Calculation of electrothermal coupling power flow for XLPE insulated cable-based distribution systems

Abstract

Power cable is an important transmission component in distribution systems. The full utilization of the cable's transfer capability is of great significance to improve the economic and security performances of distribution systems. In this paper, a calculation method for electrothermal coupling (ETC) power flow for cable-based distribution systems is developed by embedding the solution of the thermal model of the crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cable into the forward-backward sweep power flow calculation process of distribution systems. The method can be used to calculate the temperature dynamics of 3-phase cables under anticipated operation scenarios of distribution systems, thus revealing the potential transfer capability exists in the thermal inertia process of cable lines to operators. In case studies, the validity of the proposed ETC power flow calculation method is verified. Besides, the influence of the temperature of cable conductors on power flow is analyzed and the benefits of implementing the ETC power flow for the cable-based distribution systems are also illustrated.