Experimental Results of ELF Electric and Magnetic
Fields of Electric Power Systems in Bosnia and
Herzegovina
S. Carsimamovic, Z. Bajramovic, M. Rascic
University of Sarajevo
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
csalih@bih.net.ba
Abstract—Investigations of electric and magnetic fields on 400 kV
transmission lines Tuzla-Visegrad, Sarajevo 10-Sarajevo 20,
Tuzla-Ugljevik and 220 kV transmission line Kakanj-Zenica are
performed. These transmission lines are important objects for
operation of electric power system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In
the paper measurements of extra low frequency (ELF) electric
and magnetic fields (EMF) of single 220 and 400 kV overhead
transmission lines with flat conductor arrangement but with
different horizontal distances between phases and different
heights above ground are presented. These electric and magnetic
field measurements are also compared with calculations results
performed with two software programs (one commercially
available and one developed by authors on the base of a solver).
Also, in the paper the parameters influencing electric and
magnetic fields measurements are investigated.
Keywords-electric and magnetic fields (EMF), transmission
lines, extra low frequency (ELF), electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC)
I. INTRODUCTION
Electrical and magnetic fields, generated from electrical
energy objects are very important from the aspect of their
influence on people and other living organism, as a result of
their impact on surrounding objects (pipelines,
telecommunication lines, etc.). Overhead lines, rated voltage
110, 220 and 400 kV, as a very important part of the electrical
power system, are partially located in populated areas (above
roads, very close ot through urban areas, close to structures,
etc.). In the public there often exists a socio-phenomena
opinion about the negative influence of ‘emission’ from
different electro energetic objects, specifically overhead lines,
and it is very important to register real values of those ELF
EMF. On the other hand, from tha aspect of the safety of the
employees working in substations it is important to understand
the values of electric and magnetic fields produced by
overhead lines and equipment in these substations. Growing
public concern regarding the impact of the electric and
magnetic field resulted in the creation of European guidelines
and very strong standards in certain countries. All of these
documents require limited exposure of professional workers
M. Veledar, E. Aganovic, A. Carsimamovic
Independent System Operator in B&H
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the general population to electromagnetic fields. This is
why it is important to measure values of electric and magnetic
field to get a result and compare it to basic values defined by
the standards. Using digital measuring equipment and
software it is possible to confirm real values of electric and
magnetic field, including approaches for their mitigation
taking into account very specific constructive changes in
overhead lines and substations. Because Bosnia and
Herzegovina still does not have standards in this field, it is
important to look into the situation in surrounding and
European countries and initiate the creation of the necessary
standards documentation in this field. During this process it is
very important to take into account: ICNIRP [1] (International
Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and
European Parliament recommended referent level for public
exposure in the range of 5 kV/m and 200 μT for 50 Hz. On the
other hand according to epidemiologist studies these
limitations are related to magnetic field of 0.3-0.4 μT. As a
result of this, some countries have accepted or have the
intention to accept this precautious approach to implement
lower limits which are much lower than the specified values
from ICNIRP.
II. MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATION OF ELF EMF
A. Measurement
The calculations and measurement of electric and magnetic
fields in vicinity of 400 kV transmission lines Tuzla-Ugljevik,
Tuzla-Visegrad, Sarajevo 10-Sarajevo 20 (under 400 kV) and
Kakanj 5-Zenica (under 220 kV) on the earth's level and on the
1 meter above earth are performed. There are shown the basic
characteristics and the way of the electric and magnetic fields
measurements, over two different measuring instruments for
electric field and three instruments for magnetic field, Fig. 1.
The measuring procedure is performed in the way that one
instrument is maintained in a fixed position for recording the
time variations and the other instrument is moved within the
volume for synchronously recording the space variations [2].
After the measurement, the results are corrected taking into
account the data recorded by the first instrument. This allows
getting a synchronous picture of the field in the space. The The measurement of electric (Fig. 6) and magnetic (Fig. 7)
current measurements in period of measurement (per phases) fields are performed under specified transmission lines and 1
are performed with typical recording intervals of 15 minutes, meter above the ground [3, 4].
Fig. 2.

