Enumeration of Magnetic Flux Density Generated by

Power Transmission Lines

Jozef Bendk, Attila Kment, Marek Ppa
Institute of Power and Applied Electrical Engineering
FEI STU in Bratislava
Bratislava, Slovak republic
xbendkj@stuba.sk

AbstractThe paper presents a finite element method for

numerical calculation of magnetic flux density around a high
voltage power transmission line. The need of such calculation is
based on growing safety demands of people exposed to the action
of external magnetic field as well as reduce the cost of people
protection. Method extends the calculation of magnetic flux
density around the straight infinite conductor on the general
shape by application of Biot-Savart law in its general form.
Method eliminates the usual errors in calculation created by
approximation of infinite straight conductors in power line
applications. The method has been extensively tested on a set of
shapes that analytical solutions are known. It has been shown
that the numerical solution converges uniformly to analytical
solution and the accuracy depends only on the number of finite
elements.
Keywordsmagnetic flux density; method of finite elements;
infinite straight conductor; catenary;

I.

Frequency
range
f [Hz]
1 to 8
8 to 25
25 to 50
50 to 400
400 to 3000

REFERENCE LEVELS FOR EXPOSURE TO TIME-VARYING

ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS [1].
Electric field
intensity
E
[kV.m-1]
5
5
5
2.5102/f
2.5102/f

Magnetic field
intensity
H
[A.m-1]
3.2102/f2
4103/f
1.6102
1.6102
6.4104/f

Magnetic flux
density
B
[T]
410-2/f2
510-3/f2
210-4
210-4
810-2/f

A number of national and international organizations have

formulated guidelines establishing limits for occupational and
residential EMF exposure. The exposure limits for EMF fields
These publications are the result of implementation of the project:
Increase of Power Safety of the Slovak Republic (ITMS: 26220220077)
supported by the Research & Development Operational Programme funded by
the ERDF.

978-1-4673-6788-2/15/$31.00 2015 IEEE

A. Approach to calculation
1) Amperes law: Simple calculation of magnetic flux
density under the overhead power lines can be done by using
Amperes law mathematical formulation for infinite straight
conductor (1),
where :
B is magnetic flux density,

INTRODUCTION

Overhead transmission lines generate low frequency timevarying electromagnetic field (EMF field). The effect of the
field has to be taken in to consideration in design of line [1].
Exposure to this field causes flow of induced current in living
organisms, and can have other unpleasant effects on human
body [2]. In many cases this considerations has not been
proven, but studies shows the potential of risk. According to
this health risks non-governmental organization International
Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
established reference levels for exposure to time-varying
electric and magnetic fields [1].
TABLE I.

developed by ICNIRP - formally recognized by World health

organization (WHO), were developed following reviews of all
the peer-reviewed scientific literature, including thermal and
non-thermal effects. The standards are based on evaluations of
biological effects that have been established to have health
consequences [2] [3]. The main conclusion from the WHO
reviews is that electromagnetic field exposures below the limits
recommended in the ICNIRP international guidelines do not
appear to have any known consequence on health.

0 is permeability of free space,

I is current,
r is distance from the conductor.[4]
(1)
This method uses several approximations.
Instead of the conductor in shape of catenary is used
infinite straight wire placed at the lowest point of sag of
a real conductor, Figure 1.
Magnetic flux density is enumerated as a scalar, RMS
value.
Calculation by this method is a 2-dimensional analysis
of magnetic flux density.
Magnetic flux density can be calculated only from
parallel conductors as a superposition from each in one
point.
This is the most common method for calculation of
magnetic flux density. Although use of Amperes law
mathematical formulation for infinite straight conductor for
calculation is sufficient in most of applications [5] [6].

(6)

If we look at the Biot

Savart equation (2) the only
quantity witch can be both statiic and time-varying is current. In
case of HVDC transmission is current I static. In case of
HVAC transmission is current time-varying. This current will
result in creating a phase-vectorr unit .

Fig. 1. Approximation of catenary by infinite straight conductor

c
placed in the
lowest point of sag between two power transmission tow
wers (dashed vertical
lines).

