2016 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Conference - Xi' an - China

Simulation ofthe Electric Field on the

Surface ofthe Sub-conductor of ±1100kV
UHVDC Transmission Lines
Haoyu Lu
School of Electrical Engineering
Southeast University
N anj ing, China
e-mail: lu_seu.lu@yahoo.com

Abstract-lJltra high-voltage direct current (lJHVDC)
transmission projects of ±llOOkV have been in design and
construction in China, recently. The electromagnetic
environment with corona discharge phenomenon of lJHVDC
transmission lines has been of interest for engineers. It is
necessary to control the electric field strength of the su b-
conductors of the power lines because the field on the lines has
significant impacts on radio interference (RI), audible noise (AN)
and ionized electric field on the ground. In this paper, the
electric field on the sub-conductor surfaces are analyzed by the
charge simulation method (CSM). The configuration of±llOOkV
lJHVDC power lines are suggested in order to limit the
electromagnetic environment nearby, which may provide useful
reference for the design of±llOOkV lJHVDC transmission lines.
Index Terms--Corona discharge, electric field, sub-conductor
surface, transmission lines, UHVDC
I. INTRODUCTION
In China, in order to transfer a large scale of power energy
from the west to the east, ±llOOkV UHVDC transmission
lines is und er consideration and will be built in the following
years. However, the corona dis charge along the transmission
lines will be generated when the surface electric field of the
eonduetor is larger than the corona onset electrie field, and a
serious intluence on the eleetromagnetic environment nearby
has to be taken into consideration [1]. The electric field on the
surface of the sub-conductor of ±llOOkV UHVDC
transmission lines is very important to analyze the radio
interference (RI), the audible noise (AN) and the ionized
electrie field, therefore it should be eontrolled.
constrained electric field equation should be applied [2].
Using empirical equations may be the most eonvenient
approach to calculate the electric field. However, it is not
strictly valid for asymmetrical field distribution.
In this paper, charge simulation method is used to calculate
the electric field distribution on the ±llOOkV UHVDC power
lines. After detail simulation for different cases, the electric
field on the conductor surfaee are analyzed. Based on the
simulation results, the arrangement of the transmission lines
are suggested in order to control electromagnetic environment
nearby, ineluding the radius and the height ofthe lines, and so
on. The results can provide a helpful support for the design of
± 1 100kV UHVDC transmission lines.
11. CALCULATION METHODS
A. Charge Simulation Method ofthe electricfield strength
on the sub-conductors
The distribution of eleetric field strength on the sub-
conductors of UHVDC transmission lines is considered to be
the space-charge-free field, which is ealculated by the charge
simulation method (CSM). The relation between the quantity
of simulation charge and applied voltage is written, as
(1)
where [Q] is the eolumn vector of the quantity of simulation
charges; [<p] is the voltage column vector of the match nodes;
and [P] is potential coeffieient matrix, which is calculated
from the geometrie coordinates of simulation charges and
match nodes [1]. The element of[P] is:

There are several methods, such as finite element method

(FEM), charge simulation method (CSM), and empirieal
equations, have been proposed to prediet the surface electric
field on the sub-conductor. However, each method has its
advantage and disadvantage. When linear elements are utilized
in FEM, the electrie field strength in each element is a
constant vector, which may result in error of the electric field
on the boundary surface. Thus, higher order elements or the
(2)
where (Xi,Yi) is the position of the eonductor surface and
(~, 0) is the position of the simulation charge.
After the simulation charges [Q] are determined, the
electric field around the conductor surface can be calculated,

