Nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with a monitoring function. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector comprises a two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module, a non-contact monitoring module and a main control processing module. The two-stage protection module adopts a cooperative structure of a front-stage gas discharge tube and a rear-stage transient voltage suppression diode, so that transient high-energy current induced by nuclear electromagnetic pulse is effectively discharged, and residual voltage is clamped; the non-contact monitoring module respectively induces magnetic fields generated by transient current of the output end and the input end of the radio frequency path and a grounding discharge path through three paths of non-contact current sensors, and the magnetic fields are converted into voltage signals representing input current, output current and discharge current through an integral conditioning circuit; and the main control processing module evaluates the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in real time based on the input current, the output current and the discharge current represented by the three paths of voltage signals, pre-estimates the service life of the device and realizes fault positioning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electromagnetic protection technology, and in particular to a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function. Background Technology

[0002] In shortwave / ultra-shortwave communication systems, the antenna feeder serves as a crucial radio frequency (RF) transmission channel connecting the transmitter and antenna, responsible for transmitting signals in the operating frequency band (e.g., 40MHz-50MHz). In practical applications, to address the potential damage to communication equipment caused by extreme electromagnetic environments through the antenna feeder and to block or suppress the intrusion of high-energy transient interference, an antenna feeder protector is designed and deployed between the RF input and output interfaces. The link structure is: Antenna → Antenna Feeder → RF Output Interface → Protector → RF Input Interface → Transmitter. This allows for rapid conduction during strong electromagnetic pulse attacks, discharging transient high-energy currents through the protector's grounding loop, thereby limiting residual voltage, protecting downstream equipment, and enhancing the survivability of the communication system in extreme electromagnetic environments.

[0003] High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) is a type of strong electromagnetic pulse with nanosecond-level leading edge, high amplitude, and wide spectrum characteristics. It can easily penetrate into communication equipment through antenna induction and along the antenna feeder, causing irreversible damage to sensitive components such as radio frequency front-ends and receivers, and threatening the survivability of communication systems.

[0004] However, existing antenna feeder protectors often fail to meet the protection requirements in nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEP) scenarios. On one hand, existing antenna feeder protectors are not designed specifically for NEP. For example, existing surge protectors are designed for induced lightning strikes, with protection specifications adapted to lightning waveforms of 8 / 20 μs. For the 20 / 500 ns fast leading edge waveform of NEP, they suffer from slow response, large residual current, and poor protection effectiveness, failing to meet the protection requirements in NEP environments. On the other hand, existing antenna feeder protectors cannot distinguish between actual discharge current and interference factors such as line losses and radiation leakage. This easily leads to distorted performance evaluations, difficulty in predicting protector lifespan, and inability to pinpoint the specific failure location. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, which can be used to evaluate the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in real time, predict the device life and realize fault location, significantly improving the protection reliability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in strong electromagnetic environment.

[0006] This application provides a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector includes: a two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module, a non-contact monitoring module, and a main control processing module. The two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is located in the main radio frequency transmission path between the radio frequency output interface and the radio frequency input interface, and includes a parallel pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage protection circuit. The pre-stage protection circuit is used to discharge the transient high-energy current induced by the nuclear electromagnetic pulse coupled through the antenna and antenna feeder and entering the main radio frequency transmission path through the radio frequency output interface. The post-stage protection circuit is used to clamp the residual voltage after protection by the pre-stage protection circuit. The non-contact monitoring module includes: a first non-contact current sensor, a second non-contact current sensor, a third non-contact current sensor, and an integral conditioning circuit; the integral conditioning circuit is used to convert the signals sensed by the first non-contact current sensor, the second non-contact current sensor, and the third non-contact current sensor into a first voltage signal representing the input current before the operation of the front-stage protection circuit, a second voltage signal representing the output current after the operation of the rear-stage protection circuit, and a third voltage signal representing the discharge current discharged to ground. The main control processing module is used to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the first voltage signal, the second voltage signal, and the third voltage signal to obtain the corresponding input current, the output current, and the discharge current, and to evaluate the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder based on the input current, the output current, and the discharge current.

