Modelling Linesmen´s Potentials in Proximity to Overhead Lines

A test object which can represent the human body in experiments near energized high-voltage (HV) conductors has been developed. Induced potentials of the object have been measured inside an HV laboratory and at an outdoor 400-kV substation. The experimental arrangements have been modelled by using the commercial software package CDEGS to compute the induced voltages and compare it with the actual measurements. Calculations show excellent agreement with measurements. Predictions of the induced voltage of the object along the climbing route of the 400-kV tower have also been developed and these show good agreement with the induced voltage levels of real linesmen while climbing such a tower. The human model developed within the software package has proved to be an accurate tool to predict the induced voltage level in a linesman´s working environment. CDEGS will be useful for predicting the likelihood of linesmen experiencing microshocks in new working practices.