2) BiotSavart law: Calculation of maggnetic flux density

described in this article is based on Biot-Savaart law (2).
Where dl is vector element of the condductor. Integral is
calculated by the path of conductor in our caase catenary shape.
[4]
|

C. Polarization of the field

If the magnetic flux densityy is phase-vector or vector it can
be represented by an arrow in one point. Length of the arrow
presents the magnitude at preccise time. In the case of phasevector the tip of an arrow descrribes an ellipse, Fig. 2. Absolute
value B(t) is rotating, by the frrequency 50Hz, in perpendicular
coordinates Y and Z. The component in X coordinate,
component parallel with the conductors, is ignored due its
t components. [5]
small value compared to other two

(2)

Advantages of this method are:

Conductors are in real shapes and all configurations.
c
Magnetic flux density is calculated as
a a vector, in case
of time-varying current phase-vector.
Method maps the field in 3-dimensionn.
Result gives information about polarizzation of the field.
B. Phasors and vectors
EMF field near transmission lines are described in this
article using phasors and vectors. A vector is characterized by a
magnitude and an angle in space or by three spacial
components (3).[7]
;

(3)

Phasor on the other hand is a quantity with a sinusoidal

time variation described by a magnitude and a phase angle as is
described in (4). Angle x describes phase shiift. [7]
t

cos t

(4)

For mathematical purposes to simpliffy enumeration a

rectangular form of phasor can be used, as folllows:
(5)
Three orthogonal components of vectorr may be phasors
with different magnitude and phase angles. This components
are called phasevector, (6). In this article, a vector is indicated
with an arrow ( , ) and phase-vectors with a hat over
arrow , . [5]

Fig. 2. Field ellipse. [7]

The field ellipse can be characterized

c
by its major and
minor axis equal to Bmax and Bmin in Fig. 2. When the field
components have equal phase angles the minor axis becomes
very small and the result is osccillating vector. In this case, the
magnetic flux density is repressented by a vector with constant
direction, but with the magnituude that varies with time. This is
called linear polarization. This occurs on the surface of the
conductor or at the greater distaance from the conductor. [7] [8]
[5]
m
and the phase shift of
If components have equal magnitudes
their phase angles is then elllipse becomes a circle. This is
called circular polarization. [7] [8]
D. Catenary
Conductor attached on thhe two sides, in this case on
transmission towers, will form curve in a shape of catenary.[7]
Catenary can be considered as symmetric, if conductors are at
their ends in the same heigght above the flat surface, or
asymmetric if not. Fig. 3 show
ws the general asymmetric span.
Where A is the length of the sppan, V1 and V2 are the heights at
each end of the catenary aboove the flat ground, A1 is the
distance from the beginning of the catenary to the middle of the
span.

Fig. 3. Asymmetric span.

Fig. 4. Example of Biot-Savart law appplied on general span.

If A1 is exactly half of the A then the cateenary is symmetric.

A1 is in general calculated as follows:

method for every conductor shape means the change from

analytical form consisting of unnit derivations to numerical form
consisting of unit differences. By
B this method catenary curve is
formed by finite number of lineear segments as shown in Fig. 5.
Using FEM also includes defiining the length of the segment
x. Biot-Savart law after moddification by FEM is shown in
(12).

a sinh

(7)

The constant c is the parameter definingg the shape of the

catenary. Parameter h is the height at the loowest point of sag
and it is calculated using (8).
V

c cosh

(8)

The height of the catenary y at the placce x is in the end

calculated by (9).
(9)

c cosh
II.

METHODOLOGY

A. Enumeration of the field

Let the point of observer P be the point, where we want to
calculate the magnetic flux density. Vectoor
starts at the
element of conductor d and points to observer P. Vector
written also like (10).
r

(10)

vector points from origin of cooordinae system to

Where
observer P and r points from origin of cooordinate system to
element of conductor d as shown in Fiig. 4. Biot-Savart
equation in analytical form will be after substtitution as follows:
(11)
B. Numerical method
Result of (11) are known for simple conducttor shapes [9]. For
a complicated shape as a catenary is neecessary to use a
numerical finite element method (FEM). Appplication of this

Fig. 5. Meshing catenary curve by finnite number of elements.

