In the recent years, there has been a trend to run metallic pipelines carrying petroleum products and high voltage AC power lines parallel to each other in a relatively narrow strip of land. The case of electromagnetic interference between high voltage transmission lines and metallic pipelines has been a topic of major concern since the early 60’s. The main reasons for that are: • The ever increasing cost of right-of-ways, suitable for power lines and pipelines, along with recent environmental regulations, aiming to protect nature and wildlife, has forced various utilities to share common corridors for both high voltage power lines and pipelines. Therefore, situations where a pipeline is laid at close distance from a transmission line for several kilometers have become very frequent. • The rapid increase in energy consumption, which has led to the adoption of higher load and short circuit current levels, thus making the problem more acute. Due to this sharing of the right-of-way, overhead AC power line field may induce voltages on the metallic pipelines running in close vicinity leading to serious adverse effects. This electromagnetic interference is present both during normal operating conditions as well as during faults. The coupling of the field with the pipeline takes place either through the capacitive path or through the inductive or conductive paths. In the present work, the induced voltages due to capacitive and inductive coupling on metallic pipelines running in close vicinity of high voltage power transmission lines have been computed.The conductor surface field gradients calculated for the various phaseconfigurations have been presented in the thesis. Also the electric fields under transmission lines, for both single circuit and double circuit (various phase arrangements) have been analysed. Based on the above results, an optimum configuration giving the lowest field under the power line as well as the lowest conductor surface gradient has been arrived at and for this configuration induced voltage on the pipeline has been computed using the Charge Simulation Method (CSM). For comparison, induced voltages on the pipeline have been computed for the various other phase configurations also. A very interesting result is that the induced voltage on the pipeline becomes almost negligible at a critical lateral distance from the center of the powerline and beyond which the induced voltage again increases.This critical distance depends on the conductor configuration. Hence it is suggested that the pipeline be located close to the critical distance so that the induced voltage would be close to zero. For calculating the induced voltage due to the inductive coupling, electromotive force (EMF),induced along the pipeline due to the magnetic field created by the transmission line has been calculated. The potential difference between the pipeline and the earth, due to the above induced EMFs, is then calculated. As the zones of influence are generally formed by parallelism, approaches, crossings as well as removals, the computation involves subdividing the zone into several sections corresponding to these zones. The calculation of voltages is carried out at both the ends of the sections. Each section is represented by an equivalent π electrical network, which is influenced by the induced EMF. The induced EMF is calculated during faulted conditions as well as during steady state conditions. Inductive coupling calculations have been carried out for the following cases: •Perfect parallelism between powerline and pipeline. •zone of influences formed by parallelism, approaches, crossings and removals. It has been observed that when the pipeline is approaching the HV transmission line at an angle, then running parallel for certain distance and finally deviating away, the induced voltage is maximum at the point of approach or removal of the pipeline from the transmission line corridor.The induced voltage is almost negligible near to the midpoint of the zone of influence. The profile of the induced voltage also depend on whether the pipeline is grounded or left open circuited at the extremities of the zone of influence. Effect of earth resistivity and anti-corrosive coatings on induced voltage has also been studied. For mitigating the induced voltage on the pipeline,numerous low resistive earthings have been suggested. Results show that significant reduction in induced voltage can be achieved as the number of earth points is increased.

