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Electromagnetic Pulse

Lee Layton, P.E.


Course Outline

The course begins with a look at the historical above ground nuclear detonation tests and the impact they had on the electric power industry.  Also, societal impacts of major electrical disruptions are discussed.  The second chapter explains in detail how EMP is generated and the components of EMP.  Chapter three explains how the electric power industry is structured and then Chapter Four discusses the vulnerabilities of the electric power industry to EMP.  Finally, Chapter Five discusses some of the options available to help the industry mitigate the impacts of EMP.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

After taking this course you should,

Intended Audience

This course is intended for electrical engineers and others who want to understand how the electric power industry may be affected by EMP.

Benefit to Attendees

There is a growing concern that terrorist may use a small nuclear device to generate a severe EMP over the U.S. which could render a significant portion of the electric power industry inoperable.  This course will give you a better understanding of the risks and how the industry might mitigate some of the risks associated with EMP.

Course Introduction

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a burst of electromagnetic radiation that results from the detonation of a nuclear weapon and/or a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field. The resulting rapidly changing electric fields and magnetic fields may couple with electric systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges.

Briefly, a single nuclear weapon exploded at high altitude above the United States will interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) radiating down to the Earth and additionally create electrical currents in the Earth. The electromagnetic fields produced by weapons designed and deployed with the intent to produce EMP have a high likelihood of damaging electrical power systems, electronics, and information systems. Their effects on dependent systems and infrastructures could be sufficient to qualify as catastrophic to the U.S.

Because of the ubiquitous dependence on the electrical power system, its vulnerability to an EMP attack, coupled with the EMP’s particular damage mechanisms, creates the possibility of long-term, catastrophic consequences. The implicit invitation to take advantage of this vulnerability, when coupled with increasing proliferation of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, is a serious concern. A single EMP attack may seriously degrade or shut down a large part of the electric power grid in the geographic area of EMP exposure effectively instantaneously. There is also a possibility of functional collapse of grids beyond the exposed area, as electrical effects propagate from one region to another.

Electrical power is necessary to support other critical infrastructures, including supply and distribution of water, food, fuel, communications, transport, financial transactions, emergency services, government services, and all other infrastructures supporting the national economy and welfare. Should significant parts of the electrical power infrastructure be lost for any substantial period of time, and the consequences are likely to be catastrophic, and many people may ultimately die for lack of the basic elements necessary to sustain life in dense urban and suburban communities. Such impacts are likely in the event of an EMP attack unless practical steps are taken to provide protection for critical elements of the electric system and for rapid restoration of electric power, particularly to essential services. The recovery plans for the individual infrastructures currently in place essentially assume, at worst, limited upsets to the other infrastructures that are important to their operation. Such plans may be of little or no value in the wake of an EMP attack because of its long-duration effects on all infrastructures that rely on electricity or electronics.

This course looks at the history of EMP effects as well as other catastrophic events to the electric power grid.  The course explains the technical aspects of EMP, described the electric power system structure, and provides an overview of the vulnerabilities and mitigation options that electric utilities may employ to protect their systems from the effects of EMP.

Course Content

This course content is in the following PDF document:

Electromagnetic Pulse

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Course Summary

History has shown that the electric power industry is susceptible to EMP.  The increased reliance on electronics to control the electric power grid, along with thinner operating margins, put the electric power grid at greater risk than ever before.

The continuing need to improve and expand the electric power system as a normal course of business provides an opportunity to judiciously improve both security and reliability in an economically acceptable manner — provided that technically well-informed decisions are made with accepted priorities.

By protecting key system components, structuring the network to maximize fringe service, through the non-synchronous interconnections, expanding the black start and system emergency power support, creating comprehensive recovery plans for the most critical power needs, and providing adequate training of personnel, the risk of catastrophic impact from EMP can be significantly reduced. The mitigation plan must be developed by the electric power industry, instilled into systems operations, and practiced to maintain a ready capability to respond. It must also be fully coordinated with the interdependent infrastructures, owners, and producers.

Most of the precautions identified to protect and restore the system from EMP will also apply to cyber and physical attacks.  However, the solutions must not seriously penalize the existing and excellent system but should enhance its performance wherever possible.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.