Evaluation of human exposure to lon‐current using boundary element method

Abstract

With a view to evaluating the human exposure to ion current generated under a dc power transmission line, the exposure was evaluated by means of a numerical method (1) a new ion current analysis method was developed which can be applied to bodies with complex shapes such as biological bodies. (2) The method is based on the boundary element method, (3) the space charge terms were processed under an assumption of a lumped source of ion current, and (4) comparing the theoretical and experimental data, the error was evaluated. The method was then applied to biological bodies. It was found that the electric field on the surface of the biological body in the ion current field becomes larger than the one obtained in the Laplace field without ion current. This result indicates the importance of the analysis of the ion current field. Further, the variation of the electric field concentration accompanied by changes in the posture of the human body were clarified. The variation of the surface electric field when a body is charged by the ion current was clarified, as well. Hence, this paper provides useful information on the determination of the safety standard and on evaluation of the biological effects of ion current field.