Modelling and Mechanical Analysis of Continuously Transposed Conductor

Abstract: As the CTC (transposed continuously conductor) is widely accepted as the cable used in transformers, mechanical analysis of CTC under different load cases is in need. This paper introduces a new method of creating detailed CTC models automatically in Comsol Multiphysics and the models are applied for conducting FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for different load cases of practical importance. The numerical analysis is verified by comparing the FEA results and the analytical results for the response of the CTC. The difference between the FEA of simplified models (bare straight strands conductor models) and detailed models (transposed strand conductor models), is also evaluated. Finally, the detailed model with an epoxy coating is evaluated. The detailed CTC model is found to be more compliant when subjected to radial bending compared to the simplified model, but it is stiffer than the simplified model when subjected to an axial bending load. In torsion, the detailed CTC models have much lower torsional rigidity than the simplified models. The epoxy coating makes the whole structure much more compliant and largely decreases the torsional rigidity of the CTC structure. The research shows that the difference between the simplified model and the detailed model is not negligible in many load cases. However, for an analysis that does not strictly require accuracy when doing axial loading analysis, the simplified model is a good option since it is easier to model, computationally cheaper, and the result is close to the detailed model result. In other cases, the detailed model is to be preferred.