Modeling the Currents Induced in the Human Body by an Overhead High Voltage Power Line

Abstract

This paper aims to study the current density induced by a high voltage line in a homogeneous axis-symmetric model of the human body, the analysis being carried out via CST software. After a synthetic overview of the riddles of the currents induced by the electric and magnetic fields having mains frequency, there is presented a simplified human model crafted of 9 rotation bodies: a hemisphere, 4 cylinders and 4 trunks of cone. The resolutions and boundary conditions used to facilitate the calculation of finite-element currents implemented in CST software are then revealed. As reference and starting points, two extreme cases have been considered: just 220 kV voltage, without taking into account the influence of the current through the high voltage line, respectively a 900 A current, without regards to the intrinsic effects of the high voltage. For both cases, the obtained results are presented and commented with focus on the distribution of induced current on the body surface, along with the distribution of the induced currents on the vertical axis or on a horizontal axis. The acquired results have been compared with other determinations or simulations communicated in the literature. The advantages of these simulations are highlighted both from the perspective of the simultaneous study of the cumulative effect of these induced currents in certain parts of the human body as well as from the point of view of future studies on the influence which certain environmental factors (the nature of the soil, the sole of the footwear worn by the subject) can have on induced currents.