[0007] The solution provided in this application integrates a two-stage protection module, a non-contact monitoring module, and a main control processing module into the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEP) antenna feeder protector, achieving a collaborative mechanism that integrates electromagnetic protection, protection performance sensing, and device status assessment. Specifically, the two-stage NEP protection module adopts a cascaded structure of front-stage discharge and rear-stage clamping, which can efficiently suppress the transient high-energy current induced by the NEP intrusion and significantly reduce the residual voltage. The non-contact monitoring module senses the magnetic field generated by the transient current at the RF output terminal, input terminal, and common ground path through three non-contact current sensors, and converts it into voltage signals characterizing the input current, output current, and discharge current through an integral conditioning circuit. This allows the main control processing module to simultaneously acquire energy flow data throughout the protection process based on the input current, output current, and discharge current characterized by these three voltage signals. This not only enables real-time quantitative assessment of the current discharge status of the NEP antenna feeder protector and determination of whether the protection performance is normal, but also provides accurate basis for device life prediction and fault location. Therefore, this solution effectively solves the technical defects of existing protectors, such as the inability to monitor in real time, the unknown protection effect, and the passive and lagging maintenance, and significantly improves the reliability and maintainability of nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protectors under the threat of nuclear electromagnetic pulse. Attached Figure Description

[0008] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0009] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protection system with monitoring function provided in this application embodiment; Figure 2 A circuit diagram of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function is provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A flowchart of a main control processing module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, provided as an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0010] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0011] Furthermore, the timing of the steps in the following method embodiments is merely an example and not a strict limitation.

[0012] In normal communication operation, the radio frequency signal is generated by the transmitter and input to the radio frequency input interface. Then, it is transmitted to the radio frequency output interface through the radio frequency transmission path, and then connected to the antenna through the external antenna feeder, and finally radiated into space.

[0013] However, when encountering extreme electromagnetic threats such as strong electromagnetic pulses, the strong electromagnetic field can be induced through the antenna and then invade the radio frequency path in the reverse direction along the antenna feeder. At this time, transient high-energy current enters the communication equipment side from the antenna → antenna feeder → radio frequency output interface → radio frequency input interface. Without effective protection measures, this will directly threaten sensitive electronic equipment at the back end.

[0014] Therefore, an antenna feeder protector needs to be deployed between the RF output interface and the RF input interface to form a protection link of "antenna → antenna feeder → RF output interface → antenna feeder protector → RF input interface → transmitter". When a nuclear electromagnetic pulse couples through the antenna and antenna feeder and enters the main RF path through the RF output interface, the antenna feeder protector responds quickly, discharging the transient high-energy current induced by the strong electromagnetic pulse through its grounding loop, effectively clamping the residual voltage, thereby blocking the propagation of high-energy interference to the transmitter, and significantly improving the survivability and reliability of the communication system in extreme electromagnetic environments.

[0015] High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) is a type of strong electromagnetic pulse characterized by nanosecond-level leading edges, high amplitude, and a wide frequency spectrum. Existing antenna feeder protectors often fail to meet the protection requirements in HEMP scenarios. Firstly, existing antenna feeder protectors are not designed specifically for HEMP. For example, existing surge protectors are designed for induced lightning strikes, with protection specifications adapted to lightning waveforms of 8 / 20 μs. For the 20 / 500 ns fast leading edge waveform of HEMP, they suffer from slow response, large residual current, and poor protection effectiveness, failing to meet the protection requirements in HEMP environments. Secondly, existing antenna feeder protectors cannot distinguish between actual discharge current and interference factors such as line losses and radiated leakage. This can easily lead to distorted performance evaluations, difficulty in predicting protector lifespan, and inability to pinpoint the exact location of protector failure.

[0016] Therefore, this application provides a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, which can be used to evaluate the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in real time, predict the device life and realize fault location, significantly improving the protection reliability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in strong electromagnetic environment.

[0017] The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector provided in this application embodiment can be used in scenarios such as field communication stations, fixed communication hubs, and emergency communication systems.

[0018] Next, the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function provided in the application embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protection system with monitoring function, provided as an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) antenna feeder protection system includes: an antenna, an antenna feeder, an RF output interface 1, an RF input interface 2, an RF transmission main path 3, a nuclear EMP antenna feeder protector, and a transmitter. The nuclear EMP antenna feeder protector includes: a two-stage nuclear EMP protection module 4, a non-contact monitoring module 5, and a main control processing module 6.