(12)

Components of conductor segment

s
are shown in Fig. 6.
lx equals difference of X coorrdinates of two points (13). The
component ly of (13) equals difference of Y coordinates of
two points calculated by catenaary (9).If conductors are parallel
to coordinate system, the lz eqquals zero. However, if not, like
in case of conductors betweenn different types of transmission
towers, lz changes linearly annd can be simply calculated by
(15).

(13)

(14)

(15)

Where u is difference bettween horizontal positions of

conductor at towers.

segment vector is in each case computed differently

according to shape of conductor. In all cases below the current
I is 1000 Amperes DC and the analytical results are RMS
values.

Conductor in shape of circle loop with radius R = 100

m, (22). Point of observer is in distance of 10 m form
circle on the center axis.
(22)

Fig. 6. Single segment, finite element of conductor in catenary shape.

Component r0x of vector

is a dinstance in X direction
from point of origin to element. Component r0y is calculated by
catenary (9). Component r0z is distance in Z direction form
point of origin to element.
Vector

defines the point of observer. Components in

each direction forming phase vector

follows :

are calcutaled as

(17)

Table II shows the results of magnetic flux density for each

conductor shape and method. The numerical value converges
to analytical solution with the higher number of finite elements.
By the number of finite elements the length of the element
changes linearly.

(19)

B. Shape of field
In Fig. 7 is shown the shape of vector field (vectors in small
distance of the conductors are not shown for clarity) created by
single conductor.

(20)

If calculating magnetic flux density created by more than one

conductor, the result is superposition of field in every point of
observer form each conductor. In many cases the root mean
square (RMS) value is necessary to evaluate the field. RMS
value is calculated from magnitudes of the phase-vector
components as follows :
(21)
III.

Conductor in shape of infinite straight long wire,

Amperes law (1). Numerical methods uses 1 km long
conductor. Point of observer is in distance of 10 m
from the middle of the conductor.

(18)

Total magnetic flux density form one conductor is :

Conductor in shape of spiral loop with outer radius R1

= 100 m, inner radius R2 = 50 m and the number of
loops n = 10 (24). Point of observer is in the center
point of the spiral.
(24)

The magnetic flux density form one element is:

(23)

(16)

Conductor in shape of square loop with length of side

L = 100 m, (23). Point of observer is in the center point
of the square.

RESULTS

A. Analytical comparison
The numerical methods has been tested on a set of
conductor shapes that analytical solutions are known [9]. It has
been shown that the numerical solution converges uniformly to
analytical solution and the accuracy depends only on the
number of finite elements. It is imported to add that conductor

Result are calculated numerically as vectors by simulation

software (For purpose of electromagnetic field calculation
under transmission lines is used simulation software EMFTsim.
This tool has been developed by author of this text for complex
evaluation of fields. Software is coded in Fortran F90 language
and for graphical output is used Dislin graphical library).
As it is expected, the magnetic flux density is a rotating
field. [9]
C. Field under transmission line
In this example is shown the enumeration of magnetic flux
density under transmission line type 2 x 400 kV DONAU with
two ground wires, Fig. 8. Distance between towers is 300 m.
Parameters of towers for calculation are in Table III. Lowest
conductor is set to be 8 m above the ground.
Fig. 9 shows BRMS calculated 1.8m above the ground. Place
of is defined by red line in Fig. 8.

TABLE II.

COMPARISON OF MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY CALCULATION USING NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHOD

Conductor shape
Circle loop
Square loop
Spiral loop
Infinitely long conductor

15000
4.435
9.955
52.301
20.821

Numerical method BRMS [T]

x element length [mm]
10000
1000
500
5.911
6.108
6.157
10.271
11.252
11.284
57.590
84.686
85.720
19.748
19.991
19.995

Analytical method BRMS [T]

10
6.190
11.313
87.075
19.996

6.190
11.314
87.103
20.001

phase conductors ACSR 445/74, 3 in bundle with

bundle distance of 0.4 m,

2 ground wires ACSR 180/59.