Η πολύπλοκη μορφή που απέκτησαν οι χρηματοοικονομικές αγορές κατά τη διάρκεια των δύο τελευταίων δεκαετιών, είχε ως αποτέλεσμα την απώλεια πολύ υψηλών κεφαλαίων από τις επιχειρήσεις και από τις τράπεζες. Η ανάγκη για συστηματική μέτρηση του χρηματοοικονομικού κινδύνου οδήγησε στην επινόηση του μεγέθους της αξίας σε κίνδυνο (Value-at-Risk, VaR). Η μέθοδος αυτή παρέχει στον ενδιαφερόμενο έναν αριθμό που εκφράζει τη μέγιστη αναμενόμενη ζημία μίας επένδυσης για δεδομένη χρονική περίοδο και δεδομένο επίπεδο εμπιστοσύνης. Παρά το γεγονός ότι η VaR έχει κάποιους περιορισμούς που απαιτούν τη χρήση stress test και scenario test, συνολικά, η VaR είναι η καλύτερη ανεξάρτητη τεχνική μέτρησης των κινδύνων που είναι διαθέσιμη. Στόχος της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η μέτρηση της VaR ενός χαρτοφυλακίου. Επιπλέον, μέσα από αυτήν την εργασία θα γίνει κατανοητό τι είναι η VaR, πώς μπορεί να υπολογιστεί, ποια είναι τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά της και ποια είναι τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματά της. Τέλος, ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δίνεται στην παρουσίαση των μεθόδων υπολογισμού της VaR. / The inextricable form of the financial markets during the last two decades result in the loss of high capital from the businesses and banks. The need of a systemic measurement of the financial risk leads to the invention of the Value-at-Risk method. This method provides the interested person with a number which expresses the potential maximum loss of an investment for a given period of time and a given confidence level. Despite the fact that VaR has some restrictions demanding the use of stress test and scenario test, altogether, VaR is the best independent measuring technique of the risks that it is available. The aim of this dissertation is to measure the VaR of a portfolio. Moreover, it will be registered what VaR is, how it can be measured, which are its main characteristics, its advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, more emphasis is given to the presentation of the measuring methods of VaR.

Magistro darbe nagrinėjamas šiuo metu vienas moderniausių rizikos matų – rizikos vertė (angl.Value-at-risk) Analizuojami trys pagrindiniai VaR rodiklio skaičiavimo metodai: variacijos/kovariacijos, istorinio modeliavimo ir Monte Karlo simuliacijos keliamų prielaidų, sudėtingumo ir adekvatumo požiūriais. Visų trijų metodų pagalba dabartinėmis rinkos sąlygomis atliekami empiriniai tyrimai, siekiant įvertinti rizikos vertes valiutų ir akcijų rinkose, atlikta gautų rizikos verčių palyginamoji analizė bei patikrintas naudotų metodų tikslumas. Autorės suformuluota hipotezė, kad VaR rodiklio skaičiavimo metodai nėra tinkami naudoti pereinamuoju laikotarpiu kuomet ekonominė aplinka ir padėtis nėra stabili iš dalies patvirtinta, nes atliktų tyrimų rezultatai atmetė tik variacijos/kovariacijos bei istorinio modeliavimo metodų tinkamumą. / In this master‘s work analyzed one of the modern risk measurements – Value-at-Risk (VaR). The paper examined three main VaR calculation methods: variance/covariance, historical simulation and Monte Carlo generations satisfying in the terms of the assumptions, adequacy and complexity. For all three methods was carried out empirical studies to assess the risk of currency and stock markets, made comparative analysis of the obtained risk values and verified accuracy of used methods in the current market conditions. The authors formulated the hypothesis that the VaR indicator calculation methods are not suitable for use during the transitional period when the economic environment and situation is not stable partially confirmed because the results of tests performed to reject just the variance / covariance and historical simulation methods.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-05-29T13:55:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 5619701 bytes, checksum: 3d5e3403144a3249722499b4dea043e9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-29T13:55:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 5619701 bytes, checksum: 3d5e3403144a3249722499b4dea043e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / It is presented in this thesis, a proposal for solution of engineering problems in heat transfer area using the network simulation method (NSM - Network Simulation Method), which is to solve these problems by analogy between the thermal circuits and electrical circuits. It will be presented to validate the two-dimensional problem of heat conduction in a cylinder in which the solutions obtained by simulation with the solution analytically obtained via Technical Generalized