Analytical determination of transient current flowing through a human in contact with conductive objects under high voltage power lines

Abstract

The paper inhere presents an approach for calculation of transient currents flowing through a human in contact with conductive objects under high voltage (HV) power lines by means of analytical expressions derived for that purpose. Three different case studies have been investigated and their respective equivalent circuit’s parameters have been specified and implemented: contact of an insulated from earth person with the steel-tower pole of an outdoor high voltage power line; contact of a non-insulated from earth person with a vehicle under a high voltage power line; contact of an insulated from earth person with a vehicle under a high voltage power line. The derived mathematical models and expressions have been obtained using the Mirror images method and Maxwell’s potential coefficients and the transient current trough the human body has been calculated using the Classical method for analysis of transient processes in linear electrical circuits. Conclusions have been made in regard with the degree of danger of electric shock for the three discussed case studies depending on the rated voltage and the geometrical properties of the most often met high voltage power lines in EU.