Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation

1. List and briefly describe the different types of noise coupling paths possible. (8 marks)
2. List any 2 ways of minimizing the coupling issues? (2 marks)

1) Common Impedance Noise: Common Impedance Noise might occur in the circuit due to the presence of impedance (an inductive, capacitive, or reactive) in the common return path of two circuits. This may result in the error of voltage measurement depending on the value of current in the circuit and amount of impedance.

Fig. 1: Common Impedance Noise coupling

2) Inductive Coupling: These noises are produced by mutual induction between two nearby circuits. A time-varying magnetic field is produced by the noise circuit (due to flow current) causes voltage induced in the signal circuit as given by the formula.

In = 2p fBACos, where symbols have their usual meaning.

A lumped equivalent circuit can be used to explain the same where this coupling is represented by a mutual inductance placed between them.

Fig. 2: Inductive Coupling

3) Capacitive Coupling: It is caused due to disturbance due to the electric field from the noise circuit to the signal circuit. This transfer of energy due to the electric field is equivalent to a capacitance placed between them, which forms the basis of conversion of the scenario into a lumped equivalent circuit as shown in the figure.

Fig. 3: Capacitive coupling

4) Radiative Coupling:

This type of coupling occurs due to radiation from TV or Broadcast radio sources or any other communication channel.

Two ways to minimize noise coupling are:

i) By using different return paths for signals

ii) By using twisted cable in the circuit (Cao et al., 2018)

List any 5 differences between differential mode and common mode coupling.

In differential mode coupling, disturbances are weakly coupled because of conductors being placed nearby. In Common mode coupling, current can be induced due to magnetic fields.

In differential mode coupling, the current is generally larger whereas in current mode-coupling the current is very small.

In differential mode coupling, the area of the loop is very small compared to common code.

The solution of differential mode coupling is the connection of impedance series in with the high side along with a shunt capacitor across the line. However, the common-mode coupling can be solved using a common-mode choke (Chen, Chen, Chiu, & Yeh, 2015)

1. Arcing faults
2. Contactor, breaker, or relay operations.

1. If an EMI filter includes both CM & DM then DM should have less than 30 MHz whereas it can increase due to magnetic influx that can be controlled by mode choke. The CM should be 30-100MHz. Then both filters would require limited EMI for the entire frequency.
2. As most circuits carry high frequency thus it can be susceptible to RF. The best possible way to prevent conversion from CM – DM is to reduce the unwanted impedance. This would equalize the frequency as much as possible.

1. You first suspect that (as the other people thought) some RF might be leaking from the lid. You open the lid but the noise at the receiver does not increase a lot. In fact, taking the lid away does not make a big difference. Discuss what might be the problem and if it is possible to emit at 100MHz. Also, recommend what the distance x between the screws should be. (5 marks)
2. You are still confronted with a heart problem and need to make holes in the box for forced air cooling. What is the maximum whole size allowable if the people using the receiver inform you that 20dB attenuation should be enough? (1mark)
3. If the hole size in 5.2 is not adequate for cooling, what can be implemented to increase the hole size without compromising the 20dB attenuation. (2 marks)

1. marks)

1. If RF is not the problem then there might be some interference from other external sources.

The distance x should be 2.1 mm.

1. The maximum whole size should be 3mm.
2. Yes, it is adequate for cooling. However, further whole size can be increased if necessary.

ESD is caused by the method of electrostatic induction (when a charged body is placed near an uncharged conductor, it induces an electric charge in it). Lightning is caused due to discharges occurring due to clouds.

ESD causes very high voltage spikes in the system thus causing damage and lightning can cause a voltage difference between earth and neutral wires, which should ideally be zero ( Curran et al., 2016).

Note – This question is mandatory. It should be answered and students are expected to get this question completely right to be assessed as competent with a score for this module.

Interferences created are far different from spectrum usage. The range is usually above 9 kHz. The two given figures quite appropriately explain the difference.

Fig. 4: Spectrum usage

Fig. 5: Interferences created

Fig. 6: Various types of interferences

1. What is the difference between Earthing and Grounding in the context of EMC? (1 mark)
2. What is the primary EMC function of a ground system? (1 mark)

b) Basic EMC function of a ground system is to protect the electrical equipment from damage.

Single point grounding: As the very terminology suggests, single-point grounding involves grounding of all circuit elements at a single point, for this all the circuit elements connected to a single wire, and that wire is grounded at a point.

Fig. 7: Single point Grounding

Multi-point grounding: Unlike single-point grounding, here each circuit elements grounded separately at many points on the ground.

Fig. 8: Multi-Point Grounding

Hybrid Grounding: In this system, each circuit element is connected to the ground accompanied by a reactive element like a capacitor or inductor.

Fig. 9: Hybrid Ground

1. Since the commercial radiated emissions standards do not distinguish between narrowband and broadband how can you reduce the narrowband emissions? (3 marks)
2. List the high-frequency broadband sources. (3 marks)
3. If circuit constraints allow, list the methods that can be used to slow down clock rates to minimize harmonic generation. (3 marks)
4. How can we decrease the level, measured in a constant 120 kHz bandwidth falls, by between 10 to 20 dB without any extra effort made in layouts and without slowing the clock rise times? (3 marks)

1) By using proper layout

2) By doing proper grounding

3) The clock lines should be buffered

b) The list of high-frequency broadband sources is as follows:

1) Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse

2) Ultra Wide Band

3) HPM High Power Magnetic radio transmitter (used in military communications) and weapons

c) There are three ways of reducing the rates of clocks:

1) By putting impedance in series, We can increase the series impedance of the driver output at its harmonic frequency, for this, we must put a small ferrite impeder in series with the output.

2) By putting the capacitor in parallel, This method is generally undesirable as it increases the capacitive load on the driver so its effect can rather make the emission worse instead of improving it.

