Contact and Long-Term Behavior of Current-Carrying Connections in Electrical Power Engineering: Theory and Practice on Behavior, Calculation Approaches, as well as Design and Dimensioning Criteria

This book summarizes insights into stationary high-current connections across all voltage levels. These are applied in existing facilities and for new constructions in electrical power engineering, e-mobility, and battery storage technology. Current-carrying stationary connections are indispensable in countless applications. Complex systems often fail due to inadequate or heavily loaded connections. A large number of these connections are assembled and must function reliably over their required lifespan. To ensure this under current demands, correct conductor and coating materials must be chosen, robust design and construction ensured, proper installation guaranteed, and a secured temperature limit for the desired lifespan considering environmental conditions must be known. The book covers theories on contact physics, key conductor and coating materials, factors influencing electrical contact behavior, the relationship between mechanical and electrical contact behavior, aging physics, and long-term behavior under various operating and environmental conditions, along with design criteria for construction. Additionally, it presents approaches to numerically model electrical-mechanical-thermal behavior, introduces evaluation criteria, and outlines qualification testing methods. It serves as a comprehensive reference based on scientific research and practical insights from the past 40 years.

PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Stephan Schlegel has been researching the contact and long-term behavior of current-carrying connections with a focus on screw connections for more than sixteen years. As a group leader and currently as a deputy chairholder, he teaches modules on the fundamentals of electrical engineering and in the specialization of electrical power engineering, focusing on topics in high-voltage and high-current technology.

Dr.-Ing. Christian Hildmann primarily focuses on the mechanical, electrical, and thermal contact and long-term behavior of current-carrying connections especially for stranded conductors. He has been a research associate at the Dresden University of Technology for fourteen years and has been leading the research group for Electrical Contacts and Connections since 2020.

Dr.-Ing. Toni Israel works in the R&D Contact Technology department at Stäubli Electrical Connectors in Allschwil, Switzerland. He conducted research at the TU Dresden on the behavior of high-performance plug connections used in electrical energy and automotive technology during high-duration and short-duration loads. He teaches electric-mechanical stresses of electrical contacts and devices, with a special focus on fault currents.

Dr.-Ing. Michael Gatzsche works at Hitachi Energy as R&D Principal Engineer in the Technology Center of the High Voltage Products business unit in Zurich. His work focuses on eco-efficient insulation gases and the ampacity of switchgear. Dr. Gatzsche has 10 years of experience in research, design, and application of current-carrying connections and contacts, gained through his work at TU Dresden and Hitachi Energy.