Three-dimensional model analysis of electric field excited by multi-circuit intersecting overhead transmission lines

This work is carried out to predict the special distribution of electric field induced by multi-circuit intersecting overhead high-voltage (HV) transmission lines (TLs) within a large range without any expensive and time-consuming computation. The two main parts of the presented methodology are 1) setting up a three-dimensional (3D) model to calculate the electric field based on combining catenary equations with charge simulation method and 2) calculating the hybrid electric field excited by multi-circuit intersecting TLs using coordinate transformation and superposition technique. Examples of different TLs configurations, including a 220 kV single-circuit horizontally configured TLs, a 500 kV single-circuit triangularly configured TLs and a combination of the 220 kV TLs and the 550 kV TLs, are illustrated to verify the validity of this methodology. A more complicatal configurations, including a 500 kV double-circuit TLs and two 220 kV single-circuit horizontally configured TLs, are also calculated. Conclusions were drawn from the simulation: 1) The presented 3D model outperforms 2D models in describing the electric field distribution generated by practical HV TLs with sag and span. 2) Coordinate transformation and superposition technique considerably simplify the electric field computation for multi-circuit TLs configurations, which makes it possible to deal with complex engineering problems. 3) The electric field in the area covered by multiple intersecting overhead TLs is distorted and the hybrid electric field strength in some partial region increases so sharply that it might exceed the admissible value. 4) The configuration parameters of the TLs and the spatial configuration of multi-circuit TLs, for instance, the height of TLs, the length of span and the intersection angle of multiple circuits, influence the strength and the distribution of hybrid electric field. The influence regularities summarized in this paper can be referred by future TL designs to meet the electromagnetic environmental protection regulations.