Some 20-30 years ago the concept of High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) was only mentioned in the brochures on civil defense. Military men were well informed about this effect of nuclear explosion; however information on this topic was strictly confidential. It was pretty sound at that time, considering technical obstructions and expenses related to obtaining of this information. However, this resulted in the fact that until recently civil specialists working in different fields of engineering science had no idea (and some of them are not aware even now) about this phenomenon and the danger that it may pose.
Meanwhile, modern trends of engineering development, resulting in wide-spread use of microelectronics, microprocessors, PCs, quick improvement of microprocessors’ capacity accompaniedbysharp increase of microtransistors count per a unit of volume, reduction of operation voltage and insulation level between internal elements and the layers in a crystal, lead to sharp increase of susceptibility of modern equipment to HEMP and stimulated interest of army men to use HEMP as a self-sufficient and very efficient type of weapon. Now it becomes clear that HEMP is an ideal non-lethal weapon capable to destroy the infrastructure of the enemy almost completely without hecatomb, if a nuclear weapon is exploded at high altitude. This has inspired the military men so much that they ordered development of purely electromagnetic weapon was underway, where powerful electromagnetic emission affecting modern microelectronic and microprocessor-based systems is generated by non-nuclear source. Electromagnetic bombs, shells, granades and missiles with electromagnetic war-heads, mobile units on wheel or track chassis that generate powerful directed electromagnetic radiation capable to destroy electronic equipment from large distances are not science fiction anymore, but contemporary realities.
Unfortunately, these realities are still not broadly addressed by specialists of many field of engineering science, particularly those in the field of electric energy industry. Indeed, electric energy is the foundation of a country’s infrastructure, without which neither water supply system nor communication or any other vital system can operate.
This is a first book in the market emphasizes practical recommendations on protection of power substations’ electric equipment from intentional destructive electromagnetic threats, including HEMP.
Recommendations provided in the book are intended for not only staff operating electric equipment, but also for manufacturers of this equipment; specialists of designing companies, managers of electric energy industry as well as for teachers, post graduate students and students of Higher Educational establishments.
