SDG 17.KazNU scientists will produce a device for measuring telluric currents.

KazNU scientists will produce a device for registering telluric currents together with specialists of the Special Design and Technology Bureau "Granit" (Almaty, Kazakhstan).

Scientists of the Faculty of Physics and Technology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University are conducting research to prevent power loss and major accidents. Project topic: "Development of criteria for assessing the impact on main power transmission lines and oil and gas pipelines of geomagnetically induced currents".The project manager is Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Saule Mukasheva. Scientific novelty and fundamental differences of the project idea from existing analogues in the world – research is being conducted for the first time in the region where there are long main power transmission lines, long pipelines, transit railways connecting Asia with Europe.KazNU physicists are investigating negative electromagnetic effects taking into account space factors in conducting ground systems (power lines, pipelines) on the territory of Kazakhstan. The values of geomagnetically induced currents are estimated on the basis of measurements of the parameters of the geomagnetic field and telluric currents, as well as numerical calculations using models of ionospheric currents and Earth conductivity. This project is aimed at solving the issues of technosphere security (including in the environmental aspect) of the functioning of the country's energy system, which today are necessary for the life of the entire economy of Kazakhstan, including strategic important areas such as energy, oil and gas industry, transport and logistics.

According to S. Mukasheva, the project has good prospects. With its implementation, specialists will be able to keep records of the intensity and frequency of occurrence of geomagnetic-induced currents, which will ensure 15-20% efficiency of trouble-free operation of the country's energy network. According to this project, scientists have published articles in rating, peer-reviewed publications, collections of international conferences of 20 scientific papers: 4 (Scopus); 4 (RSCI); 5 (KOKSNVO); 7 (in the materials of international conferences).The project will continue until the end of 2023, and during the implementation of the project, a prototype device for registering telluric currents was manufactured on the basis of the co-executor organization of the Special Design and Technology Bureau "Granit".The creation of a prototype device for measuring telluric currents will provide a good opportunity for the subsequent commercialization of the project.

It should be noted that there are no direct analogues of such devices on the market. The scientific developers have received a patent for the invention and its potential consumers are the Kazakh company for the management of electric networks "KEGOC", the Company "Asian Gas Pipeline".