Analysis of the electromagnetic interferences between overhead power lines and buried pipelines

The paper outlines a recently developed numerical computation algorithm set up for the analysis of the electromagnetic interferences generated by the overhead high voltage lines (OHL) on the neighbour pipeline networks. The main advantage of the algorithm proposed is that it can handle applications with unparallel arrangements between OHL and pipelines and therefore the induced potential and current values are more accurately computed than the traditional software packages. For this purpose, an original full 3D electromagnetic field model was developed. The computational module is based on a coupled Finite elements (FEM) — Boundary elements (BEM) numerical analysis technique that is detailed in the first part of the paper. The computation accuracy of the numerical algorithm developed was tested considering simple cases and comparing the numerical results with those obtained using a known software package based on the Transmission Lines Method (TLM) and also by analytical solutions. In the second part of the paper an application in the case of a OHL working on normal and fault conditions is outlined. The importance of the magnitude and direction of the currents flowing through the OHL on the induced potentials distribution along the victim pipeline is outlined. The final conclusions end the paper.