Multiconductor cell analysis of skin effect in Milliken type cables

In this paper the multiconductor cell analysis (MCA) has been applied to Milliken type cables of large cross-section over 1600 mm2. Since IEC 60287-1-1 does not provide values for the calculations of skin and proximity effects for these cases, these procedures become important to foresee skin effect values in the planning phase, where measurements are not possible. In order to develop a programmable procedure, an idealized M-type core with six sectors has been developed. It is composed of cylindrical wires inscribed on a hexagonal grid: it allows investigating the skin effect phenomena in many cross-sections (in the range 1600–2500 mm2) without being constrained by the manufacturer techniques. The effects of lack of insulation between the wires have been also analysed. Comparisons with some measurements reported in technical literature show a good agreement.

► Multiconductor cell analysis has been applied to Milliken type cables of large cross-section over 1600 mm2.
► Skin effect assessment is based on an idealized M-type core with six sectors composed of cylindrical wires inscribed on a hexagonal grid.
► Effects of lack of insulation between the wires have been also analysed and of different power frequencies can be easily evaluated.
► Comparisons with some measurements reported in technical literature show a good agreement.
► The innovative idea of considering bundles of wires and not single wires in M-type core is computationally effective.