Figure 4. 400 kV tower dimensions, single-circuit horizontal configuration

Figure 1. Measuring instruments for magnetic induction [3, 4]; a) 3-axis B

meter (3-D sonde); b) 1-axis E and B meter (1-D sonde), c) 3-axis B meter (3-
D sonde)
I (A)
OHL 400 kV Tuzla - Ugljevik. Date: 21.11.2007.
500

450
Figure 5. 400 kV transmissiom line Tuzla-Ugljevik, longitudinal profile
400
E ( k V /m )
7
350
6

300 5

4
250
3

200 2

1
11 12 13 14 15 16 t (h)
0
Figure 2. Typical hourly load variation in period of measure ment for 400 0 5 10 15 20 25 x (m )

kV OHL Tuzla-Ugljevik ( Phase A,  Phase B,  Phase C) [3, 4]

Figure 6. Electric fields at 1 m above ground under sets of conductors; 
400 kV Tuzla-Ugljevik;  400 kV Tuzla-Visegrad;  400 kV Sarajevo
B. Results of measuring of electrical and magnetic fields 10-Sarajevo 20;  220 kV Kakanj 5-Zenica
B ( T)
Specified transmission lines are presented in Fig. 3. 8

Figure 3. Specified transmission lines 3

2
400 kV tower (No. 3, transmission line Tuzla-Ugljevik)
1
dimensions, single-circuit horizontal configuration are
presented in Fig. 4. Longitudinal profile of 400 kV 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 x (m )
transmission line Tuzla-Ugljevik, tower heights and sags are Figure 7. Magnetic fields at 1 m above ground under sets of conductors valid
presented in Fig. 5. for instantaneous load current;  400 kV Tuzla-Ugljevik(I=655 A); 
400 kV Tuzla-Visegrad (I=114 A) ;  400 kV Sarajevo 10-Sarajevo 20
(I=80 A) ;  220 kV Kakanj 5-Zenica (I=264 A)
C. Calculation and comparison -Height of sets of conductors are 8 meter.
Calculation of electric and magnetic fields using the
E (kV/m)
computer programs for electric and magnetic fields developed 10
by authors in the program package MATLAB [5] and EFC- 9
400EP [6] are performed and compared with results of 8
7
measurements. The first one is the program for the calculation 6
of the electric and magnetic fields called Electric Field and 5
Magnetic Field, developed by authors in the program package 4
3
Matlab. Electric field calculation is based on the method of 2
equivalent charges, and the magnetic field calculation on the 1
Biot-Savart law. As an example on Fig. 8a) and b) comparison 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 x
between measurements and calculations for a 400 kV
transmission line Tuzla-Ugljevik are presented. In total, for all a)
measurements and calculations correlation factor for electric B ( T)
field is 0,9573 and for magnetic field is 0,988. 60

50
E (kV /m )
7 40

6 30

5 20

4 10

3 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 x (m)

2
b)
1
Figure 9. Normalized maximum values of a) electric and b) magnetic fields
0 [3, 4];  400 kV Tuzla-Ugljevik ;  400 kV Tuzla-Visegrad ; 
0 5 10 15 20 25 x (m ) 400 kV Sarajevo 10-Sarajevo 20 ;  400 kVKakanj 5-Zenica

a) IV. PARAMETERS INFLUENCING ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC

FIELDS MEASUREMENTS
B ( T)
9
A. Measurement of the unperturbed electric field
8
The horizontal and vertical components of electric field
7 with a single-axis meter are presented in Fig. 10 [7].
6

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 x (m )

b)
Figure 8. Comparison between measurements and calculations for a) electric
and b) magnetic field [3, 4];  measured ,  calculated by Electric and
Magnetic Fields ;  calculated by EFC-400 EP Software

