I

Study of Transmission Line Magnetic Fields

Govindarajan B. Iyyuni and Stephen A . Sebo

Department of Electrical Engineering
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210

ABSTRACT
The paper presents a review of magnetic field calculations associated with power
frequency three-, SIX-, and twelve- hasc transmission lines. A computer program
implemented using an IBM PC-Xf is described briefly. The interactive program
allows users to calculate the two-dimensional electric and magnetic field parameters
at any point near transmission lines. Plotting and mapping features are also available.
Case studies related to magnetic fields are included.
INTRODUCTION
The need for more electrical ener y is growing as a result of population growth
increasing industrial output, more okce and service activity, and more widespread
use of appliances, computers, recreational loads, etc., at home. The use of electric
power means the presence of associated electric and magnetic fields.
There is public concern about power frequency (6OHz in North America magnetic
fields. Health risks associated with human esposure to such magnetic elds have
become an issue since the 1980’s. Studies available now still do not give a clear
b
evidence that there is any significant risk. However, the study of ower frequency
magnetic fields is important, in order to characterize the magnetic L l d quantities.
A review of literature has revealed various types of information that should he use-
ful to the reader. Basic relationships for the analysis of ma netic fields can be found
in textbooks [l , [2]. Studies related to the computer-aide I f analysis of transmission
d
line electric an ma netic fields conducted earlier at The Ohio State Universit are
described in [3],[4). t h r e e publications with comprehensive coverage of technicJand
non-technical subjects are also listed [SI,[6] 71. The last three publications have very
extensive lists of references, covering a w e a k of information related to the technical
and biological aspects of the power frequency magnetic field. The list of references
of thir PRPC?T ir rcprerentative of the available literature, but it in not intended to he
exhaustive.
This paper reviewr the basic equations that describe the magnetic field of power
frequency overhead transmission lines. A computer program that has b u n develo ed
to rtudy transmission line two-dimensional magnetic fields is described briefly. &se
rtudies of &ous line types are also included.
To facilitate calculations, it is assumed that the transmission line conductors are
rtraight, infinitely long,parallel to each other and to the ground plane. Variation due
to ra and tower dlectr are ignored. Given these assumptions, the calculation is a
two-Lenrion.1 malyris, with lateral and vertical variations.

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M0343-4/90/0000/0222$01

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 ANALYSIS OF TRANSMISSION LINE
MAGNETIC FlELD COMPUTATIONS
Magnetic fields are produced by currents. The magnetic fields associated with DC
currents can be considered static while those Msoaated with low frequency AC call
be considered quasi-static.
Basic Concepts: A conductor carryin a current I has a magnetic field sur-
rounding it. The relation of the magnetic fiefd direction to the current direction can
be determined by means of the right-hand rule.
Biot-Savart Law: The differential magnetic field strength is independent of the
medium and is expressed in vector notation M below (see Figure 1):
IdL x a,
m= 4 r R2 (Ah)
The distance R is from the center of the current element to the point at which dH is
to be determined.
Current elements have no se arate existence. All elements making up the complete
current filament contribute to f; and must be included. The summation leads to the
integral form of the Biot-Savart law:

The closed line inte ral sim 1 requires that all current elements be included in order
to obtain the compkte H.%{e contour may close at infinity.
Am ere’s Law: The law states that the line integral of H about any closed path
is exact% equal to the current enclosed by the path.

I = { H . ~ AI^) (3)
In order to use Am ere’s law to obtain H there must be considerable degree of
symmetry in the proElem.
A plication of Ampere’s Law to an Infinitely Long, Current Carryin
Conxuctor: The conductor is positioned along the Z-axis and carries a current
i.e., the current flows in Z direction in a cylindrical coordinate system. By symmetry
f
inspection, there is no H variation with Z (S~X Fi ure 2). Using the Biot-Savart
law it is possible to conclude that the direction of h
is erpendicular to the plane
containing dL and R and hence is in the direction of 4. bence the only component
of H is Hb,and it is only a function of r radius.

Figure 1. The Biot-Savart law. Fiere 2. Magnetic field of conductor dong

Z ~ B ,
urrying current I.

