On The Potential and Field Distribution Around a Ground Electrode for HVDC Transmission

The use of earth as the return path for the current presents a highly attractive aspect of power transmission by direct current (HVDC). This is not without raising considerable controversy on the possible corrosion and communication disturbances to existing pipe, cable and other systems buried in the earth. Since a close relationship exists between these various disturbing effects and the local values of the potential and potential gradient, a knowledge of these quantities are of prime importance in evaluating the feasibility and performance of this power transmission technique.