Power Systems Modeling Laboratory

EMI Assessments

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Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) produced by High Voltage AC power supply systems and AC traction systems is a rigid concern for nearby buried metallic pipelines. The main concern lies with electrical hazards to people in contact with the pipelines’ exposed parts. Other adverse concerns are ranging from accelerated corrosion to pipelines’ failure. To this extent, many international standards are providing safety limits, relevant to the interference that can be tolerated on the metallic pipelines. These limits primarily refer to the total acceptable interference voltage produced on pipelines, by the normal operating conditions of all nearby AC interfering sources (i.e. overhead lines, power cables, electrified railway systems). Within these standards, there is also an explicit reference to the acceptable interference voltage limits that apply, when the fault conditions, of a single AC interfering system acting alone, are considered. Nonetheless, estimating AC interference on pipelines is a complex problem with multiple interacting variables, affecting both the impact and consequences. This necessitates specialist knowledge in the fields of pipelines’ protection and in earthing/grounding practices.
 
Technical Consultancy:

  • Holistic Modelling Approach using a mix of methods and software for:
    • Evaluating Electrical Safety of Persons and Livestock
    • Evaluating Damage of the Pipeline Systems
    • Evaluating A.C. Corrosion Likelihood
  • Design Review (including C.P., earthing systems, dc-decoupling devices, spark-gap devices and insulation joints)
  • Ensure Compliance with Applicable Standards & Regulations
  • Design of Effective Mitigation Solutions
 
List of Completed Projects:

  • AC Interference and Mitigation Study on Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) – LOT 2/3, Kavalla to Albania Section, October 2016.
  • AC Interference and Mitigation Study on Natural Gas Pipeline due to the Operation of a 20. 8 MW Wind Park, H.G.T.S., March 2017
  • AC Interference and Mitigation Study on Natural Gas Pipeline due to the Operation of a 14 MW Wind Park, H.G.T.S., April 2017
  • AC Interference Study for an Armoured Umbilical in the same Trench as a Carbon Steel Pipeline, Intertek UK & Wintershall Noordzee B.V. (NTH), July 2017.
  • AC Interference Study on a Water Pipeline Aligned with 22kV Underground Cables, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, October 2017.
  • AC Interference Study on Natural Gas Pipeline due to Interconnection of an U.G.L 150 kV, H.G.T.S., October 2017.
  • AC Interference Study on Natural Gas Pipeline due to Upgrade of a Commercial Unit’s MV Power requirements, H.G.T.S., June 2018
  • AC Interference Study on Natural Gas Pipeline due to a 16.2 MW Wind-Park Connection, H.G.T.S., October 2018.
 
List of Relevant Peer-Reviewed Publications:

  • C.A. Charalambous, A. Dimitriou, A. Lazari and A. I. Nikolaidis, “Effects of Electromagnetic Interference on Underground Pipelines caused by the Operation of High Voltage A.C. Traction Systems: The Impact of Harmonics”, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, DOI (identifier) 10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2803080, February 2018.
  • N. Kioupis, A. Lazari, N. Kokkinos, T. Manolis, C.A. Charalambous, ‘AC Interference Study on DESFA Natural Gas Pipeline due to the Operation of a 20.8 MW Wind Park’, CEOCOR Conference, 16-19 May 2017, Luxemburg.
  • N. Kioupis, , T. Manolis, P. Papadimitriou and C.A. Charalambous, “Failures of insulating joints and spark gaps on the Hellenic Gas Pipeline System – a case study”, CEOCOR Conference, 15-18 May 2018, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK.
  • N. Kokkinos, A. Dimitriou, C.A. Charalambous, N. Kioupis, T. Manolis, “AC and Transient Risk Assessment for buried Pipelines,” NACE International’s CORROSION Conference & Expo, March 24-28, 2019  Nashville, Tennessee.
  • C. A. Charalambous, A. Dimitriou, I. Gonos, T. Papadopoulos, “Modelling and Assessment of Short-Term Electromagnetic Interference on a Railway System from Pole-to-Ground Faults on HVDC Cable Networks”, Special Session in Modelling of electromagnetic fields, lightning, electromagnetic couplings in power lines, IEEE I&CPS and EEEIC 2019, 3rd Industrial and Commercial Power System Europe and 19th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering, Genoa, Italy, June 11-14, 2019.
  • D. Chrysostomou, A. Dimitriou, N. Kokkinos, C. A. Charalambous, “Short-Term Electromagnetic Interference on a Buried Gas Pipeline Caused by Critical Fault Events of a Wind Park: A Realistic Case Study”, Special Session in Modelling of electromagnetic fields, lightning, electromagnetic couplings in power lines, IEEE I&CPS and EEEIC 2019, 3rd Industrial and Commercial Power System Europe and 19th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering, Genoa, Italy, June 11-14, 2019.