Integral Transform will face (GITT). In the simulations makes up the body discretization study with the aim of establishing a correlation between the amount of cells (the mesh refinement) and the relationship between the radius of the size and length of the cylinder so that the problem solution of heat transfer in the body can be considered one-dimensional. A comparison will be made between the analytical response and obtained by simulation, varying the number of divisions and different relationships between beam dimensions and length of the cylinder. From the solution validated the proposed method, applying the work presented as a generic fabric prepared by the NSM and implementation PSPICE, which serves for solving many problems of heat conduction in a cylindrical geometry. / É apresentada neste trabalho de tese, uma proposta para solução de problemas de engenharia na área de transferência de calor utilizando o método de simulação de rede (NSM – Network Simulation Method), que consiste na resolução destes problemas pela analogia existente entre os circuitos térmicos e os circuitos elétricos. Nele será apresentada a validação do problema bidimensional de condução de calor em um cilindro, no qual, serão confrontadas as soluções obtidas por simulação com a solução obtida analiticamente via Técnica da Transformada Integral Generalizada (GITT). Nas simulações realizadas fazse a discretização do corpo em estudo, com o objetivo de se estabelecer uma correlação entre a quantidade de células (refinamento da malha) e a relação entre o tamanho do raio e comprimento do cilindro para que a solução do problema de transferência de calor no corpo possa ser considerada unidimensional. A comparação se dará entre a resposta analítica e a obtida por simulação, variando o número de divisões e as diferentes relações entre as dimensões raio e comprimento do cilindro. A partir da solução validada pela metodologia proposta, o trabalho apresenta como aplicação, uma malha genérica elaborada através do NSM e implementação no PSPICE, a qual serve para resolução de diversos problemas de condução de calor em geometria cilíndrica.

Orientadores: Denis José Schiozer, Célio Maschio / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica e Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T20:38:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Davolio_Alessandra_D.pdf: 20299340 bytes, checksum: 39bd0e5f79603d95c1cb4c74b2616103 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O foco deste trabalho é usar dados de engenharia de reservatórios gerados através da simulação de fluxos para melhorar a interpretação quantitativa da sísmica 4D. A ideia é usar os conhecimentos de engenharia para minimizar possíveis informações incorretas geradas pela sísmica 4D, antes de usá-la para atualizar modelos de simulação de reservatórios em um procedimento de ajuste de histórico. Neste trabalho a integração entre estes dois conjuntos de dados é feita no domínio da pressão e saturação. Dessa forma, a primeira parte do trabalho apresenta uma metodologia para estimar variações de pressão e saturação a partir da sísmica 4D através de um procedimento de inversão petro-elástica. Este procedimento pode ser visto como uma ferramenta para aplicar a metodologia de integração da segunda parte, que é uma das principais contribuições deste trabalho. A metodologia de integração usa múltiplos modelos de simulação para restringir a estimativa de pressão e saturação a partir da sísmica 4D. Como resultado, observaram-se mapas menos ruidosos que permitem, portanto, uma melhor interpretação das variações ocorridas no reservatório. Seguindo a sequencia tradicional de trabalho, o mapa de saturação estimado foi então usado como dado de entrada em um processo de ajuste de histórico apresentado na terceira parte da tese. Foi mostrado que o procedimento de ajuste gera melhores resultados quando o dado de entrada, neste caso mapa de saturação, respeita o balanço de massa, o que não acontecia para os dados considerados. Assim, uma metodologia para calibrar o volume de água injetada associado ao mapa de saturação gerado pela sísmica 4D é apresentada na última parte do trabalho, que é outra contribuição importante a se destacar. Para melhor controlar os resultados de todas as metodologias aqui apresentadas foram usados dados sintéticos em todo o trabalho. Embora resultados satisfatórios tenham sido observados para este conjunto de dados, é importante destacar que as principais contribuições deste trabalho não são apenas os resultados observados, mas as metodologias propostas, que apresentam uma perspectiva inovadora para integração entre dados de sísmica 4D e engenharia