2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

Magnetic Field Calculation under EHV Transmission Lines for More

Realistic Cases
Adel Zein E. M.

Department of Electrical Engineering

High Institute of Energy, South Valley University
Aswan, Egypt

Abstract-Ground level electric and magnetic fields from overhead power transmission lines are of increasingly important
considerations in several research areas. Common methods for the calculation of the magnetic fields created by power transmission
lines assume straight horizontal lines parallel to a flat ground and parallel with each other. The influence of the sag due to the line
weight is neglected or modeled by introducing an effective height for the horizontal line in between the maximum and minimum
heights of the line. Also, the influences of the different heights of the towers, the different distances of the power transmission lines
spans and the different angles between the power transmission lines' spans are neglected. These assumptions result in a model where
magnetic fields are distorted from those produced in reality. This paper investigates the effects of the sag in case of different heights of
the towers and when the power transmission lines' spans are not parallel to each other.

Index Terms- OHTL, Magnetic Field

I. INTRODUCTION B. The 3-D Integration Technique

In fact, the power transmission lines are nearly periodic
P RECISE analytical modeling and quantization of electric
and magnetic fields produced by overhead power catenaries, the sag of each depends on individual
characteristics of the line and an environmental conditions.
transmission lines are important in several research areas.
Considerable research and public attention are concentrated on The integration technique is a three-dimensional technique
possible health effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) which views the power transmission conductor as a catenary.
electric and magnetic fields [1]. An analytical calculation of In the integration technique, if the currents induced in the
the magnetic field produced by electric power lines is earth are ignored, then the magnetic field of a single current-
produced in [2], which is suitable for flat, vertical, or delta carrying conductor at any point P(xo,yo,zo) shown in Fig. (1)
arrangement, as well as for hexagonal lines. Also the can be obtained by using the Biot-Savart law [2-4], as:
estimation of the magnetic field density at locations under and (1)
far from the two parallel tran~mission lines with different
design arrangements is presented in [3]. The effects of
conductors sag on the spatial distribution of the magnetic field where
are presented in [4], in case of equal heights of the towers, 1 a parametric position along the current path,
equal spans between towers and the power transmission lines'
spans are always parallel to each others. I (1) the line current,
In this paper, the magnetic field is calculated by two
different techniques; Two-Dimensions Straight line Technique r"
(1) a vector from the source point (x,Y,z) to the field point
and Three-Dimensions Integration Technique, where the effect (xo,yo,zo),
of the sag in the magnetic fields calculation, and the effects of a (I). . t he d·IrectIon
unIt vector In
o
. r (I) 0 , and
unequal span distances between the towers, unequal towers
heights, and when the power transmission lines' spans are not dl a differential element at the direction of the current.
parallel to each other are investigated.

II. MAGETIC FIELD CALCULATIONS

A. The 2-D Straight Line Technique
The common practice is to assume that power transmission
lines are straight horizontal wires of infinite length, parallel to
a flat ground and parallel with each other. This is a 2D
_.....-....._ - -.... ......--_..........--.z
~
Straight line Technique, which can be found in many
references [2-5].

Fig. 1. Application of the Biot-Savart law.

The exact shape of a conductor suspended between two
towers of equal height can be described by such parameters; as

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 2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

the distance between the points of suspension span, L, the sag where:
of the conductor, S, the height of the lowest point above the
ground, h, and the height of the highest point above the d=[(X-x o)2+(Y_Yo)2+(Z-ZO)2]3/2 (8)
ground, h m• These parameters can be used in different This result can be extended to account for the multiphase
combinations. Only two paramt~ters are needed in order to conductors in the support structures. For (M) individual
define the shape of the catenary (S and L), and the third one (h conductors on the support structures, the expression for the
or hm), determines its location in relation to the ground total magnetic field becomes:
surface. Figure (2) depicts the basic catenary geometry for a _ 1 M N 1/2 (9)
single-conductor line, this geometry is described by: Ho = -I
4Jr
I f(Hxo x +HyOy + Hzoz)dz
Z (2) ;=1 k=-N -1/2
Y = h + 2a sinh
"'!

