Electrical-Thermal-Mechanical Analysis of Cable Connection with Screw-Connected Terminal Strips Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Electric energy passes through many stages from production to usage, and many electrical connections take place at these stages. Electrical connections are quite important for system safety and electrical energy quality. In this study, current-temperature relationship in the cable was investigated in cable joints made with screw connection terminals, depending on torque applied to screw. In numerical solution of the problem, Comsol Multiphysics program based on Finite Element Method was used first, the screw-conductor interface was investigated based on applied torque, and then electrical-thermal analysis was performed on this geometry. Experimental studies were carried out to demonstrate accuracy of digital model, and conductors and terminals used in household installations were taken into account in these studies. Amount of deformation of conductors depending on torque applied to screw and its effect to current carrying capacity of these terminals having screw connection were investigated. In this study, the appropriate torque value is 0.4 Nm, and the maximum temperature value is 45 oC on contact surface. Also, it has been shown that the optimum torque value to be applied in the copper conductor cable joint with 1.5 mm2 cross section area is 0.4 Nm.