The increasing integration of nonlinear loads in modern power systems has made harmonic pollution a critical challenge to the operational safety of power cables. This study develops a frequency-dependent high-voltage cable system model using the ATP-EMTP (Alternative Transients Program-Electro Magnetic Transient Program) electromagnetic transient simulation platform, systematically investigating the amplification mechanisms and propagation characteristics of grounding currents under multi-type harmonic disturbances. A frequency-dependent parameter correction model is established by integrating the conductor skin effect and the dielectric relaxation properties of the insulation layers. This model incorporates the multi-structure combination among conductors, insulation, and metallic screen. It effectively overcomes the limitations of conventional lumped-parameter models in higher frequency harmonic analysis. Key findings are as follows: (1) The combined influence of harmonic frequency and amplitude leads to a grounding current amplification of up to 445 times (at 1950 Hz with 30% distortion level). Notably, current-source excitation produces significantly greater amplification than voltage-source excitation. (2) The distributed capacitance of long-distance cables (>8 km) exacerbates resonance risks within specific frequency bands (750–1250 Hz), resulting in a maximum harmonic amplification factor of 34.73 (observed for the 17th harmonic in a 15 km cable). (3) The contribution of voltage-source harmonics diminishes to less than 5% of the total current at high frequencies (≥1250 Hz), indicating a pattern of current-dominated harmonic superposition.
Qin et al. (2026) studied this question.