Method of characterizing a bundle of electric cables

1. A method of characterizing a bundle of electrical cables, comprising:

taking into consideration for at least one surface temperature of the cables:

first at least one sum of incoming heat fluxes calculated for each cable for a heating effect due to an electrical resistance of each cable passing a respective electric current, and

second an outgoing heat flux calculated for a heat given off by the bundle into its environment in order to make a dimensioning of the cables compatible with their use, wherein making the dimensioning of the cables compatible with their use includes confirming that a predetermined level of heating is not exceeded,

comparing the at least one sum of incoming heat fluxes to the outgoing heat flux to determine whether the bundle satisfies a predetermined heat flux constraint; and

evaluating, for at least one power cable of the bundle, a voltage drop calculated between two ends of the cable to determine whether the bundle satisfies a predetermined voltage drop constraint;

wherein the bundle of electrical cables includes a plurality of cables arranged in parallel.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the consideration of said sum of incoming fluxes and said outgoing flux comprises calculating the sum of incoming fluxes and the outgoing flux for a given temperature constituting a maximum level of heating and comparing the numerical values of the incoming fluxes and the outgoing flux to confirm that the maximum level of heating is not exceeded.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the consideration of said sum of incoming fluxes and said outgoing flux comprises solving an equation to obtain temperatures that are actually reached in operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sum of incoming fluxes and said outgoing flux are compared at a maximum temperature at which the cables can operate without degradation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sum of incoming fluxes and said outgoing flux are compared at a maximum operating temperature for human operators acting on the cables.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sum of incoming fluxes and of said outgoing flux are compared at currents corresponding to a maximum authorized temperature rise in operation for limiting losses by a Joule effect in the cables.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sum of incoming fluxes and said outgoing flux are compared at different temperatures in order to determine the temperatures actually reached.

8. The method according to claim 1 , for performing preliminary design of the cable bundle by determining diameters of the cables or by recommending that one or more cables be excluded from the bundle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , for modifying a bundle design by reducing a weight of the bundle.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further including comparing the outgoing heat flux and a capacity of the environment for which the bundle is designed to dissipate heat.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a material and a load specific to each cable of the bundle are taken into account when calculating fluxes.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bundle of cables includes at least one cable with a cross-section that varies along a length of the at least one cable.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bundle is a bundle for aircraft, and wherein the method further includes calculating the temperature rise of the cables in the bundle during each stage of flight in order to take account of loading cycles of equipment, of temperature and pressure variations in zones of the aircraft, and of the characteristics of zones of the aircraft.

14. A bundle of cables fabricated by a method of fabrication including characterization in accordance with claim 1 .

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat flux constraint is satisfied when the sum of incoming heat flux is less than the outgoing heat flux, and not when the sum of incoming heat flux is greater than the outgoing flux.

16. The method according to claim 1 , further including calculating a voltage drop for each cable of the bundle.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sum of incoming heat flux is governed by the equation:

Σ cables (linear resistance*segment length*current 2 ).

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outgoing heat flux is governed by the equations:

φ outgoing =φr adiant +φ convective ;

φ radiant =emissivity*form factor*σ*area*( T surface 4 −T ambient 4 ); and

φ convective =h convective *area*( T surface −T ambient );

where, σis the Stefan Boltzmann constant, h convective is based on a pressure, temperature, and altitude of a stage of flight, the emissivity is based on a material of each of the cables and/or a material surrounding each of the cables, and the form factor is a form factor of the cables.

19. The method according to claim 15 , further including calculating a voltage drop for each cable of the bundle, wherein:

the sum of incoming heat flux is governed by the equation Σ cables (linear resistance*segment length*current 2 ); and

the outgoing heat flux is governed by the equations:

φ outgoing =φr adiant +φ convective ;

φ radiant =emissivity*form factor*σ*area*( T surface 4 −T ambient 4 ); and

φ convective =h convective *area*( T surface −T ambien );

where, σis the Stefan Boltzmann constant, h convective is based on a pressure, temperature, and altitude of a stage of flight, the emissivity is based on a material of each of the cables and/or a material surrounding each of the cables, and the form factor is a form factor of the cables.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the bundle is a bundle for aircraft, and wherein the method further includes calculating the temperature rise of the cables in the bundle during each stage of flight in order to take account of loading cycles of equipment, of temperature and pressure variations in zones of the aircraft, and of the characteristics of zones of the aircraft.