To mm lify the integral form, integration m

i done along li circle of radius r. Thiim
Ampere’s &w becomes
I
HS = -
2rr (4)

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 I

Ground Return: In case of unbalanced faults to ground or unbalanced loads

with return through ground, the depth of the equivalent conductor is giveu by

D = 660 4 P l f (4 (5)
where
p = soil resistivity, ohm-meter
f = frequency of the current Hz
power frequencf kz)
The soil resistivit is usually in the order of 100 or 200 ohm-meters and, therefore for
currents, the conductor depth is very large, about 1 km. ‘Ilhus
the influence o t e return conductors through ground can be neglected in practical
magnetic field calculations.
Application to Transmission Lines: First, the sin le conductor caae is re-
viewed (see Figure 3). The results obtained are extendetf for the multiconductor
cue.
If current I is given as a phasor, then Eq.(4) can be used.

In case of a multiconductor line,i represents the conductor number and Ii repre-

sents the current in conductor i as a phasor (see Figure 4).

. x

x, xj

Figure 3. Magnetic deld of mngle conductor. Figure 4. Magnetic field of multiconductor line.

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 I

Then, with c n m n t phaaorr known

H , = H8,T+jH8,i.,,

Alternatively, Eqs.(12) and (13) can be expressed as

He = lHcl sin(ot + 6,)
Hu = lH,I sin(wt + 6,)

and

The resultant magnetic field strength at any point for a three phase system will change
in both direction and magnitude, and will be a rotating vector tracing an ellipse (see
Figure 5):

The time when lHtl assumes its maximum value is tm:

"m

The +-component of the major axii of the ellipse is:

H,,, = He,? cos ut, + He,imsin utm (18)
X

The y-component of the major a x i s of the ellipse is:

H,,, = H,,?cos wt, + H,,im sin wt, (19)
The major axis of the ellipse is: Figure 5. Polarkstion ellipse.

Hnb= -J (20)

The angle of the major u i r of the ~ l l i p is:

~e

The relationship between the magnetic field strength and magnetic flux density is
given by B = pH. The unit of flux density is weba/m' or tesla. Often mother
unit, the gauss, k used; 1 tesla is 10' gauss. The permeability of fiee space is
p~ = 4rzlO-'hen+y/m; the permeability of the earth ir mrumed to be the r m e .
Similar procedrver arc available for electric field strength calculationr 131, [4].

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 I

COMPUTER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS

Program Description: A computer pro ram has b u n written based on the
calculation procedures outlined above. Its capt%ilities are:
calculation of two-dimensional electric and magnetic field parameters at an
0
point near the transmission line, such M horizontal and vertical field strengt
components and their phase angles, and the major and minor axes and orien-
E
tation of the field strength (electric or magnetic) polarization ellipses
0 calculation and plotting of any of the above parameters along a horizontal or
vertical line
0 mapping the electric or magnetic field strength in a plane perpendicular to the
transmission line
0 calculation of the maximum values of field parameter functions along any hori-
zontal line
0 calculation of the object-to-ground voltage and current of a rectangular object
under the transmission line.
The program has been written in BASIC. It is a menu driven, user friendly, in-
teractive pro ram, applied to an IBM PC-XT level computer. For all the graphics
tasks require!, a data set is created which is compatible with a commercially available
software package called "GRAFTOOL".
Input data necessary to run the program are related to the line and conductor
geometry, voltages, currents, and the location of the test points.
Program output units are kV/m for electric field strength and gauss for magnetic
flux density.
Cases Examined: Seven cases have been examined, they represent various trans-
mission line arrangements:
a. single circuit, three phase line, horizontal conductor arrangement
b. double circuit, three phase line, 'superbundle" arrangement (i.e., phase sequence
of both circuits is abc from top)
c. double circuit, three phase line, 'low reactance" arrangement (i.e., phase sequence
from top is abc and cba, respectively)
d. single circuit, aix phase line, phsse uquence is abcdef from top
e. angle arcuit, six phase line, phase requence is adbed from top
f. single circuit, twelve phase line, phase sequence is abcdefghijkl from top
g. single circuit, twelve phase line, phase sequence is ahcjelgbidhf from top.