978-1-5090-5417-6/16/ $ 3l.00 ©20 16 IEEE

1970
which is the basis of the ionized field, radio interference and conductor (19.54kV/cm) is the largest because the least
audible noise. distribution to the opposite polarity. Moreover, the angle
corresponding to the maximum field strength on the sub-
B. Calculation ofthe ionized electricfield conductors increases with the serial number.
When the corona is generated on the conductor, the space
y
charges can be generated between the conductor and the
ground and the electric field can be increased. The ionized
electric field on the ground level can be calculated by the flux
tracing method [3] with the assumption that space charges
only affect the magnitude and do not affect the direction ofthe
electric field.
The ionized electric field strength E can be obtained from
the space-charge-free field Es
E = AsE, (3)
where As is a scalar function, and Es can be obtained by charge
simulation method given in section A. Once A s is obtained, the
ionized field can be calculated. Along the field flux line, A s
can be derived [4]
Asl = Al
sc +
2 Ase Pe fU d rp
1'1) (4)
Figure I. Configuration ofthe ±llOOkV UHVDC transmission tower
80 Es-
where pe is the space charge density near the sub-conductor 25 30 0 2 o 0
surface. On the conductor surface, the relation between corona 40 (_) 0 1 o (+) 0 x
inception Uon and applied voltage U can be written as Eo 50 0 8 o 0
:> 60 07 o 0
~ 20
~=~=A
U E sc
(5) .c
0,
on on c:

where Eon and Ec are the corona onset field and space-charge- ~
free field on the sub-conductors respectively. ~ 15

."13o
C. Calculation ofradio inteiference and audible noise Q)
LU
Based on the results of the electric field on the sub- 10

conductors, the radio interference and audible noise are also

calculated [5-6]: 60 120 180 240 300 360

Angle fi (')
E
m
=38+1.6(E ma -24)+461ogD c +51ogn+331og3Q
x d (6) (a) with the serial number trom I to 4

An = -133.4 + 8610gE max + 401og(O.66D,n()(,4 )-1l.41ogd (7)

where E rnax is the maximum of electric field on the power lines,
n is the number of sub-conductors of each polarity, d is the .c
distance from the observation point to the positive polarity g>
~ 15
lines. The height ofthe observation point is 1.5m. u
~
o
III. ELECTRIC FIELD ON THE UHVDC SUB-CONDUCTORS ~Q) 10
The configuration of the ±l1 OOkV UHVDC transmission LU

tower is demonstrated in Figure I. The height of the HV
conductors is equal to H. The pole spacing equals 2L. The
sub-conductor diameter and the distance between two adjacent
sub-conductors are D c and D s respectively.
Distributions of the electric field strengths on the sub-
conductors with the serial number from 1 to 4 and from 5 to 8
of ±II OOkV UHVDC transmission lines are illustrated in
Figure 2. The dimension of the lines is H=27.0m, L=14.0m,
D s =O.5m, D c=4.8cm. Due to the symmetry of the field
distribution, distributions ofthe electric fields on positive lines
are consistent with the ones on negative polarity.
In Figure 2(a), the function trend of E-ß curves is similar
to the sine function. The maximum value on the first sub-
60 120 180 240 300 360
Anglefi n
(b) with the serial number trOlll 5 to 8
Figure 2. Electric field distribution on the sub-conductors
The relation between the maximum value of electric field
strength on each sub-conductor and the height H is shown in
Figure 3. The pole spacing 2L is also 28.0m, and D e and D s are
equal to 4.8cm and O.5m. The electric field strength on the
sub-conductors reduces with the height of the lines. But the
decrease extent is not obvious. When the height H changes
from 25m to 29m (increasing by 16%), the maximum value of
the electric field on No. 6 sub-conductor decreases most by
1.11%, from 19.00kV/cm to 18.79kV/cm.

1971
 The relation between the maximum value of electric field
strength on each sub-conductor and the sub-conductor E
diameter D c is shown in Figure 4. The pole spacing 2L is equal ~ 22
~
to 28.0m, and Hand D s equal 27.0m and 0.5m, respectively. ,s
With the increasing of the sub-conductor diameter D e , the '"c:
electric field on the lines decreases obviously. No. 5 sub- ~
." 20

conductor has the most decrease extent by 12.0% when Dc ~

"
increases from 4.4cm to 5.2cm (increasing by 18.2%). For
other sub-conductors, the decrease extent IS also
.,~
~ 18
approximately 12%. b
E
The relation between the maximum value of electric field E
.~
strength on each sub-conductor and the sub-conductor spacing :;;; 1 6+--~-,,-~--,-~-.--~-,-~
D s is shown in Table I. The pole spacing 2L is equal to 28.0m,
and Hand Dc equal 27.0m and 4.8cm, respectively. In Table I, Serial number of the sub-conductor

the magnitudes of the electric fields on the HV conductors Figure 4. The maximum electric field on sub-conductors with ditlerent radius
increases slightly with the sub-conductor spacing. The 20.5
variation of the maximum electric field on the sub-conductors E
___ 2L=26m
-+-2L=27m
is less than 1% when sub-conductor spacing changes from ~ --.- 2L = 28m

