How Would a Nuclear EMP Affect the Power Grid?
Practical Engineering・14 minutes read
A nuclear blast test in the upper atmosphere in 1958 led to the discovery of electromagnetic pulses that could severely disrupt electronic devices and power grids, sparking research into the potential impact of high-altitude nuclear EMPs on the power grid through EPRI-funded studies. The E1, E2, and E3 components of an EMP from a nuclear detonation can induce voltage spikes, affect digital protective relays, and cause transformer saturation, potentially leading to regional blackouts and significant disruptions to various systems.
Insights
- The USS Boxer launched a high-altitude helium balloon carrying a nuclear warhead named Yucca in 1958, marking the first nuclear blast test in the upper atmosphere and generating crucial data on shock waves, air pressure effects, and nuclear radiation levels.
- US physicist Conrad Longmire's theory on electromagnetic pulses from high-altitude nuclear blasts revealed the potential disruption of electronic devices and power grids by EMPs, shifting concerns from nuclear warhead impacts on populated areas to broader societal vulnerabilities, as evidenced by EPRI's study on the impact of a high-altitude nuclear EMP on the power grid.
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Recent questions
What was the purpose of operation Hardtack?
To conduct a high-altitude nuclear blast test.
What did Conrad Longmire propose regarding high-altitude nuclear blasts?
A theory explaining the electromagnetic pulses generated.
What did the Electric Power Research Institute study in 2019?
The impact of high-altitude nuclear EMP on the power grid.
What are the components of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP)?
E1, E2, and E3, each with distinct impacts.
What were the potential consequences of an EMP on various systems?
Significant disruptions, potentially causing multi-day blackouts.
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Summary
00:00
"High-Altitude Nuclear EMPs: Impact and Implications"
- On April 28, 1958, the USS Boxer aircraft carrier ship was 70 miles off the coast of the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, preparing to launch a high-altitude helium balloon.
- The balloon, part of operation Hardtack, carried a 1.7 kiloton nuclear warhead named Yucca, marking the first nuclear blast test in the upper atmosphere.
- The detonation of the warhead at 85,000 feet generated various data, including shock wave speed, air pressure effects, and nuclear radiation levels.
- The electromagnetic waves from the blast were measured from two ground locations, revealing unexpected results dismissed as anomalies for years.
- US physicist Conrad Longmire later proposed a theory explaining the electromagnetic pulses from high-altitude nuclear blasts, which are significantly stronger than ground blasts.
- Concerns shifted from nuclear warhead impacts on populated areas to the potential disruption of electronic devices and power grids by high-altitude nuclear EMPs.
- In 2019, the Electric Power Research Institute funded a study to understand the impact of a high-altitude nuclear EMP on the power grid, offering detailed engineering insights.
- An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear detonation in the upper atmosphere creates three components: E1, E2, and E3, each with distinct impacts on electronic devices and power infrastructure.
- The E1 pulse, the most immediate and intense component, can overwhelm electronic devices by inducing massive voltage spikes, particularly affecting digital protective relays in power systems.
- The E3 pulse, generated by the disturbance of Earth's magnetic field, can induce DC current flow through transmission lines, potentially causing transformer saturation, voltage pattern distortion, and damage to grid devices.
13:33
"EMP Testing Reveals Potential Grid Vulnerabilities"
- EPRI conducted tests simulating a one megaton bomb detonated at 200 kilometers in altitude, estimating that about 5% of transmission lines could have damaged relays due to the resulting EMP.
- The third part of an EMP, known as E3, could lead to regional blackouts involving multiple states due to transformer core saturation and imbalances in electricity supply and demand.
- While EPRI's modeling didn't show widespread damage to transformers, the potential impact of an EMP on various systems like computers and telecommunications could lead to significant disruptions, potentially causing multi-day, multi-week, or even multi-month blackouts.