L (-)
where:
2a
where a is the solution of the transcendental equation: (10)
I;[(z - Zo + kl)sinh( ~) - (y - Yo)]
h -h L
2-"_1- u = sinh 2 (u) U= - Hx = a
L ,·w~ 4a d;
H = I;(x-x o) (11 )
ty tv
y d.1
(12)
- I; (x - xo)sinh(~)
Hz = a
d;
x
~ d; =[(X-xo)2 +(y- Yo)2 +(z-zo +kl)2]3/2 (13)
Fig. 2. Linear dimensions which determine parameters of the
catenary.
The parameter (N) in equation (9) represents the number of
spans to the right and to the left from the generic one, as
The parameter a is also associated with the mechanical
explained in Fig.(2). One can take into account part of the
parameters 0 f t h e 1·Ine: a = Th I W were
h ~.IS t h e con d uctor magnetic field caused by the image currents. The complex
depth ~ of each conductor image current can be found as given
tension at mid-span and W is the weight per unit length of the
in [4].
line.
(14)
1) Case (A)
In Case A, the power transmission lines specified by; equal where;
heights of the towers, equal spans between towers and the g the skin depth of the earth represented by[5];
power transmission lines' spans are always parallel to each
(15)
others (0=0). For a single span single conductor catenary, t5=503Jpl f
represented by equation (2), since the modeled curve is p the resistivity of the earth in n.m,
located in the y-z plane, the differential element of the
catenary can be written as:
f the frequency of the source current in Hz.

(3) The resultant magnetic field with the image currents taken
dl = dYG y +dzG z into account is also represented by equation (9), but its

dT =dz(: Oy +oJ
(4) components will change and take the following formulas:
z
Ii [(z - Zo + kl)sinh(-) - (y - Yo)]
(16)

Hx = a
di
(5)
dT = dz(sinh( ~ )iiy + oJ Ii [z - Zo + kl)sinh(~) - (Yo + Y + ()]
a a
~ = (x o - x)iix + (Yo - Y)G y + (zo - z)ii z (6)
where point (xo,yo,zo) is the field point at which the field will (17)
be calculated, and point (x,y,z) is any point on the conductor
catenary. Now, by substituting equations (5) and (6) into
(18)
equation (1), and carrying out the cross product, the result at
- Ii(x-xo)sinh(~) Ii(x-xo)sinh(~)
any point (xo,yo,zo) is :
(7)
H = a + a
Z d; d;
d i' = [(x - x0) + (y + Yo + S) + (z - z0 + kl) 2 ] 3/2
2 2 (19)

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 2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

2) Case (B) h -h Ll+L'

In Case B, the power transmission lines specified by; equal 2 m2 U =sinh 2 (u) with u= and the same
heights of the towers, equal spans between towers and the LI+L' ' 4a
power transmission lines' spans are not parallel to each others. equations as in case (A) is used, with the integration limits
The two catenaries Land L2, in Fig.(2), each have its original -LI-L' , LI+L'
point and coordinate system. The field points are located on
from +L to - - -
2 2
axis X of system (X,Y,Z) of L catenary. This field points
should be transferred to the coordinate system of the catanery
III. ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC FIELDS TECHNIQUES
under calculation. By applying this rule on field points and
caterany L, it is seen that the same equations of case (A) are To calculate the Magnetic field intensity at points one meter
used, where the field points are already in caterany L system. above ground level, under 500kV TL single circuit, the data in
But for caterany L2, the field points should be transferred to appendix (A) are used.
the caterany L2 system. Figure (4) shows the computed magnetic field intensity and
For any field point (xl,yl,zl), that can be done in three its components with and without the effect of the image
steps: currents, by using the 2-D Straight Line Technique, where the
1- Transfer the original of caterany L2 to the field point average heights of the transmission lines are used, since
system. From Fig.(3), for - 90 < B < 90 typical values for the resistivity of earth range from 10 to
IOOOn.m, the image currents are normally located at hundreds
z = ~ + L2 cos(()), x = - L2 sin(()), and y =0 of meters below the ground [6], and do not effect the magnetic
c 2 2 c 2 c
field intensity levels especially in areas close to the
2- Transfer the field point (xl,yl,zl) from its system to the conductors. Figure (5) shows the computed magnetic field
system (U,V,W) of the caterany under calculation L2, from intensity and its components under a single span with the
appendix (B): effect of the image currents, at the mid-span ( where the
zI-z xI-x maximum sag, point PI in Fig. (2)), by using the 3-D
WI =. sin(p) ,uI =
C cos(P) , C and
integration technique (Case A).
sln(p + 8) cos(P + 8)
vI = yI- YC' where (xc,yc,zc) is the original point of system
~
(U,V,W) refer to system (X,Y,Z), which calculated in step (I),
•••••••.•. Hx
zI-z -1 25
_._._ .• Hy

and P=tan - - - 8 xI-x

3- Finally use this point (ul,vl,wl) in the same equations of
case A.
By the superposition technique, the magnetic field at any
field point from many catenaries can be calculated.Review
Stage
3) Case (C)
In Case C, the power transmission lines specified by;
o _ _----.L-__
unequal heights of the towers, unequal spans between towers o
_~----L-