TABLE III.

SHORT DATASHEET OF POLES AND CONDUCTORS

Configuration

System #1

System #2

Position on poles
Height [m]

Center displacement [m]

Phase L1

29.8

-9.6

Phase L2

18.6

-13.6

Phase L3

29.8

-7.3

Phase L1

29.8

9.6

Phase L2

18.6

13.6

18.6

7.3

Ground wire #1

Phase L3

37.1

-12.1

Ground wire #2

37.1

12.1

Fig. 7. Shape of the field around single conductor.

Fig. 8. Transmission line between two DONAU type poles. Red line shows
the places of horizontal computation. Mesh in the center of the span shows the
plane of vertical calculation.

The type of considered pole is :

DONAU N+0 with 2 x 400 kV transmission lines,

2 ground wires,

rated voltage 420 kV,

rated current 2 kA,

rated frequency 50 Hz,

Fig. 9. BRMS in vertical plane crossing transmission line. Calculated at the

lowest distance of conductors to the ground..

Fig.9 shows calculated BRMS at the vertical plane (see Fig.

8) and Fig.10 shows the BRMS calculated 7.5 m above the
ground in horizontal plane under transmission line. (Graphical
results is a combination of simulation software EMFTsim and
PLS-CAD). Fig.11 shows the BRMS calculated 7.5 m above the
ground in horizontal distance under the transmission line.

Fig. 10. BRMS calculated at horizontal plane under the traansmission line

g
itself unlike the intensity
flux density is not effected by ground
of electric field. For complex computation of electromagnetic
mulation software EMFTsim. All
field has been developed a sim
graphical result in this paper aree made by this software.
ACKNOWLLEDGMENT
Special thanks to professoor Peter Ballo and to Miroslav
Bindzr, MSc.
RENCES
REFER
[1]

Fig. 11. BRMS in horizontal distance under the transmisssion line. Calculated at
the lowest distance of conductors to the ground

IV. CONCLUSION
Enumeration of electromagnetic field geenerated by power
transmission line is one of crucial conditions for completing
total project of the line. Magnetic flux densityy is one of the two
major values of this field. This article explained simple
numerical method for calculation of magnnetic flux density
under power lines. As paper shows, this meethod can be fully
applied on any shape of conductor. Result shhown in this paper
were verified not only analytically, but also using calculations
of similar computation software. It is importaant to notice that in
application of real condition it needs to
t be taken into
calculation also height of real terrain.
This can be simply done by placinng the point of
computation in different height above the coordinate system
and in the constant height above real terrain. Value of magnetic

WHO, Environmental Health Criteria 238 EXTREMELY LOW

FREQUENCY FIELDS.
[2] D. M. Repacholi, E. Vandevennter, WHO Framework for Developing
EMF Standards, pp. 113,2003
[3] ICNIRP, Non-Ionizing Radiatioon Protection, Guidelines for limiting
exposure to time-varying electricc and magnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz).
Health physics, vol. 99, no. 6,
6 pp. 81836, Dec. 2010. [Online].
Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nnih.gov/pubmed/21068601
[4] J. Kulda, Magnetick pole v silnoproud
s
elektrotechnice, B. Heller,
eskoslovensk akadmie vd, 1974
[5] Electric Power Research Insttitute ,EPRI AC Transmission Line
Reference Book 345 kV and abbove, second edition, 1982.
[6] Cigre working group 01(Interferrence and fields),Electric and magnetic
fields produced by transmission systems
s
, vol. 01, 1980
[7] Electric Power Research Institutee ,EPRI AC transmission line reference
book - 200 kV and above, third edition,
e
2005
[8] Cigre working group 01(Interferrence and fields), Magnetic field in HV
cable systems and systems withhout ferromagnetic component, vol. 01,
1996.
[9] D. Mayer, Aplikovan elektrom
magnetizmus : vod do makroskopick
teorie elektromagnetickho pole pro elektrotechnick inenry, 2nd ed.,
esk Budjovice, 2012.
[10] P. Mathew, Numerical Techniques in Electromagnetics, 2nd ed.,CRC
Press,2001