Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (IJEEI)

Vol. 4, No. 2, June 2016, pp. 93~101

ISSN: 2089-3272, DOI: 10.11591/ijeei.v4i2.209  93

Effect of HVTL Phase Transposition on Pipelines

Induced Voltage

Adedeji Kazeem B
Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
e-mail: kezman0474@yahoo.com

Abstract
In this work, a study of the effect of the phase conductor transposition for a multi-circuit high
voltage power transmission lines on the induced voltage on a buried pipeline was conducted and
considered through modelling. The modelling was done applying Carson’s concept of mutual impedances
for a double circuit, three circuits and four circuit power transmission line on a buried pipeline. The
simulated results obtained showed that the transmission line with un-transposed phase combination has
the greater effect on the induced voltage while for the one or more of the other combinations, a
cancellation or reduction can occur. This also is dependent on the tower geometry and the relative position
of the pipeline and the transmission line. Also, the magnitude of the induced voltage increases with
increasing number of circuits.

Keywords: AC interference, Inductive coupling, Induce voltage, Phase transposition, pipelines,

Transmission lines

1. Introduction
As a result of the ever increasing cost of right of way suitable for transmission line and
pipelines, coupled with environmental factors to protect nature and wildlife, there are more
tendencies of installing pipelines near an existing power transmission lines. The current flowing
through this transmission line phase conductors produces a time-varying magnetic field which
couples to metallic structures in its right of way as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Coupling from a high voltage power transmission line on a buried pipeline

As a result of this coupling, voltage is induced in such structure. The induction can
occur under both steady state and fault condition of the power transmission line [1, 2]. The
interference from a high voltage power transmission line and a neighbouring pipeline can occur
due to inductive, conductive and capacitive coupling [3-10]. Inductive coupling affects both
aerial and underground pipelines that run parallel to or at an angle with a power transmission
line while capacitive coupling only affects metallic structures located above the ground [8, 9]. In
this type of coupling (capacitive coupling), “the pipeline picks up a voltage relative to the soil,
which is proportional to the voltage on the transmission line [11, 12]. For structures located
below the earth’s surface, the effect of capacitive coupling is negligible because of the
screening effect of the earth against electric fields. The resistive coupling between a
transmission line and a nearby buried pipeline is only relevant during ground faults where

Received December 11, 2015; Revised March 16, 2016; Accepted April 8, 2016
94  ISSN: 2089-3272

significant levels of current flows into the ground [7, 13, 14]. Irrespective of the type of coupling,
buried pipeline experience induction through any of these coupling or a combination of them
which can pose danger to personnel working on the pipeline and can also compromise the
materials of the pipe.
The interference from the power transmission lines on buried pipelines which varies
with the electrical characteristics and geometry of the individual system [15], is also known to
accelerate the corrosion process of pipelines [16-19]. AC corrosion case histories can be traced
back to 1970 when cathodically protected pipeline was found perforated in Germany, as a result
of AC interfering with the pipeline [20], thereby accelerating the corrosion process. In particular,
there have been increasing reports of AC induced corrosion and failure of pipelines in recent
years, drawing attention to this important problem. This problem has been a threat to the
integrity of pipeline and therefore became a major topic of discussion among authors around the
world. The subject has become more important for safety of personnel and prevention of
pipeline from corrosion. Thereafter, NACE recommended that for safety of personnel working on
the pipeline, the steady state induced potential should be considered dangerous and be
mitigated if the measured or calculated potential on the pipeline exceeds 15 Vr.m.s [21].
Furthermore, because of the increasing growth of energy demand and to ensure
adequate supply of electric power and to cater for losses on the line, more multi-circuits, power
transmission line is being used to transmit power for several kilometres across the Nation. The
phase conductors of these multi-circuit lines are not always symmetrical, allowing for phase
transpositions of the first circuit with respect to the other. The relative position of each phase
with respect to the other is known to affect the magnetic field produced by the line current and
can cause a drastic reduction in the magnetic field which in turn will have the effect of the
voltage induced on buried metallic structure in this energy utility corridor. To ensure safety of the
personnel touching the exposed part of the buried structure, the worst-case phase transposition
which will give a minimal inductive effect on metallic structures needed to be obtained for the
multi-circuits lines.
Pipeline being installed near an existing high voltage power transmission line is subject
to inductive coupling from the line as a result of the time varying magnetic field produced by the
transmission line current. The strength of the coupling depends, among other factors, on the
relative position of the pipeline and the transmission line phase conductors. Different research
works in the past and in recent times, have worked on the effect of the transmission line phase
conductor combination [22, 23] and phase shifts [24-26] on the magnetic field produced by the
line. However, the effect of this phase transposition/combination on the induced voltage on
pipelines for safety of personnel and protection of pipelines from corrosion has not been fully
covered yet. This work annexes the effect of the phase transposition of a multi-circuit power
transmission lines on the induced voltage on buried steel pipeline, using one of the Rand Water
sites, South Africa as a case study. In a double-circuit power transmission line, there are six
possible phase combination/transposition of the first circuit with respect to the other as shown
Figure 2. These phase transpositions are RWB-RWB, RWB-BWR, RWB-BRW, RWB-WRB,
RWB-RBW, and RWB-WBR as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Possible phase transposition of a double circuit power transmission line

