Investigation on employability of high magnetic permeable materials for energy harvesting application in high voltage power lines magnetic field zone

Abstract

Sensing and monitoring is vital for overhead structures such as High Voltage transmission lines (HVTLs) which may be damaged by severe weather conditions and environment, resulting in undesired variation in transmission lines. These sensors need to be continuously powered-up despite hazards. These current carrying conductors generate uncoupled electric and magnetic fields in close vicinity. The aim of this investigation is to analyze various high permeability materials with respect to their efficacy to concentrate the magnetic field when placed near the power lines which will complement the current induction process in the coil of energy harvester. High Magnetic permeable material such as Mu-Metal, silicon Steel and Ferrite were studied in terms of their ability to concentrate the magnetic flux for energy harvesting applications when placed under the region of magnetic field, produced by HVTLs. The modeling and Finite Element Analysis were done using finite Element code program Maxwell 3D from ANSYS which uses Maxwell Equations to solve complex Electromagnetic problems. In this study, different shapes and orientations of these High permeable materials were modeled, simulated and ultimately results were compiled. Mu-Metal showed the most desirable results due to its high ability to concentrate the magnetic flux and hence, induced voltages comparably much more than its other counterparts.