Novel methodologies for electromagnetic characterization of complex power cable systems situated in realistic environment

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The proposed research project focuses on development of novel methodologies for electromagnetic characterization of complex power delivery cables embedded into realistic environment. Among others, the effects of the environment include presence of the lossy soil, possible proximity of nearby objects (e.g. buried pipes), complex spatial variation of material parameters due to seasonal variation of moisture levels. The proposed approach is based on novel electromagnetic analysis methodology recently developed by the applicants and utilizing boundary element discretization of Surface-Volume-Surface (SVS) Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE). Previously the method was developed for characterization of two-dimensional (2D) power cables situated in homogeneous environment. The emphasis in the proposed project is on the two types of important effects attributed to modeling of realistic power cables: (1) Generalization of the SVS-EFIE to to three-dimensions (3D). Such 3D models are essential to accounting for bends in the cables, presence of nearby objects, and other discontinuities causing the change in their properties; (2) Incorporation of the soil effects into the power cable models. As a wide variety of the power transmission lines feature cables buried in the soil, inclusion of such effects substantially increases the accuracy of electrical performance predictions done through simulations. The proposed project is Phase II in the collaboration between the Manitoba HVDC Research Center and Dr. Okhmatovski's research group at the University of Manitoba. The algorithms and software developed in the prior 3-year collaborative research project have been integrated into PSCAD commercial power systems analysis software developed and maintained by the Manitoba HVDC Research Center. The software is used by over 10,000 users in 70 countries. Upon successful completion of the proposed research project pertinent computational models will be integrated into PSCAD software and further improve its accuracy. New capabilities of PSCAD will aid power systems engineers across Canada in designing more efficient power transmission system ultimately reducing the cost of power delivery to millions of Canadians.