Low-frequency dosimetry of inhomogeneous magnetic fields using the coil source model and the household appliance

In this paper, the magnetic field properties and the dosimetry at ELF (50 Hz) are investigated using a coil model, which is prescribed in the European standard EN50366 (CENELEC) as a substitute source model for real household appliances. The accuracy of magnetic field vectors and values of the induced current density, which is achieved with the coil model, were compared with the results of two test appliances (a drilling machine and a hand mixer) obtained from the equivalent source model. It was demonstrated that the magnetic fields obtained (dominant component and strength) using the coil model and the real appliance show an agreement with each other with a maximum difference of 5 dB. The calculated induced current densities in the numerical human body models (homogeneous and anatomical body models) and the real appliances also show a good agreement with each other with a maximum difference by a factor of 1.6 (by the anatomical body model). Furthermore, the values of both field vectors and induced current density values calculated using the coil model were shown to be higher than those calculated in the case of the real appliances. Based on these results, the applicability of the coil model prescribed in EN50366 confirms that of the two applied test appliances.