Searching for voltage extrema along grounded conductors of a modal filter with coupling conductors

Abstract: The rarely studied issue of electrical signals in grounding circuits is considered. It turns out to be rather complicated when such circuits consist of several and different conductors and the signals are pulsed. The emergence of new devices with such circuits requires a comprehensive investigation, examining not only their primary characteristics but also the propagation of electrical signals within the grounding circuits. A new device for protection against ultra-short pulses is investigated: a modal filter with coupling conductors. It features four distinct circuit ground conductors electrically connected in parallel at their ends. Voltage waveforms are simulated along each conductor, searching for their extrema. This is achieved using an original algorithm (searching along only one of the parallel conductors) and an improved algorithm (searching along all parallel conductors). The results of both algorithms are compared using Nnorms of the signal. The improved algorithm reveals a voltage maximum that is several times greater than the maximum of the original one. In addition, the difference in maxima across different circuit ground conductors and along their lengths is clearly shown. Such an analysis is useful for analyzing overvoltages in grounding circuits under other influences, including intentional ones.

Keywords: tusuremc, voltage extremum, multiconductor transmission line, circuit ground, computer modeling system, modal filter, n-norm, electromagnetic compatibility