de reservatórios / Abstract: The focus of this work is to use reservoir engineering data from numerical flow simulation to improve the quantitative interpretation of 4D seismic signals. The idea is to use engineering knowledge to minimize possible incorrect information provided by 4D seismic before using it to update reservoir simulation models in a history matching procedure. In this work the integration between the two dataset is done in the pressure and saturation domain. So, the first part of the work presents a methodology to estimate pressure and saturation changes from 4D seismic through a petro-elastic inversion procedure. This procedure can be seen as a tool to apply the integration methodology of the second part which is one of the main contributions of this work. The integration methodology uses multiple simulation models to constrain the estimation of pressure and saturation from 4D seismic. As a result, less noisy maps were obtained, allowing a better interpretation of the reservoir changes. Following the traditional sequence, the estimated saturation map is then used as input to the history matching process presented in the third part of the work. It was shown that the history matching procedure provides better results if the input data, in this case the saturation map, respects the expected mass balance, which was not the case for the dataset considered. Thus, a methodology to calibrate the volume of injected water associated to the saturation map provided by 4D seismic is presented in the last part of the work, which is another important contribution to be highlighted. To better control the results of all the methodologies here presented, a synthetic dataset was used in the entire work. Although satisfactory results were observed for this dataset, it is important to highlight that the main contributions of this work are not only the results, but the methodologies proposed, that present an innovative perspective for 4D seismic and reservoir engineering data integration / Doutorado / Reservatórios e Gestão / Doutora em Ciências e Engenharia de Petróleo

Cette thèse s'intéresse à l'analyse des variables d'opinion. Les opinions couvertes concernent spécifiquement des questions économiques comme le niveau de bien-être, la situation financière, le niveau minimum de revenu nécessaire pour vivre dignement, la préférence pour la redistribution. Le traitement de ces variables d'opinion et leur mise en relation avec les grandeurs économiques traditionnelles comme le niveau de revenu ou sa dynamique nécessitent des techniques micro-économétriques spécifiques. Dans cette thèse, les modèles dynamiques de panel sont utilisés pour étudier la mobilité des revenus et la mobilité des statuts d'emploi. Dans le dernier chapitre, nous discutons également le modèle Tobit dynamique et l'importance des conditions initiales. Dans les modèles de panel, se pose la question du choix entre effet fixe et effet aléatoire. Parce que les variables subjectives sont ordinales et discrètes, les effets fixes sont difficilement identifiables. L'identification des effets aléatoires est moins problématique, mais l'estimation devient pourtant difficile quand la dimension d'intégration augmente. Pour résoudre cela, je l'utilise intensivement les techniques de simulation, soit pour le modèle dynamique multinomial logit, soit pour le modèle dynamique Tobit. La technique de simulation est également appliqué au modèle trivarié probit pour mesurer les corrélations conditionnelles entre trois (ou même plus) variables ordinales. / This dissertation studies option variables. These opinions cover specially economic questions such as the level of wellbeing, financial situations, the minimum income question and the preference for redistribution. The treatment of these opinion variables and their relation to conventional economic questions such as income level or dynamics requires the use of special micro-econometric models. In this dissertation, the dynamics panel models are used to study the job status and income mobility. In the 6 chapter, we discuss the dynamic Tobit model with an emphasis on initial conditions. The choice between fixed or random effect is another question. Because subjective variables are ordinal and discrete, the identification of fixed effects is problematic. Random effects are better identified while the estimation difficulty increases with the integration dimension. To solve that, I use intensively simulation method in the study of dynamic multinomial logit model or dynamic tobit model. It is also been applied in the trivariate probit model to measure the conditional correlations among more than 2 ordinal variables.

