Thermal analysis of power cable systems in a trench in multi-layered soil

A system of three underground cables in a trench is modelled using the finite difference method. The model accommodates most of the geometrical parameters and the working conditions. The heat dissipation from each individual cable is calculated for various parameters including the cables' diameters, the trench width and the spacing between cables. Some of the geometrical dimensions have great influence on improving the total ampacity of the system.