[0020] In a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEP) scenario, the antenna serves as the primary coupling entry point for this high-energy transient interference. The antenna feeder connects the antenna to the radio frequency (RF) transmission medium on the equipment side, acting as the conduction channel for NEP energy. RF output interface 1, located on the equipment side and connected to the antenna feeder, is the first electrical interface through which NEP intrudes into the communication system. The NEP antenna feeder protector, deployed in the main RF transmission path 3 between RF output interface 1 and RF input interface 2, is used to discharge transient high-energy currents in the NEP environment, achieving high-reliability protection and real-time status awareness. RF input interface 2 is connected to the output interface of the NEP antenna feeder protector and then to the transmitter's front-end circuitry, ensuring the safe access of the protected signal. The transmitter, i.e., the protected terminal equipment, can be a shortwave / ultra-shortwave communication transmitter. Its internal sensitive circuits (such as power amplifiers, mixers, and local oscillators) rely on the NEP antenna feeder protector to protect them from transient overvoltage / overcurrent damage.

[0021] In practical applications, optionally, both RF output interface 1 and RF input interface 2 can use N-type RF coaxial connectors with a characteristic impedance of 50Ω, suitable for shortwave communication systems in the 40MHz-50MHz frequency band, and a rated input power of 2000W continuous wave. Correspondingly, the operating frequency band of the RF transmission main path 3 is 40MHz-50MHz, with a rated input power of 2000W. Optionally, a microstrip line design with a 50Ω characteristic impedance can be used, with a PTFE dielectric substrate of 2.2-2.5 dielectric constant and a substrate thickness of 0.1mm-1.6mm (e.g., 1mm), and a copper foil thickness of 2 ounces. This can meet the current-carrying requirements of 2000W high-power transmission while reducing high-frequency transmission loss.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, provided as an embodiment of this application. (Combined with...) Figure 2 The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail.

[0023] In one optional embodiment, the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector includes: a two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module 4, a non-contact monitoring module 5, and a main control processing module 6.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module 4 is located in the main radio frequency transmission path 3 between the radio frequency output interface 1 and the radio frequency input interface 2, and includes a front-stage protection circuit 41 and a rear-stage protection circuit 42 connected in parallel. The front-stage protection circuit 41 is used to discharge the transient high-energy current induced by the nuclear electromagnetic pulse coupled through the antenna and antenna feeder and entering the main radio frequency transmission path 3 through the radio frequency output interface 1. The rear-stage protection circuit 42 is used to clamp the residual voltage after protection by the front-stage protection circuit.

[0025] Optionally, the pre-stage protection circuit 41 includes a gas discharge tube (GDT), which is connected between the positive wire of the RF output interface 1 and the RF input interface 2 and the common ground wire (i.e., the common discharge ground terminal 44), and is positioned close to the RF output interface 1. As the first stage of protection, the pre-stage protection circuit 41 rapidly breaks down and conducts when a nuclear electromagnetic pulse arrives, discharging most of the surge current to ground, thus achieving high-current discharge.

[0026] Optionally, the gas discharge tube can be a ceramic gas discharge tube with a DC breakdown voltage of 230V±20%, a pulse discharge current ≥50kA (for example, a pulse discharge current of 50kA under an 8 / 20μs waveform, and a peak discharge current of up to 100kA under a 20 / 500ns nuclear electromagnetic pulse waveform), and an inter-electrode capacitance ≤1.5pF, which can effectively reduce the impact on radio frequency transmission performance.

[0027] Optionally, the common grounding wire (i.e., the common discharge terminal 44) is equipped with an independent grounding terminal, which uses M6 copper terminals and can be directly connected to the grounding network of the computer room. The grounding resistance is ≤4Ω, thereby ensuring the rapid discharge of nuclear electromagnetic pulse current.

[0028] Optionally, the post-stage protection circuit 42 includes a transient voltage suppression diode (TVS). The TVS diode is connected between the positive terminal of the wire between the RF output interface 1 and the RF input interface 2 and the common ground wire (i.e., the common discharge ground terminal 44), and is positioned close to the RF input interface 2. As a second level of fine protection, the post-stage protection circuit 42 quickly clamps the residual transient overvoltage after the pre-stage protection circuit 41 has completed the large energy discharge, limiting the voltage to a safe range that the protected equipment can withstand, thereby achieving high-precision protection for sensitive electronic components such as transmitters.

[0029] Optionally, the transient voltage suppressor diode can be a bidirectional transient voltage suppressor diode with a reverse turn-off voltage of 90V, a peak pulse power of 1500W under a 10 / 1000μs waveform, a peak pulse power of up to 15kW under a 20 / 500ns nuclear electromagnetic pulse waveform, and an inter-electrode capacitance of ≤5pF.

