Estimation of neutral wire heating up in the context of low-voltage network fire safety in the mining sector

The article describes the integrated studies on estimation of influence exerted by anharmonicity and asymmetry of loads on fire hazard of low-voltage three-phase electric power networks in the mining sector. It is strongly needed to estimate the overall effect of the listed factors, governed by the increased use of nonlinear devices generating higher harmonics, and by the phase asymmetry. Their joint effect initiates high current in a neutral wire, which can overpass phase currents. Such conditions lead to a systematic overheating of cable conductors and, which is the most critical, the neutral wire, which can provoke premature thermal ageing of polymeric insulation of cable lines and, eventually, enhance the fire risks at security objects as a result of ignition of the neutral wire and electric installations. For the integrated fire hazard estimation, it is proposed to use a formalized model connecting current in the neutral wire with the degree of asymmetry and the level of anharmonicity of loads. From the analysis of basic physics of the test phenomena—superpositions of zero-phase sequence current due to asymmetry and triplen harmonics generated by harmonic distortions, the quantitative patterns of current rise in the neutral wire are found. These patterns serve as a framework for the procedures of prediction of fire hazards in operational conditions of power networks using voltages to 1000 V, and for the integrated risk assessment at security objects. Furthermore, the practical relevance of the study is its applicability in development of preventive engineering solutions, improvement of regulatory requirements and creation of fault detection systems at security objects exposed to high concentration of nonlinear and unbalanced loads. 

Kozlova Yu. S. Estimation of neutral wire heating up in the context of low-voltage network fire safety in the mining sector. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(6):121-133. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_6_0_121.

Yu.S. Kozlova, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Ugra State University, 628011, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, e-mail: y_kozlova@ugrasu.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0006-6502-5921.

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