Assuming identical phase conductor characteristics and steady state current in each
circuit with a different phase combination, the worst case phase transposition can be obtained
which will be useful in designing AC mitigation system accordingly and reduce the danger of

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IJEEI ISSN: 2089-3272  95

shock hazard to personnel. With three or more circuits on a power line, the number of possible
combinations to simulate increases.

2. Materials and Method

2.1. Model Description and Evaluation

In this work, the effect of the phase conductor transposition of a double-circuit, three-
circuit and four circuit power transmission lines on the inductive coupling effect resulting in an
induced voltage on a buried steel pipeline was modelled and simulated. Figure 3 and Figure 4
show the schematic diagram and snapshot of the transmission line-pipeline right of way under
study.

Figure 3. Schematic diagram and snapshot of the transmission line-pipeline right of way (a)
double-circuit line (b) three-circuit line

Figure 4. Schematic diagram and snapshot of a four-circuit transmission line-pipeline right of

way

Effect of HVTL Phase Transposition on Pipelines Induced Voltage (Adedeji Kazeem B)

96  ISSN: 2089-3272

The simulation was done for the effect of the inductive coupling from these lines on the buried
pipeline under steady state operation, using the Carson’s concept of mutual impedance
between the transmission line phase/earth wire conductors and the pipeline [27]. Using this
concept, the longitudinal induced electromotive force (emf) on the pipeline due to the inductive
coupling effect of the transmission line is given by

N   k  Zgj p   k  Zgj p   k  Zgj p  

E p    I Ri  ZR p    ZR g    IWi  ZW p    ZW g    I Bi  ZB p    ZB g   (1)
i 1   j 1  Zgj   j 1  Zgj   j 1  Zgj  
i i j i i j i i j

          

where, i and j are positive integers with range of i=1,2,……N, and j=1,2,…k. N represents the
number of circuits while k is the number of overhead earth wire on the transmission line. IRi, Iwi
th
and IBi are the steady state current on the i circuit of the transmission line, ZRip, ZWip and ZBip
th
are the mutual impedances between the R-W-B phase conductor of the i circuit and the
th
pipeline. More also, Zgjp represents the mutual impedance between the j earth wire conductor
and the pipeline while ZRigj, ZRigj and ZRigj are the mutual impedance between the R-W-B phase
th th
conductors of the i circuit and the j earth wire. In addition to this, Zgj is the self-impedance of
th
the j earth wire conductor.
The mutual impedance (in Ω/m) between a pipeline p, and an overhead transmission line phase
conductor R, W, B or earth wire conductor g, with earth return is evaluated using Equation (2)
[28] as

 0     
Z pn   j  0 log e  e   where n=Ri, Wi, Bi or gj (2)
 D 
8  2  pn 

where, µ0 is the magnetic permeability of free space, ω is the angular frequency of operation of
the transmission line, δe is the depth of equivalent earth return and Dpn is the geometric mean
distances (GMDs) between the pipeline, transmission line phase conductor R-W-B or earth wire
th th
conductor g of the i transmission line circuit. Also, the self-impedance of the j earth wire
conductor transmission line, with earth return is given as

