Magnetically induced subsequent fault in utility line topology with inclined spans

Abstract

As an electric fault occurs, a strong magnetic force and torque exerted on three-phase overhead power line conductors would make them to swing and may bring them to close proximity or in contact with one another, causing a subsequent fault. A computer simulation has been developed for the analysis of the magnetically induced subsequent fault and presented in the authors’ earlier work, for level spans. However, the power line construction in mountainous areas requires the use of inclined spans. In this paper, we present an analysis of the magnetically induced subsequent fault in inclined-span utility line topologies. This analysis is in a transformed coordinate system, making use of electromagnetic theory and fundamental laws of mechanics as well as numerical methods. Power lines with different inclined angles are studied and the numerical results are compared with that for level spans. To validate the accuracy of the numerical results, they are checked with the energy conservation law requirement.