An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) can have devastating consequences for electronic components, electrical systems, and the nation’s critical infrastructure. While EMPs can be both natural and man-made, the events can damage and/or disrupt significant portions of the nation’s infrastructure, including but not limited to the electrical grid, communication systems, water treatment processes, electronics, and transportation systems. In addition, an EMP event can have cascading effects, initially impacting one or more infrastructure sectors, spilling over into additional sectors, and expanding beyond the initial affected geographic region due to the interconnectivity of the various infrastructure sectors throughout the national grid. Therefore, it is critical to provide adequate protection to critical infrastructure systems. EMP protection involves a layered approach that includes isolation, shielding, EMP filtering, surge protection and grounding. With shielding having the greatest influence, materials have been developed with electromagnetic shielding levels capable of significantly reducing and/or blocking the effects of an EMP to a level that can be readily handled with filtering and surge protection. Upon implementation, these materials can minimize potential damage from the components of an EMP event, resulting in an energy and communication infrastructure capable of uninterrupted operation.
Topics Included in Webinar
- Examples of EMP Event to Infrastructure
- EMP Sources
- EMP Event Characteristics
- EMP Minimization and Protection Techniques
- EMP Shielding Developments
- EMP Vulnerability Modelling
- Application of EMP Protection to Infrastructure