DIFFERENTIAL MAGNETOMETER METHOD (DMM) FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENTS (GIC) IN A POWER LINE: TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Electdom Matandirotya – Pierre J. Cilliers – Robert R. van Zyl

   Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) are quasi-DC currents which can occur in a power grid as a result of fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field associated with geomagnetic storms. The differential magnetometer method (DMM) is used as an in-direct method for GIC flowing in power lines. A number of technical aspects need to be considered before carrying out the DMM measurements. The technical aspects presented in this paper are (1) the required magnetometer characteristics, (2) the magnetometer calibration process and (3) the alignment of the magnetometer under the power line to enhance the accuracy of the measurements.

Keywords: geomagnetically induced currents, differential magnetometer measurements

[full-paper]