Open Collections

Computing effects of electric and magnetic fields near overhead transmission lines

University of British Columbia

Analysis of Electric and Magnetic Fields produced by overhead transmission lines plays a critical role prior to their construction by electrical utilities. They affect the width of the transmission corridor and terrain clearances from overhead conductors. There is substantial interest in learning about the health effects of short and long-term exposure to these fields, as induced currents and voltages from parallel lines pose a hazard to line crews working on a de-energized line. A MATHCAD program has been developed to compute the strengths of Electric and Magnetic Fields and to determine any induction currents and/or voltages due to the coupling effect of these fields. MATHCAD is an engineering software that allows programming and development of engineering calculations using natural mathematical syntax and variables. An overview of the theory of electric and magnetic fields is also provided in this paper. This research tests a few scenarios in the MATHCAD program, and the test results are verified against EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) guidelines to ensure consistency. The results are also compared with the safety limits published by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and IEEE. We also discuss the practical use of these results, along with potential future updates to the MATHCAD program.

Text

2017-09-13

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/63023

Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/