III. POSSIBLE MAXIMUM VALUES OF ELECTRIC AND Figure 10. Measured vertical and horizontal components of electrical field
under 400 kV overhead line 1 meter above the ground [7];  Eres ; 
MAGNETIC FIELDS Evert ;  Ehoriz
Normalized maximum values of electric (Fig. 9a) and
magnetic (Fig. 9b) fields under specified transmission lines Under the conductors of an overhead line, between 0 and
and 1 meter above ground are calculated using EFC-400EP 2 m above ground level, the vertical component of the electric
Software on values: field is predominant and varies only slightly with height. It is
-Voltage 420 kV, therefore considered as uniform. The magnitude of this vertical
-Load current 1900 A, and component however varies along a lateral profile (depending
on the horizontal distance to the line) and a longitudinal profile
(depending on the height of the conductors). At a height of
about 1 m above ground, the influence of the horizontal
component on the resultant field is small [8].

B. Probe characteristics
With regard to the general objective of checking
compliance with human exposure guidelines, the measurement
of individual x, y, z components of electric and magnetic
fields is rarely necessary. For all these reasons, the use of a 3-
axis probe is preferred. Single-axis probe can be helpful for
finding the r.m.s. value of the major and minor axis of the
ellipse of the polarized field. This can be useful to obtain a
complete description of the field in the zone of interest with
the minimum and maximum values and also their orientations
in the plane of the ellipse [8, 9]. Components of magnetic
fields using 1-D and 3-D instruments are presented in Fig. 11
[7].
Figure 12. Vertical component of electrical field without and with operator
[7];  EVERT (without operator) ;  EVERT (0.2 m from operator); 
EVERT (1 m from operator)
CONCLUSIONS
Correlation factors between measurements and calculations
are above 0,95 and it shows a good relation and a good base to
continue analysis. Similarity of calculation of normalized
maximum values for standard transmission lines were
expected. Measured values of electric fields are some higher
than reference level of 5 kV/m for 400 kV overhead power line
Tuzla-Visegrad (7.2 kV/m) and for 400 kV overhead power
line Sarajevo 10-Sarajevo 20 (5.47 kV/m). Measured values of
magnetic fields are considerable lower than reference level of
100 PT.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Canton Sarajevo.

Figure 11. Magnetic field under 400 kV overhead line1 meter above the
REFERENCES
ground using 1-D and 3-D instruments, I=35 A, [7];  3-D instrument; [1] ‘Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic
 1-D instrument Bres=  
Bx2  B 2y  Bz2 ;  1-D BZ;  1-D BY;
 1-D BX
C. Operator proximity effects
Measurement of the electric field strength at power
frequency should be carried out in such a way as to reduce to
an acceptable level the interactions caused by the operator and
objects located near the probe. Operator proximity effect is
presented on Fig. 12. Vertical component of electric field 0,
0.5, 1, 1.5 and 1.7 m above ground level without operator and
at a distance 0.2 and 1 meter from operator are measured [7].
Fields (1 Hz-100 kHz), Health Physics 99(6):818-836; 2010
[2] ‘Measurement of electrical and magnetic fields’, Faculty of Electrical
Engineering, Report dated 22.11.2007., Sarajevo, 2007
[3] Carsimamovic, S., Bajramovic Z., Veledar M., Ljevak M., Nuic S.,
Osmokrovic P., ’Impact of Tower Dimensions onto Levels of ELF Electric
and magnetic Fields of 400 kV Overhead Lines, CIGRE 2008, Paper C4-105
>4@ CIGRÉ (TF C4.2.05) ‘Characterization of magnetic fields’, Rev. 9,
September 2006
[5] Electric and Magnetic Fields- computer programs for calculation of
electric and magnetic fields
[6] EFC-400, Manual
[7] ‘Measurement of electrical and magnetic fields’, Faculty of Electrical
Engineering, Report dated 23.09.2010., Sarajevo, 2010
[8] CIGRE WG C4.203, ‘Technical Guide for Measurement of Low
Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields near Overhead Power Lines’, Aug.
2008
[9] IEC 62110, Ed. 12009-08, ‘Electric and magnetic field levels generated by
AC power systems-Measurement procedures with regard to public exposure’