Underground Power Cables - Athalassa-Papacosta (Sopaz)

 

The measurements were performed on the 08th of March 2010 at 10:00 am during cloudy weather conditions. The EMF measurements were performed in the area located above the underground cable “District Office-Papacosta (Sopaz)”. The following figures provide pictures of the area where EMF measurements were recorded. 

Area above the underground cable –View 1 Area above the underground cable –View 2

 

Area above the underground cable –View 3 Area above the underground cable –View 4

The underground cables are rated at a nominal voltage of 132 kV and a maximum current capacity of 800A. At the time when the measurements were performed, the load of the underground cable “District Office-Papacosta (Sopaz)” was 160 A which represents the 20% of its maximum current capacity.

Limiting exposure values have been provided by the ICNIRP recommendations and are guidelines to many countries and organisations. The exposure limits at 50 Hz are tabulated in the following table according to the limits given by ICNIRP.

Reference levels for Occupational exposure ICNIRP

Frequency

Electric Field Strength
E (V/m)

Magnetic Field Strength
H (A/m)

Magnetic Flux Density
B (µT)

50 Hz

10000

400

500

Reference levels for General Public exposure ICNIRP

Frequency

Electric Field Strength
E (V/m)

Magnetic Field Strength
H (A/m)

Magnetic Flux Density
B (µT)

50 Hz

5000

80

100

Table 1: ICNIRP exposure limits for Occupational and General public exposure

The maximum obtained values are represented below and compared to the ICNIRP specified limits of General Public standards. The highest magnetic field was observed directly above the underground cable, with a value 2.22 μT (1 m away from the starting point) and a percentage of 2.22 % as compared to the ICNIRP General Public standard.

Maximum magnetic field measurement

Magnetic Field Measurements

Distance from Field Line Starting Point (m)

Maximum Magnetic Field (µT) at Z Height (m)
Percentage of ICNIRP General Public Standard (%)

0.3m

ICNIRP % (100μT)
1m

ICNIRP % (100μT)

1.75m
ICNIRP % (100μT)
Measurement along the underground cable

10.5 m measurement line

2.22

2.22%
1.13 

1.13%

0.78
0.78%
Measurement across the underground cable

12.5 m measurement line

2.17

2.17%
1.11

1.11%

0.75
0.75%

Table 2: Maximum field measurements of underground power cables area

The highest electric field was observed above the underground cable, with a value 1.40 V/m (3 m away from the starting point) and a percentage of 0.03 % as compared to the ICNIRP General Public standard.

Maximum electric field measurement

The following table summarizes the highest recorded measured values for electric field.

Electric Field Measurements

Distance from Field Line Starting Point (m)

Maximum Magnetic Field (µT) at Z Height (m)
Percentage of ICNIRP General Public Standard (%)

0.3m

ICNIRP % (100μT)
1m

ICNIRP % (100μT)

1.75m
ICNIRP % (100μT)
Measurement along the underground cable

5.5 m measurement line

--

--
0.73

0.01%

0.78
0.02%
Measurement across the underground cable

5.5 m measurement line

--

-- 
0.77

0.02%

1.40
0.03%

Table 3: Maximum Electric field measurements of underground power cables area