5 10 15 20 25
----.L-~_~

30 35 40
Distance from the center phase (m)
and the power transmission lines' spans are always parallel to
each others. Fig. 4. The computed magnetic field intensity by using the 2D
Straight Line Technique.
Figure (3) presents a catenary L 1, which have unequal
heights of its towers (h mh hm2 ). In this case a is the solution
of the transcendental equation:
ty

Fig. 3. The presentation of Case (C)

o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance from the center phase (m)

Fig. 5. The computed magnetic field intensity by using the 3D

Integration Technique (point PI).
Figure (6) shows the computed magnetic field intensity and
its components under a single span with the effect of the

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 2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

image currents, at maximum tower height (point P2 in Fig.

(2)), by using the 3-D integration technique (Case A).

i -l =~ =
t
15 -I - " ":"
/ ~ 10 - I

I
I
I
/

\ 5

o
-

\
I
I
I

\ Distance from 1I1e center phase (m)

Distancebetweenthetwotowers(m)

~/ Fig. 8. The presentation of the 3D magnetic field intensity distribution

10 15 20 25 30 35 40
at 1m above ground level under 500kV TL with the effect of image
Distance from the center phase (m) currents, by using the 3D Integration Technique.
Fig. 6. The computed magnetic field intensity by using the 3D
Integration Technique (point P2). --theta=O
Figure (7) shows the effect of the number of spans (N) on ----- theta=5
.......... theta=10
the calculated magnetic field intensity. It is noticed that, when -.-.-.• theta=20

the magnetic field intensity calculated at point PI (Fig.2) and a ~5 ····00··· theta=40

distance a way from the center phase, the effect of the spans'
number is very small due to the symmetry of the spans around
the calculation points. Also it was seen that as the number of
the spans (N) is greater than 2 the result of the calculated
magnetic field intensity is the same, that due to the far
distance between the current source and the field points. For
this reason the number of spans does not exceed 4. Figure (8) o __
o 5
L_~ 10 15
,

20
,~,Gao)
25 30 35 40
shows the presentation of 3D computed magnetic field Distance from the center phase (m)

intensity, with the effect of the image currents, by using the 3- Fig. 9. The effect of the angle eon the magnetic field intensity
D integration technique (with span number N=4). It is noticed calculated under tower height.
that, the magnetic field intensity varies with the position of the
field points between the two towers and also with their Figure (10) shows the same results as in Fig.(9), except that,
distance from the center phase, where in the 2D straight line the calculation points are at mid-span, it is noticed that, the
effect of angle e is higher in this case because both the two
technique; it varies only with the field points' distance from
ends of the span go far from the calculation points as the angle
the center phase. Figure (9) shows the effect of the angle e as
explained in case (B) on the calculated magnetic field intensity
e increased.
45 ~-~--~.~_.~~-~-----~-~~-_. __._-~-~--_._--
of a single span under a tower height and a way from the
center phase. It is seen that aj the angle e increased the
~~I
--theta=O
----- theta=5
•• ..00 ..• theta=10
magnetic field intensity decreases, that due to the increases of
....
.......... theta=20
the distance between the current source and the field points. _._._ •• theta=40

::-~~-~~~::~:~m.~:ml
f: ----- al po;"1 P2, span <2,
3A
iII,

Ql 25
E
~ 20'
u..

J:: -------------------------------- _
(,)

Fig. 10. The effect of the angle e on the magnetic field intensity
calculated under mid-span.

:(""=.~=~ ==~='=."== . "=.,"':',==~'.

o 5 10
. 15 20 25
Distance from the center phase (m)
30 35 40
Figure (11) shows the effect of the span length on the
calculated magnetic field intensity under a single span, at
Fig. 7. The effect of the spans' n Jmbers on the magnetic field tower height. It is seen that as the span length decreased, the
intensity. magnetic field intensity decreases.

