Calculation of electric fields in electrical high-voltage equipment

The impact of electric fields is a factor that had a negative effect on power plant personnel and equipment. To calculate electric fields, simplified models are used. Currently, a variety of analytical and numerical methods for the calculation of electric fields have been developed. In most cases, calculation of electric fields is very complex and the design of the analytical solution can require rough approximations, leading to significant errors. Thus, numerical methods play a large role. When different methods are used, the structures of the initial data needed for solving specific problems can be different; moreover, the number of calculations in different methods can differ significantly. The calculation of electric fields in high voltage cells is of great practical importance. For different systems that provide safety in high voltage electrical plants—in particular, in the cells of a complete distributed device—it is necessary to manage the electric fields of a complex configuration. To prevent the personnel from making mistakes, it is necessary to have sensors that detect the electric field strength coming from disconnected lines or generated in the high voltage cells. As a result, the object generating the electric field is identified and the location mode of the registering sensors is determined. Most currently existing sensors are not optimized for various power plants—in particular, for highvoltage cells. The main stages of analysis and calculation of electric fields are considered. A simplified calculation of the electric field strength distribution in the high-voltage cell is carried out. Optimal locations for electric fields sensors responding to the presence or absence of voltage on the individual elements of the high voltage cell are determined. © 2015, Allerton Press, Inc.