Publications

Abstract not provided.

Determining the effectiveness of surge and pulse protection devices in the United States power grid against effects of a High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) is crucial in determining the present state of grid resilience. Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS) are used to protect loads in substations from transient overvoltages. Designed to mitigate the effects of lightning, their response to a HEMP event is unknown and was determined. TVSSs were tested in two unique configurations using a pulser that generates pulses in the tens of nanoseconds scale to determine their protective capability as well as to determine their self-resilience against HEMP pulses. Testing concluded that TVSS devices adequately protect against microsecond scale pulses like lightning but do not protect against pulses resembling HEMP events. It suggests that TVSS devices should not be relied upon to mitigate the effects of HEMP pulses.

Sandia National Laboratories sponsored a three-year internally funded Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) effort to investigate the vulnerabilities and mitigations of a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) on the electric power grid. The research was focused on understanding the vulnerabilities and potential mitigations for components and systems at the high voltage transmission level. Results from the research included a broad array of subtopics, covered in twenty-three reports and papers, and which are highlighted in this executive summary report. These subtopics include high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) characterization, HEMP coupling analysis, system-wide effects, and mitigating technologies.

The electric power grid is one of the most critical infrastructures in the modern world, and the continued protection and resilience of this system from threats is of significant concern. One such set of threats is nanosecond-scale transient effects generated by high-altitude electromagnetic pulses, for which the effect on the power grid is still being studied. Lightning surge arresters serve as the current grid protection against fast transients but are designed and modeled for protection against lightning and switching transients. Surge arrester response to faster transients is not well known. This work defines a scalable metal-oxide surge arrester model with specific consideration to frequencies attributed to fast transient overvoltages from electromagnetic pulses. Measurements using vector network analyzer sweeps at low and high bias as well as high-voltage I-V curve traces are presented to define arrester behavior and to parameterize it from measurement data. The proposed model is compared to the standard IEEE model for lightning arresters in this paper. Furthermore, model parameters are defined by scalable terms to be easily implemented for transmission-level devices. The scalable model enables enhanced assessment of protection levels and grid susceptibility against fast transients.

Abstract not provided.

Impacts of a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) on the power grid are a growing concern due to the increased reliance on the power grid. A critical area of research is quantifying power system equipment response to HEMP since this is not known in general. Substation site surveys were performed at seven high voltage substations across the United States to gather substation layout and construction details pertinent to HEMP coupling calculations and component vulnerability assessments. The primary objective for the survey was to gather information on cable layouts and cable construction within substations. Additional information was also gathered on equipment present within the substations and control house layouts. This report provides information gathered from the substation surveys.