Performance Comparision of Busbar and Cable Based Electrical Network Systems

Abstract

Nowadays, with the increase of high powered devices, there has been a significant increase in energy
consumption. In order to meet the consumption demands and with the increase in the number of high-rise
buildings, components such as cables and busbars are effectively used in supply networks. Busbars are frequently
used power system elements compared to traditional cable systems that are prefabricated as modular for the
transmission and distribution of electrical energy. In this study, classical cable systems and busbars are examined
under a specified load, and their electrical performances are provided. Electrical parameters such as power, voltage
drop, and THD (total harmonic distortion) of equivalent busbars and cables under load are obtained in terms
of load capacity. Electromagnetic analyses are performed and the electromagnetic emission of these systems
are analyzed. In addition, the temperatures caused by the increasing currents in the busbars and cables due to
the specified loads are determined with a thermal camera. In addition, two operational buildings with similar
power values and conductor quantities are examined. These busbar- and cable distribution-based buildings are
compared in terms of voltage drop for certain distribution line lengths. In this study, experimental results for both
cable and busbar systems are presented and comparisons are interpreted to select the optimum network type.
The results suggest that busbars are preferable in high-current applications where reduced heating and voltage
drops are critical, while cables may be more suitable in environments sensitive to electromagnetic interference.

Cite this article as: C. Burak Fırat, S. Cekli and C. Polat Uzunoğlu, "Performance comparision of busbar- and cable-based electrical network systems," Electrica, 25,
0094, 2025. doi: 10.5152/electrica.2025.25094.