3-D Electric Fields and Induced Potentials inside High-Voltage Air Insulated Substation Switchyards

This work presents a state-of-the-art formulation to calculate Electric Fields and Induced Potentials in Air Insulated Substation (AIS) switchyards generated by energized busbars at 50/60-Hz. A computer algorithm based on the Charge Simulation Method (CSM) and the Method of Images is developed. Electric Field 3-D distributions and Induced Potentials considering grounded and ungrounded steel-framework structures are calculated for a 230 kV AIS switchyard using basic geometric and electric parameters as initial data. Procedure accuracy is verified by comparing Electric Field 2-D profiles with those calculated by Finite Element Method (FEM). Induced Potentials in steel-framework structures grounded, ungrounded and grounded through a high substation grounding resistance are assessed.