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 2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

lengths, and various difference between the towers' heights,

that at tower height and mid-span respectively. From both two
tables it seen that the difference between the towers' heights
have a small effect, when the magnetic field intensity
calculated at tower height, but when the magnetic field
intensity calculated at mid-span it have a greater effect,
especially when this difference is equal to the sag itself.
45

40
l
-~,--~--,-------r-------,----------r--------,-~-r-----

s~n=4OOm
----- span=200m
.::~= span=100m
35 1

~J
Fig. 11. The effect of the span length on the magnetic field intensity
calculated under :ower height.
!
~ 20
25

1
'
~ 15
~
1

~ ':1 ~. . - - - - - '- - - - - - - "- ~_ _ _ _ L_ ~

Figure (12) shows the same results as in Fig.(ll), except
that, the calculation points are at mid-span, it is noticed that,
the effect of span length is very small in this case because the -----l-_ _ __

o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
effect of the conductor height is greater than its span length Distance from the center phase (m)

effect. Tables I and II present a comparison between the Fig. 12. The effect of the span length on the magnetic field intensity
magnetic field intensity calculated with both 20 straight line calculated under mid-span
technique, where the average conductors' heights are used, and
3D integration technique, with various angles 0, various span
TABLE I
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF 30 INTEGRATION TECHNIQUE WITH VARIOUS PARAMETERS AT TOWER HEIGHT AND 20 STRAIGHT LINE TECHNIQUE
Distance 2D straight 3D integration technique Single span at point P2 (tower height) (Aim)
from the line technique
Angle (8) (deg.) Span (L) (m) Different between towers'
center with average
With: L=400m, LL=Om With: 8 =Odeg, LL=Om heights (LL) (m);
phase heights
(m) (Aim)
With: 8 =Odeg, L=400m
8=0 8=10 8=40 L=400 L=350 L=300 LL=O LL=10 LL=S
0 25.236 6.824 6.824 6.824 6.824 1.824 0.630 6.824 6.808 6.792
10 23.619 6.337 5.817 4.674 6.337 1.633 0.592 6.337 6.324 6.313
20 15.218 4.852 4.044 2.660 4.852 1.206 0.494 4.852 4.849 4.846
30 7.957 3.202 2.482 1.399 3.202 0.820 0.372 3.202 3.207 3.210
40 4.584 2.081 1.547 0.765 2.081 0.587 0.262 2.081 2.090 2.097

TABLE II
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF 3D INTEGRATION TECHNIQUE WITH VARIOUS PARAMETERS AT MID-SPAN AND 2D STRAIGHT LINE TECHNIQUE
Distance 2D straight 3D integration technique Single span at point PI (mid-span) (Aim)
from the line technique
Angle (8)(deg) Span (L) (m) Different between towers'
center with average
With: L=400m, LL=Om With: e=Odeg, LL=Om heights (LL) (m);
phase heights
(m) With: 8 =Odeg, L=400m
(Aim)
8=0 8=10 8=40 L=400 L=350 L=300 LL=O LL=10 LL=S
0 25.236 40.796 6.690 0.476 40.796 40.718 40.702 40.796 40.335 20.398
10 23.619 39.499 3.953 0.422 39.499 39.433 39.371 39.499 39.152 19.750
20 15.218 21.381 2.624 0.375 21.381 21.350 21.321 21.381 21.534 10.691
30 7.957 9.164 1.877 0.335 9.164 9.164 9.172 9.164 9.357 4.582
40 4.584 4.959 1.414 0.300 4.959 4.969 4.986 4.959 5.061 2.479

Technique. Under 3D Integration Technique, the paper present

IV. CONCLUSIONS
The 2-D Straight Line and 3-I) Integration Techniques give
two choices for calculating magnetic field. The 2-D Straight
Line is a rough approximation, and the 3-D Integration is an
exact solution, however it requires integration over the three
phase spans which results in a large computation time. It is
seen that by using the 3D Integration Technique the Z-
component of the magnetic field intensity appears, where this
component is always equal zero in the 20 Straight Line
a multi-special cases to calculate the magnetic field intensity,
by using these cases, it is possible to calculate the magnetic
field intensity at any point under a complex configurations of
a power transmission lines. Also it is possible to use the same
technique, with some treatment, in the calculation of the
electric field under overhead transmission lines.

