ElectroElectro-Magnetic Field Analysis and Faraday Cage Design

Faraday cage design process

Identifying and characterizing the magnetic and electric field sources through measurements Calculating the cage aperture based on frequency composition of the EMI and shield thickness based on field strength Simulating the test setup (source, measuring equipment and faraday cage) and evaluating shielding effectiveness Selection of the most cost effective and least disruptive field reduction method

Magnetic Field Analysis

Faraday Cage

Current Cycling Test Equipment (1200A)

PD Measuring Equipment

Faraday Cage Model Enclosing PD Measuring Equipment

B-Field In Actual Lab Conditions

The current cycling loop is about 6m away from PD measuring equipment

The B-Field is very low and any thin cage can give the required shielding. Considering the worst scenario, wherein the current cycling loop is in proximity (10 cm) of PD equipment further evaluation is carried out

Flux density on PD measuring equipment

Case A: Without faraday cage Case B: With faraday cage

Case A

[Cage shown for reference]

Case B

Case A

Flux density on the impinging phase of measuring equipment

[Cage shown for reference]

Case B

Case A

Flux density along the cross -section of faraday cage enclosing PD measuring equipment
Case B

Case A

Flux density on the nearest face of faraday cage

Case B Outer Surface

Case B Inner Surface

Magnetic Field Analysis

Flux density (Tesla) On Measuring Equipment On Faraday cage (Outer face)

Case A

Case B

0.5 0.12

0.003 0.48

Inferences


Considering maximum radio or PD discharge interference frequency of 3 GHz the mesh size shall be smaller than 5cm Considering the worst scenario the flux density on faraday cage for Case1 is 0.5 Tesla. The use of steel mesh (r-1000 and thickness 2mm) as in Case2 brought down the B-value from 0.5 Tesla to less than 3mTesla (required limit 7-50 mTesla) The skin depth evaluation is not considered as the field is static and hence flux distribution is based on ratio of air to mesh permeability alone Theoretical calculations are in agreement with simulation results
Ref. Std: IEEE Std C95.6-2002

Electric Field Analysis

Faraday Cage

Current Cycling Test Equipment 1 kV

PD Measuring Equipment

Faraday Cage Model Enclosing PD Measuring Equipment

Electric stress on PD measuring equipment

Case A: Without faraday cage Case B: With faraday cage

Case A

Case B

Emax- 0.15 kV/m

Emax- 0.00004 kV/m

Case A

Electric field distribution

Case B

Electric Field Analysis

Electric Stress (kV/m) On measuring Equipment On Faraday cage

Case A

Case B

0.15 0.02

0.00004 0.08

Inferences


The maximum electric field is 0.08 kV/m on faraday cage (worst scenario case) which is well with in the required limit (5 kV/m) The electric and magnetic fields in the laboratory are low. The effect of electric field is much lower than magnetic field. Hence, the proposed shield design is based on minimum requirements and magnetic field. The steel mesh of r-1000 and thickness 2mm shall provide the required shielding

Ref. Std: IEEE Std C95.6

Thank you