<
2!S 20.0
0.46m to 0.54m (increasing by 17.4%). .c:
~ 2L=29m ~
0,
c: ~ -+- 2L=30m /

~ ~
20.0
--- H=25m
~
."
19.5

-+-H=26m Jl
--.- H=27m "
B,
c:
19.5
-+- H=28m
-+- H=29m .,~
Ql
19.0

:;
~
.,
." 'ä
E
18.5

~ 19.0 E
n
.,
Ql
.~

:;;; 1 8 . 0+--~-,-~'------r-~--,-~----,-~

Ql
o
:; Serial number of the sub-conductor
'0 18 .5
E Figure 5. The maximum e1ectric fie1d on sub-conductors with different pole
::J
E spacing
·x
'"
:;;; 18.0 +--~--,----~--.---~-,---~-,---~
IY. ANALYSIS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT
Serial number of the sub-conductor
A. Radio Interference and Audible Noise
Figure 3. The maximum e1ectric fie1d on sub-conductors with different height
Tab1e I. Relation between the maximum va1ue ofthe e1ectric fie1d on the sub- The radio interference ERl and audible noise An are also
conductors and the su b-conductor spacing calculated and shown in Figures 6 and 7. Calculation results
Sub-conductor spacing D, show that the radio interference is less than the limit of
No. electromagnetic environment parameter, namely 55 dB (/-lY/m)
0.46m 0.48m 0.50m 0.52m 0.54m
[7]. The audible noise at the position 20m does not exceed the
19.49 19.51 19.54 19.58 19.63 limit 45dB(A) [7] when the diameter of the sub-conductor is
2 19.13 19.14 19.16 19.19 19.22 larger than 4.4cm.
3 18.73 18.73 18.73 18.74 18.76
B. lonized Field Distribution on the Ground Level
4 18.49 18.48 18.48 18.48 18.49
The distribution ofthe ionized field strength on the ground
5 18.55 18.54 18.54 18.54 18.55
is calculated by tlux tracing method and shown in Figure 8.
6 18.87 18.87 18.88 18.90 18.92 The dimension of the transmission tower is H=27.0m,
7 19.27 19.28 19.31 1934 1937 2L=28.0m, D s=0.50m, and D e=0.048m. Positive and negative
8 19.54 19.57 19.60 19.64 19.69 ionic mobilities are 1.7x 10-4 m2 . y-l.s- 1 and 2.0x 10-4 m2 . y-l.s- 1
[8]. The corona inception fields Eon are taken as ± 17kY/cm. In
The unit in Tab1e I is kV/cm.
Figure 6, the magnitude of ionized field strength is about 2 to
The relation between the maximum value of electric field 3 times the one of space-charge -free field at the same position.
strength on each sub-conductor and the pole spacing 2L is The largest ionized field strength at the ground is not direct1y
shown in Figure 5. The values of H, D e, and D s are equal to under the power lines, but at the position outward the location
27.0m, 4.8cm, and 0.5m, respectively. The decrease extent of directly under the !ines. Furthermore, under the configuration
the electric field on the sub-conductor with the pole spacing of the transmission lines described above, the maximum
2L is about 3% when 2L increases from 26m to 30m ionized field on the ground is less the limit of the
(increasing by 15.4%). electromagnetic environment parameter, namely 30kY/m.