Fondée sur deux analyses empiriques et sur un travail de modélisation théorique, cette thèse traite de la problématique du vieillissement de la population, en France, en termes de dépenses de biens et services de santé, et en termes de prise en charge des personnes âgées dépendantes. Dans un premier chapitre, une méthode de microsimulation dynamique est mise au point afin d'évaluer l'évolution des dépenses de médicaments remboursables (en médecine de ville) sous l'effet du vieillissement de la population et de l'évolution de l'état de santé chronique des personnes âgées. Un deuxième chapitre s'intéresse aux tenants d'une possible réforme de l'Allocation Personnalisée d'Autonomie (APA), qui viserait à récupérer sur la succession une partie des fonds versés aux personnes dépendantes. Nous développons un modèle théorique de transfert intergénérationnel en individualisant les décisions des deux membres d'une famille, un parent dépendant et un enfant aidant informel potentiel. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, nous évaluons empiriquement les facteurs modifiant la demande d'aide à domicile des bénéficiaires de l'APA, en nous concentrant, afin d'anticiper sur de possibles réformes de l'aide publique, sur l'évaluation des effets-prix dans la demande d'aide formelle. / This thesis addresses, using an elaborated theoretical model and two empirical applications, issues related to population ageing and health care expenditures as per the French context. In the first chapter, a method of dynamic microsimulation is developed to assess the evolution of outpatient reimbursable drugs expenditures as a result of the ageing population and the evolution of health status of chronically ill elderly people. The second chapter focuses on the ins and outs of a possible reform of the Personal Allowance for Autonomy (APA), which would seek to recover a portion of the funds paid to disabled elderly on the inheritance of their heirs. A theoretical model of intergenerational transfers is developed to study the individual decisions of a two-member family - a disabled parent and a child who can play the role of informal care giver. The final section presents an empirical evaluation of the factors affecting the demand of APA's recipients for home care. This work examines the price effects in the demand for formal care in order to anticipate possible reforms of public allowance.

Multiphase flows are a common phenomenon. Rains, sediment transport in rivers, snow and dust storms, mud slides and avalanches are examples of multiphase flows occurring in nature. Blood flow is an example of multiphase flow in the human body, which is of vital importance for survival. Multiphase flows occur widely in industrial applications from hydrocarbon extrac-tion to fuel combustion in engines, from spray painting to spray drying, evaporators, pumps and pneumatic conveying. Predicting multiphase flows is of vital importance to understand natural phenomenon and to design and improve industrial processes. Separated flows and dispersed flows are two types of multiphase flows, which occur together in many industrial applications. Physical features of these two classes are different and the transition from one to another involves complex flow physics. Experimental studies of multiphase flows are not easy, as most real world phenomenon cannot be scaled down to laboratory models. Even for those phenomenon that can be demonstrated at lab-oratory scale, rescaling to real world applications requires mathematical models. There are many challenges in experimental measurements of multiphase flows as well. Measurement techniques well suited for single phase flows have constraints when measuring multiphase phenomenon. Un-certainty in experimental measurements poses considerable difficulties in validating numerical models developed for predicting these flows. Owing to the computational effort required, direct simulation of multiphase flows, even for small scale real world applications is out of present scope. Numerical methods have been developed for dealing with each class of flow separately, that in-volves use of models for phenomenon that is computationally demanding. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methods for predicting multiphase flows place strong requirements on turbulence models, as information about fluctuating quantities in the field, that have significant effects on dispersed phase, is not available. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) gives better predictions than RANS as the instantaneous field data is available and large scale unsteadiness that effects the dispersed phase can be captured. Recent LES studies of multiphase flows showed that the sub-grid-scale (SGS) model used for the continuous phase has an effect on the evolution of the dispersed phase. In this work, LES of multiphase flows is performed using Explicit Filtering Large Eddy Sim-ulation method. In this method, spatial derivatives are computed using higher order compact schemes that have spectral-like resolution. SGS modeling is provided by the use of a filter with smoothly falling transfer function. This method is mathematically consistent and converges to a DNS as the grid is refined. It has been successfully applied to combustion and aero-acoustics and this work is the first application of the method to multiphase flows. Study of dispersed multiphase flows was carried out in this work. Modeling of the dispersed phase is kept simple since the in-tention was to evaluate the capability of