Thermal analysis of electrical transmission cables in space

Abstract

The electrical transmission lines from an electrical power source to a remote space station must be designed to transmit the required power without overheating. The power losses in the conductors are conducted through the insulation to the surface and at the surface radiated to space. A steady-state analysis is made which considers the line to be continually exposed to the sun's rays. This results in a two dimensional analysis with nonlinear equations. Finite difference equations are used to approximate the equations in a computer program named THERM. The program considers the resistance of the conductor to be a function of the conductor temperature. The general equations used in the program are included.<>