UAS Safe Distance due to Magnetic Field of Extra High Voltage Transmission Lines during a Phase-to-Phase Short Circuit

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have become widely prevalent in recent years as a tool to perform inspections of transmission lines. A fault occurring during a transmission line would represent the worst-case electromagnetic environment that the UAS could encounter during an inspection. The impact of the field on the UAS depends largely on the design of the UAS and its size. This paper focuses on the electromagnetic fields around transmission lines due to a phase-to-phase short circuit. These circuits are simulated for 500 kV and 765 kV transmission lines, and the data is used to evaluate safe distances for UAS to operate in case of such events. The results show a much higher electromagnetic field that increases the safe operating distance of the UAS compared to the same transmission line during nominal operation.