3D modelling of temperature distribution of underground medium voltage cables in practical cases

Cable temperature is a key variable for dynamic rating, asset management and to monitor service condition of underground cables. In high voltage underground cables, temperature monitoring is a well-established technique. However, measuring and monitoring temperature in cables for medium voltage underground networks is a challenging task. The installation of distributed temperature sensing systems is not feasible due to their high cost and the large number of existing medium voltage underground lines. An alternative solution could be the monitoring of the temperature at a reduced number of points to obtain representative measurements. In this case, a crucial challenge is determining the optimal location to install sensors that provide accurate temperature data. Three-dimensional thermal simulation of cables can be a valuable tool for identifying points where the temperature stabilizes along the length of the cable. Finite element simulations of underground medium voltage cables have been carried out to analyse the effect of different configuration parameters such as crossing third party underground infrastructures or the presence of hot spots in the cable.