In this work a comparison has been made between the predictions from the models using both the present theory for the underground cable temperature prediction and the CYMCAP application and the field measurements to determine which, if any, models are capable of predicting the temperature and hotspot locations in an installation where the power cable is not embedded with the optical fibers and, therefore, where the cable temperatures must be inferred from the temperature measurements made in nearby spare ducts. The temperature measurements were collected from the underground 69 kV cable at the Brandow-Pickrell installation, which is a part of Salt River Project’s power sub-transmission system. The model development and the results are explained in detail. Results from the model developed have been compared and the factors affecting the cable temperature are highlighted.

Once the models were developed, it was observed that the earth surface temperature above the installation, solar radiation and other external factors such as underlying water lines, drain pipes, etc. play a key role in heating up or cooling down the power cables. It was also determined that the hotspot location in the power cable in the main duct was the same as the hotspot location in the spare duct inside the same installation.

It was also observed that the CYMCAP model had its limitations when the earth surface temperature variations were modeled in the software as the software only allows the earth’s ambient temperature to be modeled as a constant; further, results from the MATLAB model were more in line with the present theory of underground power cable temperature prediction. However, simulation results from both the MATLAB and CYMCAP model showed deviation from the measured data. It was also observed that the spare duct temperatures in this particular underground installation seemed to be affected by external factors such as solar radiation, underlying water lines, gas lines etc. which cannot be modeled in CYMCAP.

Although wind turbine bearings are designed to operate 18-20 years, in the recent years premature failure among these bearings has caused this life to reduce to as low as a few months to a year. One of the leading causes of premature failure called white structure flaking is a mechanism that was first cited in literature decades ago but not much is understood about it even today. The cause of this mode of failure results from the initiation of white etched cracks (WECs). In this report, different failure mechanisms, especially premature failure mechanisms that were tested and analyzed are demonstrated as a pathway to understanding this phenomenon. Through the use of various tribometers, samples were tested in diverse and extreme conditions in order to study the effect of these different operational conditions on the specimen. Analysis of the tested samples allowed for a comparison of the microstructure alterations in the tested samples to the field bearings affected by WSF.