Analysis of decoupling performances of an isolation barrier using a mode‐matching method

Abstract

This paper uses a mode‐matching method to analyze the decoupling performance of an isolation barrier that prevents electromagnetic interference between cables. After dividing the overall analyzed space into multiple subregions, potential expressions for each subregion were derived using the Laplace equation in conjunction with the superposition principle. The Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions were then applied to the interfaces between subregions to compute the modal coefficients in the previously derived potential expressions. Based on the electric‐field strengths and distributions used in our testing, the geometrical parameters and voltage conditions were varied to find the optimal configuration of the isolation barrier and cables that maximize decoupling performance. The performed study is novel and informative in that the analysis results provide the electromagnetic background to determine the distances between cables separated by an isolation barrier in industrial facilities such as nuclear power plants.