Computation of the electric field in the vicinity of overhead power line towers

Abstract

There are many numerical models for computing extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields of high-voltage substations and power lines. More accurate computation results can be obtained using 3D algorithms. In this paper, a 3D quasistatic model for computation of the scalar electric potential and electric field intensity distribution of overhead power lines is presented. Phase conductors, shield wires and towers of overhead power lines are modelled using thin-wire cylindrical segments of active and passive conductors and using subparametric spatial 2D finite elements. Self and mutual coefficients of these components are numerically computed using an originally developed advanced double 2D numerical integration. Thereafter, they are included in the system of linear equations for computation of the charge density distribution. Special attention is given to examining the influence of the overhead power line towers on the electric field intensity distribution in their close vicinity. Therefore, a computer program for detailed segmentation of typical steel lattice towers of various types is developed. The accuracy of the presented model is verified by comparing the obtained results with other computed and measured published results.