3D Coupled Electric-Thermal-Fluid Analysis of Bolted Busbar Connection

This paper presents a 3D multiphysics mechanical-electric-thermal-fluid analysis of a typical real configuration of bolted busbar connection, with the influence of the contact resistivity taken into account. Transient operational mode has been studied and temperature field distributions as time-dependent results are obtained and presented. The temperature rise in the connections has been considered due to different cooling conditions represented as natural air convection around the connection. Free air convection is modeled as fluid dynamics problem. The influence of the contact force in the bolts as well as the increased contact resistance on the thermal performance of the connections is also discussed.