IEC EN 61000-2-10 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) - Part 2-10: Environment - Description of HEMP Environment - Conducted Distortion Test

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of IEC EN 61000-2-10 test. IEC EN 61000-2-10 defines a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) transmitted environment, which is one of the consequences of a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

Those interested in this issue consider two situations:

• high altitude nuclear explosions;
• Low altitude nuclear explosions.

The most important situation for civilian systems is a high-altitude nuclear explosion. In this case, other effects of nuclear explosion such as explosion, ground shock, thermal and nuclear ionizing radiation are not present at ground level. However, the electromagnetic pulse associated with the explosion can destabilize modern society by causing disruption and damage to communications, electronic and electrical power systems. The purpose of this standard is to establish a common reference for the conducted HEMP environment to select realistic stresses to be applied to sacrificial equipment to evaluate their performance.

The IEC has initiated the preparation of standardized methods to protect civil society from the effects of high-power electromagnetic environments, including high-altitude electromagnetic pulse. Such mediums include communications, electrical power, information technology, etc. can break systems.

Historically, much of the attention has focused on early HEMP, formerly simply called HEMP. The term high altitude EMP or HEMP will be used here to include all three types. The term nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) encompasses several categories of nuclear EMPs, including those produced by surface explosions (source zone EMPs (SREMPs)) or those generated in space systems (system-generated EMPs SGEMPs).

The electromagnetic field produced by a high altitude nuclear explosion described in IEC EN 61000-2-9 can induce currents and voltages in all metallic structures. These currents and voltages propagated in the conductors represent the conducted medium. This means that the conducted medium is only a secondary phenomenon that is a result of the radiated field.

All metallic structures (i.e. wires, conductors, pipes, ducts, etc.) will be affected by HEMP. The operating environment is important because it can direct the HEMP energy to sensitive electronics through the signal, power, and ground connections. It should be noted that there are two different categories of conductors: external and internal conductors (in relation to a building or other enclosure). While this may seem simple, this distinction is critical to the information to be provided in this standard.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with IEC EN 61000-2-10 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.