Application and Benchmark of Multiphysics Simulation Tools for Temperature Rise Calculations

The development of MV and HV switchgear comes along with a bundle of simulation and testing tasks to ensure a safe and reliable operation of the equipment over several decades. During normal operation as well as in case of short-circuit events the temperature inside the switchgear rises above ambient level. The ability to carry the rated nominal current without exceeding the allowed temperature rise limits is demonstrated in a temperature rise test. Temperature rise limits are given in the standards, depending on the used insulating gas, in order to prevent accelerated ageing of the equipment. The optimization of existing as well as the development of future switchgear requires the knowledge to predict the temperature rise of the equipment during the different iterations of the development…