 0    1    
Z g j  Rg j   j  0   log e  e   (3)
8  2  4  RGM  
   j  

th
In Equation (3), Rgj is the AC resistance of the earth j wire and RGMj is the geometric mean
radius of the earth wire conductors of the transmission line. The depth of equivalent earth return
is a function of soil resistivity ρsoil and the transmission line operating frequency f [28-30],
evaluated as

 soil
 e  658.87 (4)
f

The various GMDs between the phase conductors of each circuit and the pipeline or the ground
wire for the three case studies are derived from the Powerline-pipeline coordinates system
shown in Figure 5.

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IJEEI ISSN: 2089-3272  97

Figure 5. Powerline-pipeline coordinate system (a) double-circuits, (b) three-circuits (c) four-
circuits

th
From Figure 5 (a), the GMD between the R-W-B phase conductors of the i transmission line
circuit and the pipeline is given by

2 2 
1


DRi p   x p  xRi   
 yRi  y p  
2

  
1
2 2
DWi p     
x p  xWi  yWi  y p   
2
(5)
  
1

DBi p     
x p  xBi  yBi  y p  
2 2 2

  


xp, yp, xRi, xWi, xBi; yRi, yWi and yBi are the horizontal and vertical position of the pipeline and the
th th
phase conductors of the i circuit as shown in Figure 5. Also, the GMD between the j earth
wire conductors and the pipeline is given by


Dg j p   x p  xg j    2
2 2
 yg j  y p (6)
 

Other GMDs are derived using the same method. Thereafter, the induced voltage Vp, on the
entire parallel exposure length L, of the pipeline is given by

Vp  E p  L (7)

2.2. Case Study Parameter used for Simulation

As stated earlier, the effect of phase transposition for three different multi-circuit lines on
the induced voltage on an 800 mm diameter pipe buried 1 m beneath the soil surface, was
considered. The pipeline was parallel with the transmission line for a length of 1 km. The three
phase current on the line were considered under steady state condition with maximum load
current of 410 A for zebra typed conductor used in South Africa. The transmission lines
operating at 50 Hz, have phase conductors separated at a distance of 6 m from each other with
a ground clearance of 12 m. The transmission line overhead earth wires with a 13.48 mm
diameter has an AC resistance of 3.44 /km. The earth is assumed to be flat, free from
irregularities and homogenous with a resistivity of 100 m.

3. Results and Analysis

The induced voltage on a buried steel pipeline due to the inductive coupling effect of the
phase conductor transposition of multi-circuits, power transmission lines have been computed
and the results presented. Figure 6 shows the effect of the phase transposition of a double-
circuit power transmission line on the magnitude of the induced voltage on the pipeline.

Effect of HVTL Phase Transposition on Pipelines Induced Voltage (Adedeji Kazeem B)

98  ISSN: 2089-3272

Induced voltage on the pipeline due to double circuits power transmission line
45

Phase Transposition
40
RWB-RWB
RWB-BWR
35 RWB-WRB
RWB-BRW
RWB-RBW
30 RWB-WBR
Induced voltage (V)

25

20

15

10

0
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Pipeline position across the transmission line (m)

Figure 6. Induced voltage on buried pipeline due to phase transposition of a double-circuit

power transmission line

Looking at the Figure, it is observed that there is a drastic reduction in the magnitude of
the induced voltage for a directly phase transposed, that is, RWB-BWR while for an un-
transposed condition, its effect is relatively higher than others phase transposition shown in the
Figure. It is also, observed that the directly phase transposed decreases slightly with distance
while for another phase transposition, they decreases drastically with increasing distance.
Considering Figure 7, a different pattern of results is observed. At some points 15 m
beyond the centre line of the transmission line, the phase transposition with RWB-BWR-RWB
gives the least inductive effect on the pipeline. However, as the distance increases beyond 50
m, phase combination with RWB-RWB-WBR has the least effect. This pattern of results is
obtained due to the phase configuration of this type of transmission line (a combination of
horizontal and delta configuration).