explicit filtering LES method in predicting multiphase flows. Continuous phase is solved using a compressible formulation with explicit filtering method. Spatial derivatives are computed using fourth and sixth order compact schemes that use derivative splitting method proposed by Hixon & Turkel (2000a) and second order Runge-Kutta (RK2) time stepping. The grid is stretched as needed. Non-reflecting boundary conditions due to Poinsot & Lele (1992) are used to avoid acoustic reflections from boundaries. Buffer zones (Bogey & Bailly (2002)) are employed at outflow and lateral boundaries to damp vortical structures. The code developed for continuous phase is evaluated by studying round jets at Re =36,000 and comparing with experimental measurements of Hussein et al. (1994) and Panchapakesan & Lumley (1993). Simulations showed excellent agreement with experimental results. Rate of decay of axial velocity and the evolution of turbulence intensities on the centerline matched very well with measurements. Radial profiles of mean and fluctuating components of velocities exhibit self-similarity. A set of studies were then performed using this code to assess the effect of numerical scheme, grid refinement & stretching and simulation times on the predictions. Results from these simulations showed good agreements with experiments and established the code for use in multiphase flows under various simulation conditions. To assess the prediction of multiphase flows using this LES method, an evaporating spray ex-periment by Chen et al. (2006) was simulated. The experiment uses a nebuliser for generating a finely atomized spray of acetone, which avoids complex breakdown phenomenon associated with air blast atomizers and provides well defined boundary conditions for model evaluation. The neb-uliser sits upstream in a pipe carrying air and droplets travel along with air for a distance of 10 diameters before exiting into a wind tunnel with co-flowing air. Droplet breakdown, if any, takes place inside the pipe and the spray is finely atomized by the time it reaches pipe exit. One of the experimental cases at Re =31,600, with a mass loading of 1.1% and a jet velocity of 56 m/s is simulated. Particle size has a χsquared distribution with a Sauter mean diameter of 18µm. In the self-similar region, decay of centerline velocity and turbulence intensities matched well with ex-perimental results. Continuous phase exhibits self-similar behavior. A series of simulations were then performed to match the initial region of the spray by altering the inflow conditions in the sim-ulation. Simulation that matched the breakdown location of the experiment revealed the presence of a relaxation zone with a higher initial spreading rate, followed by a lower asymptotic spreading rate. Studies were performed to understand the effect of various phenomenon like evaporation and droplet size on this behavior. A study of breakdown region of particle-laden jets was performed to understand the presence of relaxation zone post breakdown. Flow conditions were similar to evaporating spray experiment except that particles do not evaporate, mass loading is 2% and jet Reynolds number Re =2000. A series of grid refinements were performed and on the largest grid, gird spacing Δy =7.5η, where ηis an estimate of the Kolmogorov length scale based on flow conditions. Decay of axial velocity on the centerline showed variations with grid refinement, tending to the experimentally measured value as the grid is refined. Variation of turbulence intensities along the centerline revealed a jump in axial velocity fluctuations at the breakdown location, while radial and azimuthal velocities showed a smooth increase to their asymptotic value. This jump was resolved on grid refinement and on fine grids axial velocity fluctuations followed the other two quantities closely in their rise to asymptotic state. Comparison of these quantities with a jet without particles revealed that the flow features are same for a jet with and without particles, and at the mass loading studied, particles have negligible effect on jet breakdown. Another study performed at a higher Reynolds number of Re =11,000, under similar flow conditions showed similar behavior. To assess the ability of predicting dispersed phase, simulations of particle-laden flows at low Stokes number were performed and compared against an experiment by Lau & Nathan (2014). The experiment studies variation of velocity and particle concentration along the centerline, and half widths of a jet velocity and concentration. Particles are injected into a pipe along with air, and the two phase flow is fully developed by the time it exits the pipe into a wind tunnel along with a co-flow. Particles are mono-disperse with a density of 1200 kg/m3. Mass loading is 40% so that particles have a significant effect on the continuous phase. Two cases at particle Stokes number of 1.4, one with Re =10,000, bulk velocity of 12 m/s and particle diameter of 20µm and another with Re =22,500, bulk velocity of 36 m/s and particle diameter of 10µm were simulated. Simulations of both the cases showed good match with experimental measurements of centerline decay for the continuous phase. For the dispersed case, simulations with larger particles showed good match with experimental results, while smaller particles showed differences. This was understood to be the effect of lateral migration which is prominent in case of smaller particles, the models for which have not been used in the present simulation study.

