PROJECT TOPIC:

STUDY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INTERFERENCE IN A

UHV AC STATION (765KV & ABOVE) AND VALIDATION OF
CLEARANCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Need for the study:

Before 1960, frequencies below the microwave band were considered to be biologically
safe. This notion began to change after the 500kV substation became operable in the
Soviet Union, when the switchyard workers complained of ill health. The effects range
from an increased incidence of childhood leukemia, lymphoma, and nervous system
tumors according to the study of Wertheimer and Leeper 1979. Studies of childhood
cancers were followed by studies of adult cancers in occupational as well as residential
settings and by effects of electromagnetic fields on reproduction.
Electric field intensities above 5kV/m have been proven to be harmful to occupational
as well as residential settings in and around the high voltage substation.
As the voltage and current magnitudes increase in a UHV substation, the Electric and
Magnetic field within the substation will be proportionately more. Hence, study of the
fields becomes a necessity to ensure the electric and magnetic fields are within the
specified limits.

Exposure limits according to

International Commission on NonIonizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP):

The reference levels for general public exposure are, according to ICNIRP are as
follows:
for the electric-field strength, E < 5 kV/m;
for the magnetic field strength, H < 80 A/m;
for the magnetic flux density, B < 100 uT.

These levels for safe occupational exposure are as follows:

for the electric-field strength, E < 10 kV/m;
for the magnetic field strength, H < 400 A/m;
for the magnetic flux density, B < 500 uT.

Study approach:
The study can be conducted in the following steps:
Calculations involving analytical or semi-analytical procedures.
Reference papers consulted on this purpose have used computation algorithms written
in Mathematica background. The substation in that respect has to be replicated by
simulation in the software to achieve the results. The electric field strength around each
conductor segment can be calculated according to the formula given below:

The contribution of each conductor segment can then be added to get the final result.

Study approach (contd.):

The magnetic field around each conductor can be found by the formula:

Actual field values can be measured in a 765kV substation or in the

laboratory with identical setup and measurement instruments. The devices
used for this purpose in similar studies are EFA 3 analyser and INEP 50
(with 7% device error).
The results of the analytical calculation and field measurement can be
compared for accuracy.

Electric and Magnetic field distribution

in substations:
According to previous studies the following has been observed:
In case of 150/20kV substation, the magnetic flux density were within the
reference level in majority. The limit was breached only around the capacitor banks.
The measured electric-field strength values were in their entirety below the
reference level for safe public and occupational exposure.
In 400/220kV substation, the occupational exposure limit to the electric field is
significantly exceeded in large areas of a 400kV part of the substation. This situation
is motivated mainly by the fact that the circuit breakers and disconnectors force the
high voltage to come down to about 6 m above the soil. The usage of flexible busbars instead of the rigid ones is another important reason for the high electric field
strength values found in the 400 kV side of the analysed substation. The maximum
value obtained by field measurements for the magnetic field density was well below
the exposure limit specified.

Electric and Magnetic field distribution

in substations (contd.):
A study in a 500kV power substation in Russian Foundation, found that more
than 70% of substation territory have electric field intensity which does not
exceed 5kV/m. The average zone of influence of an electric field (with
intensity more than 5kV/m) is about 27 % of territory substation. The
average zone with field intensity from 15kV/m to 30kV/m is about 2 % of
territory substation.
The allowable time of a presence in a
zone field
of an electric field with intensity
Electric
Presence
from 5kV/m to 20V/m was calculatedintensity
using the
formula:
(kV/m)
5
10
15
21 - 25

8 hours
3 hours
1.3 hours
10 minutes
forbidden
(without
more than 25
protective
gears)

Requirements for the study:

Measurement instruments for the Electric and Magnetic field in the 765kV
substation.
The rating of the equipment present in the substation.