Common features of the line are:

0 2OOkVrms line-to-ground voltage system - that corresponds to 345kVrms three
phase line-to-line voltage class
0 1000 A rms per phase line currents
0 15m line-to-ground clearance for lowermost conductor
0 conductors of Cases b-g are arranged along a circle of 7.5 m radius
7.5m line-to-line spacing for three phase and six phase lines (Cases a-e), 3.88m
line-to-line spacing for twelve phase lines (Cases 2-g)
0 i.nsulation design aspects ut not observed for CMCSe and g.

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 Results: In order to illurtrate the cspabilites of the program, the following C M ~ S
are reviewed.
Figure 6 shows the rofles of the total magnetic flux density magnitude, and its
components in terms ortheir magnitudes and phase angles for a 345 kV three phase
line with horizontal arrangement (Case a).
Figures 7 and 8 rhow magnetic flux density phasor maps for seven different con-
ductor arrangements (Cases a- ).
Figure 9 rhows the map of t%e real part of the total magnetic flux density for Case
a, as it goes through a uarter of a 60Hc cycle, changing wt from 0" to go", in 30"
steps. Figure 10 shows t%e same type of map for Case b.

Ii I L

I !

Figure 6. Magnetic dux density pammeter profiler of a single circuit, three phaae
line, horicontal conductor arrangement (Cue a). (a) Total
magnitude, BT; vertical component, B,; horizontal component,
BE.(b) Angle of vertical component, a,; angle of
horizontal compontnt, 8,.

F U T U R E W O R K PLANNED, SUMMARY
Future Work Planned: The computer program will be used to generate infor-
mation for the following magnetic field related topics:
a effect of unbalanced currents
0 effect of ground wire currents
0 effect of harmonics
0 derivation of quick estimation curves to reflect line geometry changes
0 review of special, ulow magnetic field" line configurations.
Summary: The equations presented led to a computer program that can provide
areful information about power frequency transmission line magnetic fields. The
program can be ared for the Snalysis of the two-dimensional magnetic field reflecting
variations in line geometry, currents, m d the location of the test points.

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 I

REFERENCES
[I] John D.Kraur, Electromagnetiu, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1984.
121 William H.Hayt, Enginering Electromagnetiu, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill,
New York, 1981.
13) James R. Hunt, Computer Aided Analysis of Transmission Line Electric Field
Strength, M.Sc. Thesis, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 1976.
[4] Jong Sen HBU,l h r m i u i o n Line Conductor Surface Voltage Gradient and Mag-
netic Flux Denrity Computations, M.Sc. Therir, The Ohio State University,
Columbur, 1980.

Figure 7. Magnetic flux denritj phaoor maps for CMC a-bc conductor
UrMgCmentr.

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 (51 IEEE Power Engineering Society, P d i a of the Panel Seerion on Biolo "I
Effectr of Power Rcquency Electric urd Zagnetic Fieldr, No. 86 TH 018-6-
PWR, IEEE, New York, 1086.
(6) IEEE Magnetic Fields Task Force, "Magnetic Fields from Electric Power Lines
- Theory and Compariron to Meamrements," IEEE Tranr. on Power Delivery,
Vol. 3, NO. 4, October 1988, pp. 2127-2136.
(7) I. Nair, M.G. Mor an, B.K.Florig, "Biolo 'cal Effectr of Power Frequency Elec-
tric and Magnetic fields," Congran of the fi.S.,Offin of Technology Arwrrment,
Gov. Printing Office, No. 052-003-01152-2, Washington, 1989.

a
m
m

.c n
4i m

ln

lo

f
!

HmbWDhthmWlI
wf

Figure 8. Magnetic flux density phewr map8 for Cue d-e-f-g conductor
"ent8.

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Figure 9. Red part of the total magnetic flax denrity for C u e a

truumiuion line, wt = 0, 30,60 urd 90 degrees.

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 4

a0

n
.c
P

lo

40 m

a
I
a0
m
n
m 111

l8
'lo
lo
8
8

0 0

Figure 10. Real p u t of the total magnetic flux denrity for (2ue.b
. .
truumuaon line, wt = 0,30,60,m d 80 degrees.

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