Systematic testing, simulation, and mitigation of IEMI risks in medium-voltage substations

Abstract

This paper introduces a comprehensive suite of testing, simulation, and mitigation strategies aimed at evaluating and countering intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) risks in medium-voltage (MV) substations. Diverging from conventional IEMI testing methods, the proposed testing approach assesses the entire substation control system, offering a more precise understanding of its IEMI vulnerabilities. Additionally, a novel simulation method coupling the transmitting antenna model and the full-wave substation model is presented for IEMI estimation, which simplifies the simulation process while maintaining good accuracy. Moreover, to further fortify substations against IEMI risks, a quantitative analysis is established to determine the necessary distance between the substation building and the fencing boundary. This analysis enables the integration of protective measures during the design and construction phase of the substation, substantially mitigating IEMI risks. Through a case study using a typical MV substation, the efficacy and capability of the proposed methods are demonstrated.