Life cycle cost assessment method considering multiple factors for economic evaluation of cable line steel brackets

In China, the bracket of underground high voltage cable transmission line is mainly made of various carbon steels. However, no unified standard exists for type selection of cable brackets in practice. Here, a selection method of the bracket based on life cycle cost assessment is proposed from the viewpoint of technical economy, in which the size of brackets, steel grade, carbon steel corrosion and eddy current loss are considered as influencing factors to the costs. Stress performance analysis under identical pole arm stress constraints is employed to determine the size and grade of carbon steel which influences the initial cost. And 3D coupled electromagnetic fluid‐dynamical and thermal finite‐element analysis is applied to calculate the eddy current loss of cable brackets which influences the operation cost. Meanwhile, multi‐physics coupling analysis and experiment are conducted to prove the correctness of loss simulation calculation. Tafel curve measured by electrochemical corrosion experiment is used to obtain the corrosion rate of carbon steel which influences the maintenance cost by affecting service life of brackets. A case study is demonstrated, and the results show that the channel steel type is the most economical for the commendatory and the proposed method is effective.