1972
 60 minimum height should be considered with the sub-conductor
diameter, pole spacing and corona inception field of the sub-
conductor together.
E 50
~
W
"0 30 -------------------------------------
u'l
Q) 40
g
!"
~
2
.<:
.Q 30
"0

'"
ce
20 40 60 80
20 +-____-.--~--._~--_.--~--,_-.--_,_
20 40 60 80 100 - H= 22 m
Lateral distance (m) c ---- H= 23 m
.Q
-20 -· -- · H=2 5 m
Figure 6. Variation ofthe radio interference with the sub-conductor diameter ----- H= 27 m

50 -30

-Ä-- o,= 4.4 cm

___ 0 , =4. 8cm Positio n (m)
--.- 0, = 5.2 cm
45 Figure 9. Relation between the ionized field on the ground and
~ the power line height
'"
"0

<i'
Q) 40
V. CONCLUSIONS
g'" Electric field distributions on the sub-conductors of
±llOOkV UHVDC power transmission lines are calculated by
(ll
j5
'0
«
::l
35 the charge simulation method. Impacts of sub-conductor
radius, pole spacing, the height of the transmission lines, and
sub-conductor spacing on the electric field on the sub-
30 conductor are obtained. The intluence of the sub-conductor
20 40 60 80 100
Lateral distance (m)
diameter is the most ohvious. When the dimension of the
Figure 7. Variation ofthe audible noise with the sub-conductor diameter transmission lines is consistent with the values app\ied in this
paper, the radio interference and audible noise are both less
30
(-) ( +) than the electromagnetic environment limit. The ionized field
distribution on the ground level is calculated by the tlux
E
20
tracing method. In order to restrict the magnitude of ionized
:> field less than the limit of the electromagnetic environment
~
,s
Ol
10
parameter, the arrangement of the transmission lines are also
c
analyzed.
~
"0
Qj 20 40 60 80
'"
"0
Q)
REFERENCES
-10
.to! - - Ionized fi eld
c
.2 -- -- Space-charge-free field [I] P. S. Maruvada, Corona in Transmission System: theory, design and
-20
performance. Johannesburg, South Africa: Crown Publications cc.,
2011, pp. 298-303.
[2] X. Cui, "Computation of electric field intensity on the Dirichlet's
-30 boundary surface by the finite element method with constrained electric
Position (m) tjeld equation on the boundary," Proc. Chinese Soc. Elect. Eng., vol. 7,
Figure 8. Distribution ofthe ionized field on the ground level no. I, pp. 51-58, 1987.
[3] P. S. Maruvada, "Electric field and ion current environment of HVdc
Under the same calculation conditions of the corona transmission lines: comparison of calculations and measurements,"
inception field Eoo , pole spacing 2L, sub-conductor diameter IEEE Trans. Power Dei.. voL 27, no. I, pp. 401-410,2012.
[4] P. S. Maruvada, W. .Ianischewky, "Analysis of corona loss on DC
D c, and sub-conductor spacing D s, the relation between the transmission lines: II-bipolar lines," IEEE Trans. on Power Apparatus
ionized field and power line height His shown in Figure 7. andSystem , vo1.88, no.IO, pp.1476-149I, 1969.
The magnitude of the ionized field strength at ground level [5] Methods of Calculation of Radio Interierence From High Voltage
under the UHVDC transmission lines decreases with the Overhead Transmission Lines. DUT 691-1999.
height H. Referring to Figure 9, when His less than 22m, the [6] IEEE Standard tor the Measurement of Audible Noise From Overhead
maximum ofthe ionized field exceeds 30 kV/m. Transmission Lines, IEEE Std. 656-1992.
[7] Electromagnetic Environment Parameters Limit for ±800 kV UHV DC
In addition, the corona inception field E Oli has a significant Transmission Lines. DLiT 1088-2008.
impact on the ionized field magnitude on the ground. If EOli [8] Z Zou, X Cui, and T. Lu, "Impact of space charges from direct current
corona discharge on the measurement by the rotating electric-field
decreases, the magnitude of the ionized field on the ground meter," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1517-1523,
also increases. Therefore, the height 23m in Figure 7 may not 2016.
be the minimum value of the UHVDC power \ines. The

1973