3) By using a low-performance buffer.

d) Level of a constant can be decreased by the Spread Spectra Clock Generation technique. In this particular technique, the frequency of the clock modulated at 0.5-2%. The waveform selected in this technique is basically is known as even spectra spreading. This technique helps in providing wider spectral energy. By using it, the Bandwidth falls from constant 120kHz to 10-20 Db. Patented by Lexmark 1996.

1. Low-frequency magnetic fields are usually generated from sources like motor, power supplies, transformers, and switches.
2. These low-frequency magnetic fields generally cause huge EMI challenges because of the critical precision or accuracy of the circuit.
3. Generally, materials with high magnetic permeability can be used to prevent this problem.
4. These materials redirect magnetic noises away from the device thus protecting the magnetic field (Fang et al., 2016).

1. WORPsync helps in reducing the bandwidth level significantly at the self-interface level. The system acts as a tool for radio signal transmission it also helps in increasing
2. DCS also is known as Dynamic Chanel Selection regarded as a tool. It ensures the steady reliable quality of links by reducing the interfering link within a signal.
3. ATPC also is known as Automatic Transmit Power Control, is regarded as a feature that helps point to multipoint and P to P that is a point to point. It dynamically corrects the transmitting power to the optimal condition.
4. Proper Chanel Spacing helps in creating proper frequency between two points thus eliminating the interfering signals (Halligan, 2107).

1) Reduced component size, which enables it to fit in fewer boards.

2) These are more reliable and less prone to failures, so it can withstand any kind of vibration or shake.

3) Lower costs.

Disadvantage: One of the major disadvantages of SMD is that its solder joints are small in size, which reduces its reliability (Halligan, 2107).

Note – This question is mandatory. It should be answered and students are expected to get this question completely right to be assessed as competent with a score for this module.

Type 1-surge protectors act as the first layer of protection against lightning or other sources. It is of outdoor use.

Type 2-surge protectors, which are also known as, branch surge panels protect branch circuits or entrance service entrance from various kinds of surges. It is mainly for industrial, residential, or commercial use.

Type 3-surge protectors or power strips electronic household appliances (like TV, PC, etc.) from low-level surges, which could damage these devices. Therefore, they are the last line of household defense.

Type 4-surge protectors also known as surge protection modules offer a bit different type of protection than Type 3. These can protect industrial applications as well as commercial and industrial equipment cabinets.

• For both high and low frequency for E-field application, any metal would do, but higher conductive metal should be selected
• For Low frequency, in the H-field a permeable metal or casing should be selected
• With a circuit of the 0V plane, the onboard shield should be used normally in conjunction. However, an inadequate plane would reduce its effectiveness.

Outer enclosures in partitioning houses are not required to be always shielded. Partitioning into the dirty and clean box is also effective. It can be easily done with onboard shielding (Huang & Dai, 2017)

• Coaxial Cable: It has a copper-plated core and a dielectric core insulator covers it. It is surrounded by a woven copper shield and finally covered by a plastic sheath, applied in connecting feed lines in radio transmission.
• Ribbon Cable: Also known as Multi-wire planar cable or flat twin cable. Such cables are simple insulated wires, running parallel to each other. The cable transmits multiple signal data. Applied internally in multiple electronic peripherals.
• Twisted pair cable: Such cables are color-coded and it consists of multiple copper insulated wires twisted together to form a single cable. The wire ranges from 0.4 to .8mm and numbers of wires vary as well, applied in data networks for both medium and short connections.
• Shielded cable: Consists of single or multiple insulated wires. It is further braided in aluminum Mylar foil or braid shield, used in multiple electronic peripherals for wire protection.

• Source and target components should have direct connecting in between them
• Return and Send conductors should be routed closely (Kukreja, Xu, Leftik & Srinivasan, 2017).

• Such connectors are resistant to the UV, ozone, mechanical abuse, and chemical abuse
• It suitable for 12kV-36kV cables (250amp-1250amp)

• Fred Hariss Thumb Rule
• Kaiser’s Thumb Rule (Formula)
• Transient response

1. If the source of impedance is zero in shunt filters, then the component to its ground can show zero sources of impedance. The zero source of impedance is impractical when driving filters due to cut off frequency. When impedance decreases the current source increases its extraction thus compromising performance.
2. In the case of infinite load impedance, performance compromised, as it is impractical due to the requirement of infinitesimal capacitors & infinite value inductors.
3. Passive filters do not work well with low frequencies whereas active filters fail to work with high frequencies. The amplifier in active filters is mainly op-amp. Such amplifiers gain high frequency in both low and high frequency thus providing proper performance.
4. Passive filters are made up of capacitors, resistors, and inductors. Most of the cases resistors are only required for load gain some circuit has their own resistors which help such filters to have a massive load gain in impedance. This further helps the performance to increase due to the massive amplification of the signals.
5. In case of low frequency if the filter attenuation is set to 1 dB then the Impedance is much greater than 1 kΩ then only the performance would increase in Passive filters.

The three surge protection categories with distinct zones are as follows:

• (Outdoor) Category C: It is the region outside the Commercial Building. It includes External Conductors; it also extends inside the commercial building to its load centralized circuit breaker or Entrance Disconnect breaker. Example: Power surges due to the faulty execution of power generators.
• (Indoors) Category B: It is a zone within the commercial building. The range extends at least 10m (30 ft) from branch circuits to electrical receptacles or outlets. Example: High voltage in any commercial apparatus.
• (Indoors) Category A: It is a zone that is farthest from the commercial disconnect breaker. The Zone that extends from branch circuits to the entire outlets is more than 30ft in Category B and more than 60 ft from the Service Entrance Disconnect Breaker in category C.