Panos A Razis

Electric and magnetic field measurements around overhead and underground power lines have been performed extensively within a transmission and distribution electric grid. Measurements have been performed at different heights of the human body close to such transmission and distribution power lines that operate at a frequency of 50 Hz, at different currents and at three different voltages of 11, 66 and 132 kV. These measurements were performed in an attempt to firstly verify that the existing measurements fall within the signified guidelines for electric and magnetic field exposure, published in 1998 by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Furthermore, and most importantly, were used to validate/develop a model capable of predicting the magnetic field produced in both overhead and underground transmission and distribution power lines using experimental measurements. This is achieved by establishing a linear correlation between the current load of one of the two three phase circuits and the magnetic field, in an attempt to predict the magnetic fields produced in power lines using the SCADA system at overloaded periods.

Abstract In this paper, the electric and magnetic flux density values in open type air substations are analyzed. For this reason, an extensive measurement survey was conducted to identify potential large sources of electric and magnetic fields within seven 132/11 kV open type air substations always having them compared with the International Commission Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) safety guidelines published in 1998. The maximum electric and magnetic flux density values obtained in the open air circuitry units are found to be 7696 and 7306.5 V m−1 and 45.89, 38.11, 35.30 μT, which are 1.30, 1.37, and 10.9, 11.3, 14.1 times below the safety guidelines of the ICNIRP. In one of the coil rooms, the magnetic flux density was found to be 6.26 times above the safety guidelines, constituting an immediate threat to working personnel of the substation. Furthermore, a simplistic theoretical methodology based on experimental measurements is proposed that establishes a linear correlation between the transformer current and the maximum magnetic flux density based on Biot–Savart law, provided that the distance from the source remains constant, to predict the magnetic flux density by extrapolation to the permitted and nominal currents and compare them to the safety guidelines of the ICNIRP.

A simplistic numerical methodology for calculating the magnetic fields in open air type substations around bus bars and single line conductors is suggested based on the finite element analysis of electrodynamics equations. The suggested methodology is firstly validated through direct comparison with experimental results at the 66/11 kV substation of Latsia in Cyprus. Thereafter, the validated numerical methodology is used to predict the magnetic field values at nominal currents and the resulting fields are compared with the International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) field guidelines, dictating whether regulation limits are surpassed. It is found that the measured and the predicted magnetic field values are within the safety guidelines of the ICNIRP.

The Space Race in the second half of the 20th century was primarily concerned with getting there and back. Gradually, technology and international collaboration opened new horizons, but human activity was mostly restricted around Earth’s orbit, while robotic missions were sent to solar system planets and moons. Now, nations and companies claim extraterrestrial resources and plans are in place to send humans and build bases on the Moon and Mars. Exploration and discovery are likely to be followed by exploitation and settlement. History suggests that the next step is the development of space industry. The new industrial revolution will take place in space. Chemical engineers have been educated for more than a century on designing processes adapted to the Earth’s conditions, involving a range of raw materials, atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, solar radiation, and 1-g. In space, the raw materials differ, and the unique pressure, temperature and solar radiation conditions require new approaches and methods. In the era of space exploration, a new educational concept for chemical engineers is necessary to prepare them for playing key roles in space. To this end, we introduce Astrochemical Engineering as an advanced postgraduate course and we propose a 2-year 120 ECTS MEng curriculum with a brief description of the modules and learning outcomes. The first year includes topics such as low-gravity process engineering, cryogenics, and recycling systems. The second year includes the utilization of planetary resources and materials for space resources. The course culminates in an individual design project and comprises two specializations: Process Engineering and Space Science. The course will equip engineers and scientists with the necessary knowledge for the development of advanced processes and industrial ecologies based on closed self-sustained systems. These can be applied on Earth to help reinvent sustainability and mitigate the numerous challenges humanity faces.

We present the results obtained by the Standard Model Process group in the CERN Workshop "Physics at LEP2" (1994/95).