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 2008 5th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices

REFERENCES (B.11) I Xl = Xc +XX (8.12) I

[1] Hanaa Karawia, Kamelia Youssef and Ahmed Hossam-Eldin
"Measurements and Evaluation of Adverse Health Effects of
Electromagnetic Fields from Low Voltage Equipments" MEPCON
2008, Aswan, Egypt, March 12-15 ,PP. 436-440. v
y
[2] George Filippopoulos, and Dimitris Tsanakas " Analytical Calculation
of the Magnetic Field Produced by Electric Power Lines" IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 20, No.2, pp. 1474-1482, April
2005.
[3] A. A. Dahab, F. K. Amoura, and W. S. Abu-Elhaija "Comparison of
Magnetic-Field Distribution of Noncompact and Compact Parallel
Transmission-Line Configurations" IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 20, No.3, pp. 2114-2118, July 2005.
[4] A. V. Mamishev, R. D. Nevels, and B. D. Russell "Effects of Conductor
Sag on Spatial Distribution of Power Line Magnetic Field" IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 11, No.3, pp. 1571-1576, July
1996.
[5] Rakosk Das Begamudre,"Extra High Voltage AC. Transmission
Engineering" third Edition, Book, Chapter 7, pp.172-205, 2006 Wiley
Eastern Limited.
[6] G. 1. Anders, G. L. Ford and D. 1. Horrocks" The Effect of Magnetic
Field on Optimal Design of a Ring-Bus Substaion" IEEE Transactions Figure B.l Cartesian coordinates of two systems in space
on Power Delivery, Vol. 9, No.3, July 1994.

B1: To transfer any point (u1,v1,w1) in (u, V, W) system to a point

ApPENDIX (A)
(x1,y1,=1) in (X r:Z) system;
To calculate the Magnetic field intensity under 500kV TL
single circuit, the following data are used. By substituting (B.5) and (B.2) into (B.11):
Tower span 400m
Number of subconductor per phase 3 ZI = Zc + --;L- sin(fJ + 8) (B.13)
Diameter of a subconductor 30.6mm sln(fJ)
Spacing between subconductor 45cm By substituting (B.7) and (B.4) into (B.12):
Minimum clearance to ground 9m u
Outer phase Maximum height 22m Xl = Xc + 1 cos(fJ + 8) (B.14)
Inner phase Maximum height 24.35m cos(fJ)
Distance between adjacent two phases 13.2m
and; Yl = Yc +v1 (B. 15)

ApPENDIX (B) -1 wI
Assume two coordinates' systems (X,Y,X) and (U,V,W) in
where: P = tan -
ul
(B.16)

a space, where axis U and axis W in system (U,V,W) make an B2: To transfer any point (x1,y1,z1) in (Xr:Z) system to a point
angle e with axis X and axis Z in system (X,Y,Z) respectively, (u1, v1, w1) in (u, V, W) system;
while axis V and axis Yare parallel to each other, and original
of the system (U,V,W) located at point (xc,yc,zc) referred to By substituting (B.6) and (B.9) into (B. 1):
system (X,Y,Z), as indicated in Fig.(B.1). Any point P in zl-z
space can be presented by the two system as (x 1,y 1,z 1) in
WI = c sin(fJ) (B.17)
sin(fJ + 8)
system (X,Y,Z) and (ul,vl,wl) in system (U,V,W).
By substituting (B.8) and (B. 10) into (B.3):
From Fig. (B. 1), it is seen:
xl-x
uI = c cos(fJ) (B.18)
(B.l) (B.2) cos(fJ + B)
and; vI == yl- Yc (B.19)

~ =L' cosf/J) (B.3) (B.4) zl-z

where: fJ == tan1 -ZZ -() == tan-1 _ _c -() (B.20)
xx xl-xc
zz=L'sin(j3+8) (B.5) zz (B.6)
L"==----- Adel Zein E. M. was born in Egypt 1971. He received his B. Sc., M. Sc and
Ph. D. degrees in electric engineering from the High Institute of Energy,
sin(j3+8) Aswan, Egypt in 1995, 2000 and from Kazan State Technical University,
xx =L" cos(j3+ 8) (B.7)
r' == X_X__
(B.8) Kazan, Russia in 2005, respectively. His fields of interest include electric and
magnetic fields, Comparison between the Numerical techniques in
cos(/J+8) Electromagnetic, and Calculation of SAR in the Human Body.

zz= zl-zc (B.9) xx=xl-xc (B.I0)

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