Spacers are used to stabilize the space between the multiple bundle conductors of high-voltage overhead transmission lines to maintain electrical performance and reduce bundled conductor galloping. In AC transmission lines

spacers give rise to energy consumption due to the alternating electromagnetic field of the power frequency

thus incurring electric energy losses. To study the law of energy consumption distribution of the spacers

a physical model of spacers of 500 kV quad bundle conductors and matching conductors was established. Eddy current density and magnetic field distribution of the quad bundle

conductor spacers with effective values of power frequency currents of 1 000 A

750 A

and 500 A were analyzed by the finite element method. The simulation results show that: the conducting current density distributes largely on the outer stranded line with a magnitude of up to 10

6

A/m

2

because of the skin effect and proximity effect; in case the eddy current density ranges from 104 A/m

2

to 10

5

A/m

2

and it increases with the effective values of conducting currents; two practical methods for reducing the energy consumption of spacers were proposed based on the eddy current distribution law in the clamp.