The aim of my thesis was to clarify the basic concepts and calculations in the area of reliability of power distribution, as an important element for increase the quality of supplied electric power, this issue we examined in Chapter 3. In the previous chapter, we explained the fundamental solution of MV networks in the Czech Republic and Germany. In Chapter 4 we explained the difficulties in evaluating their values and comparisons between distributional companies, which follows that there should be a uniform procedure for the storage and collection of data for power outages. And the individual distribution companies should follow this standard.

The developments of new types of conductors and increase of voltage level have driven the need to carry out research on evaluating overhead line acoustic noise. The surface potential gradient of a conductor is a critical design parameter for planning overhead lines, as it determines the level of corona loss (CL), radio interference (RI), and audible noise (AN). The majority of existing models for surface gradient calculation are based on analytical methods which restrict their application in simulating complex surface geometries. This thesis proposes a novel method which utilizes both analytical and numerical procedures to predict the surface gradient. Stranding shape, proximity of tower, protrusions and bundle arrangements are considered within this model. One of UK National Grid's transmission line configurations has been selected as an example to compare the results for different methods. The different stranding shapes are a key variable in determining dry surface fields. The dynamic behaviour of water droplets subject to AC electric fields is investigated by experiment and finite element modelling. The motion of a water droplet is considered on the surface of a metallic sphere. To understand the consequences of vibration, the FEA model is introduced to study the dynamics of a single droplet in terms of phase shift between vibration and exciting voltage. Moreover, the evolution of electric field within the whole cycle of vibration is investigated. The profile of the electric field and the characteristics of mechanical vibration are evaluated. Surprisingly the phase shift between these characteristics results in the maximum field occurring when the droplet is in a flattened profile rather than when it is ‘pointed’.Research work on audible noise emitted from overhead line conductors is reviewed, and a unique experimental set up employing a semi-anechoic chamber and corona cage is described. Acoustically, this facility isolates undesirable background noise and provides a free-field test space inside the anechoic chamber. Electrically, the corona cage simulates a 3 m section of 400 kV overhead line conductors by achieving the equivalent surface gradient. UV imaging, acoustic measurements and a partial discharge detection system are employed as instrumentation. The acoustic and electrical performance is demonstrated through a series of experiments. Results are discussed, and the mechanisms for acoustic noise are considered. A strategy for evaluating the noise emission level for overhead line conductors is developed. Comments are made on predicting acoustic noise from overhead lines. The technical achievements of this thesis are summarized in three aspects. First of all, an FEA model is developed to calculate the surface electric field for overhead line conductors and this has been demonstrated as an efficient tool for power utilities in computing surface electric field especially for dry condition. The second achievement is the droplet vibration study which describes the droplets' behaviour under rain conditions, such as the phase shift between the voltage and the vibration magnitude, the ejection phenomena and the electric field enhancement due to the shape change of droplets. The third contribution is the development of a standardized procedure in assessing noise emission level and the characteristics of noise emissions for various types of existing conductors in National Grid.