The effect of floating-potential conductors on the electric field near overhead transmission lines

The use of helicopters as platforms equipped with infrared and UV detection, digital cameras and other inspection equipment is an effective method of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of transmission line inspection. However, as a 'floating-potential conductor' near to a high-voltage transmission line, a helicopter causes distortion of the local electric field, with regions of high electric field near the helicopter's surface where the curvature is high. In this paper, these fields are investigated both by calculation and experimentally, using a simple metal sphere, and then a model of a helicopter, placed near to a short length of energized transmission line conductor. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.