Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis of Substation Environment using Finite Difference Method

Abstract

The implementation of the smart grid system transformed the old substation into a new automated substation. All equipment and component installed in the high voltage substation need to be electromagnetically compatible with each other. Thus, the magnetic field distributed in the environment must be predicted and quantified. Furthermore, with the use of more sensitive microelectronic devices in the system, it creates a need to reassess the substation environment compatibility for current and future circumstances. In this paper, the calculation method used to determine magnetic field distribution within a substation environment has been reviewed. A new routine which allows the user to focus at a specific area of the substation and calculate the field has been developed in-house using MATLAB. The new routine calculates the magnetic field using a finite difference approach and allows a much better field resolution to be achieved in a specific area of interest within the substation.