying DC current when electrical resistance rises with temperature and increases its own Joule heating.
How to calculate the temperature of an aluminum bus pipe with temperature-dependent resistance?
Answer Typical applications Geometry
Given
Task
Solution
Then correct the conductor temperature in DC conduction problem and repeat the steps 2 and 3 till the temperature value converges.
Results
Engineering question
Iterate the coupled solution: calculate Joule losses with temperature-dependent resistivity in DC conduction, solve the heat-transfer problem, update the conductor temperature, and repeat to convergence.
aluminum bus pipes, tubular busbars, high-current conductors
Download
Simulation problem
Problem Type
Axisymmetric multiphysics problem of DC Conduction coupled to Heat transfer.
Resistivity of aluminum ρ20° = 2.65e-8 Ohm*m, temperature coefficient of resistivity α = 0.00429 1/°C.
Current I = 1 kA;
Convection coefficient 5 W/K-m², ambient air temperature +20°C.
Calculate the conductor temperature.
The conductor resistance depends on the temperature as:
ρ = ρ20° · ( 1 + α·( T - 20° ) ).
DC Conduction problem allows us to specify the electrical conductivity vs. temperature dependency and the temperature of the conductor. The problem solving is an iterative process:
The steady state temperature of the aluminum conductor is 66°C.
Video
Related examples