Temperature analysis of single busbar with variation of total harmonic distortion in current

Typically, busbars are used to transmit and distribute currents in a bus duct system. The alarming use of nonlinear loads in the industrial sector or at residentials, such as arc welding, computers, ballast lighting, variable speed drives, and so on, has resulted in the generation of harmonics in current distortion, which are uncontrolled and thus increase heat generation within the system. The research conducted in this paper focuses on the prediction of the heat distribution as well as the analysis on operating temperature of a single busbar with compliance to the British National and International Standard (BS 159: 2014) using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in COMSOL Multiphysics software. The copper busbar dimension used for this research was 20mm x 6mm x 300mm, and the fundamental Root Mean Square (RMS) current was 419.1 A. The size of this busbars can withstand the maximum current of 430 A at a maximum operating temperature of 90°C, which complies with the standard requirement. The fundamental current is injected with variation of total harmonic distortion in current up to 55% with an interval of 5%. According to the findings, the operating temperature increases in direct proportion to the increase in total harmonic distortion with the current injections. With the presence of 55% of total harmonics in the current, the current was increased up to 57.73 A from the fundamental current, while the operating temperature was increased up to 140C from the fundamental temperature. The total harmonics in current produced by the nonlinear loads could affect the operating temperature of the busbars, and this continuous operation of current flow will affect the busbars' lifespan due to the occurrence of overheating.