Induced voltage on the pipeline due to three circuts power transmission line
30
Phase Transposition
RWB-RWB-RWB
25 RWB-BWR-RWB
RWB-WRB-RWB
RWB-BRW-RWB
RWB-RBW-RWB
RWB-WBR-RWB
20 RWB-RBW-BWR
RWB-WBR-WRB
Induced Voltage (V)

RWB-RWB-BRW
RWB-RWB-RBW
RWB-RWB-WBR
15

10

0
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Pipeline position across the transmission line (m)

Figure 7. Induced voltage on buried pipeline due to phase transposition of a three-circuit power
transmission line

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IJEEI ISSN: 2089-3272  99

In Figure 8, the effect of the transmission line phase conductor transposition on the
induced voltage on a pipeline buried near a four-circuit power transmission line is presented.
Considering this figure, in line with Figure 6, the un-transposed phase combination has the
highest effect while the one with RWB-BWR-RWB-BWR and RWB-RWB-BWR-RWB has the
least effect. Some other phase transposition, also gives a little reduction in the magnitude of the
induced voltage as shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, symmetrical and asymmetrical nature is
observed, as some are symmetrical about the centre line of power transmission line tower while
some shows a little offside asymmetry about the centre line. This is related to the results
obtained in [23, 24] for magnetic field produced from a multi-circuits line. All the phase
combinations decrease drastically with distance up to about 50 m, after which they decrease
slightly with increasing distance.

Induced voltage on the pipeline due to four circuts power transmission line
70
Phase Transposition
RWB-RWB-RWB-RWB
60 RWB-BWR-RWB-RWB
RWB-WRB-RWB-RWB
RWB-BRW-RWB-RWB
RWB-RBW-RWB-RWB
50
RWB-WBR-RWB-RWB
RWB-RWB-BWR-RWB
RWB-RWB-WRB-RWB
Induced voltage (V)

40 RWB-RWB-BRW-RWB
RWB-RWB-RBW-RWB
RWB-RWB-WBR-RWB
RWB-RWB-RWB-BWR
30 RWB-RWB-RWB-WRB
RWB-RWB-RWB-BRW
RWB-RWB-RWB-RBW
RWB-RWB-RWB-WBR
20

10

0
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Pipeline position across the transmission line (m)

Figure 8. Induced voltage on buried pipeline due to phase transposition of a four-circuit power
transmission line

3.1. Effects of the Number of Circuits

Figure 9 shows the effect of increase in the number of circuits on the induced voltage
on the buried pipeline. It is evident from the figure that this increase has a great effect on the
induced voltage. The effect is more pronounced on the pipeline at few distances (less than 50
m) from the centre line of the transmission line. However, with increasing distance, the effect
reduces gradually to almost a negligible value.

Effect of HVTL Phase Transposition on Pipelines Induced Voltage (Adedeji Kazeem B)

100  ISSN: 2089-3272

Induced voltage on the pipeline due to multi-circuits power transmission line

70
Due to double circuits
60 Due to three circuits
Due to four circuits
50
Induced voltage (V)

40

30

20

10

0
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Pipeline position across the transmission line (m)

Figure 9. Induced voltage on buried pipeline due to multi-circuits power transmission line

4. Conclusion
The effect of the phase conductor transposition of a multi-circuit power transmission
lines on the magnitude of the induced voltage on a buried steel pipeline have been computed
and the simulated results from MATLAB software presented and analysed. It is obvious from
these results that phase conductors with a direct phase transposition of the first phase with
respect to the other shows a better reduction in the magnitude of the induced voltage on the
pipeline for most of the lines. Also for one or more combination, a cancellation or reduction in
the magnitude of the induced voltage is observed. Therefore, for installing metallic structures
such as pipelines in the energy utility corridor consisting of a multi-circuit high voltage power
transmission lines, the effect of the phase transposition of these lines must be taken into
consideration to limit the danger that might occur due to shock hazard to personnel touching an
exposed part of these metallic structure. The number of circuits on a power transmission line is
also known to have a greater effect on the induced voltage on metallic pipelines buried near
existing lines.

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Effect of HVTL Phase Transposition on Pipelines Induced Voltage (Adedeji Kazeem B)