[0030] In this solution, through the collaborative design of two-stage protection circuits, nuclear electromagnetic pulse simulation tests were conducted in the laboratory. When a surge current with a waveform of 20 / 500ns and a peak value of 400A was injected, the residual current peak value at the output of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse protector was ≤8A, meeting the design specification of residual current ≤10A. Compared with traditional lightning protectors, it has a faster response speed to nuclear electromagnetic pulses, stronger discharge capability, and lower residual level, which can effectively protect back-end communication equipment from damage by nuclear electromagnetic pulses, while the transmission performance of normal radio frequency signals is not significantly degraded.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module 4 may further include an impedance matching filter network 43. The impedance matching filter network 43 is located between the pre-stage protection circuit 41 and the post-stage protection circuit 42, employing a π-type filter structure. It includes a high-frequency capacitor C1 connected in series with the positive conductor between the pre-stage protection circuit 41 and the post-stage protection circuit, and two high-frequency inductors L1 and L2 located on either side of the high-frequency capacitor. The high-frequency inductors L1 and L2 are connected in parallel between the positive conductor and the common ground wire (i.e., the common discharge ground terminal 44).

[0032] In practical applications, optionally, the high-frequency capacitor C1 in the impedance matching filter network 43 can be a 1000pF NPO high-frequency ceramic capacitor; the high-frequency inductors L1 and L2 can be 100nH hollow wire-wound inductors with a Q value ≥100. Through impedance matching simulation optimization, the impedance matching filter network 43 can achieve RF performance parameters of input / output return loss ≥25dB, insertion loss ≤0.1dB, and VSWR ≤1.2 in the 40MHz-50MHz operating frequency band. At the same time, it effectively isolates the parasitic parameter effects of the two-stage protection circuit, avoids RF performance degradation caused by multi-stage protection, and avoids the impact of the protection circuit on normal communication signals.

[0033] The non-contact monitoring module 5 includes: a first non-contact current sensor, a second non-contact current sensor, a third non-contact current sensor, and an integral conditioning circuit. The integral conditioning circuit converts the signals sensed by the first, second, and third non-contact current sensors into a first voltage signal representing the input current before the preceding protection circuit operates, a second voltage signal representing the output current after the following protection circuit operates, and a third voltage signal representing the discharge current to ground.

[0034] Alternatively, the non-contact current sensor can be a Rogowski coil.

[0035] It is understandable that the Rogowski coil operates based on the principle of electromagnetic induction, and its output signal is proportional to the rate of change of current in the measured conductor (i.e., the derivative of current with respect to time). In other words, the Rogowski coil directly acquires the differential signal of the measured current. Since this differential signal cannot directly reflect the actual amplitude and waveform of the current, it needs to be processed by the integral conditioning circuit 54. Specifically, the integral conditioning circuit 54 uses an RC integrator network in conjunction with a low-noise operational amplifier to integrate the differential voltage signal output by the Rogowski coil, thereby reconstructing a voltage signal proportional to the original measured current. This voltage signal can accurately reflect the amplitude, waveform, and timing characteristics of transient surge currents (such as overcurrents caused by nuclear electromagnetic pulses) flowing through the positive conductor and common ground wire in the radio frequency path, providing high-precision, wide-bandwidth non-contact current monitoring data, facilitating subsequent analysis of the protective circuit's performance and energy dissipation effect.

[0036] Figure 2 The following example illustrates the use of a Rogowski coil as a non-contact current sensor. Figure 2 As shown, the non-contact monitoring module 5 includes: a first Rogowski coil 51, a second Rogowski coil 52, a third Rogowski coil 53, and an integral conditioning circuit 54.

[0037] The first Rogowski coil 51 (i.e., the first non-contact current sensor) is connected to the positive wire between the RF output interface 1 and the pre-stage protection circuit 41. The second Rogowski coil 52 (i.e., the second non-contact current sensor) is connected to the positive wire between the post-stage protection circuit 42 and the RF input interface 2. The third Rogowski coil 53 (i.e., the third non-contact current sensor) is connected to the common ground wire (i.e., the common discharge ground terminal 44). Specifically, the third Rogowski coil 53 is located between the grounding junction of the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode and the grounding terminal, and is used to collect the actual discharge voltage signal of the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module 4. The integral conditioning circuit 54 includes a low-noise operational amplifier and an RC integral network (i.e., an RC integral network), which is used to restore the differential signal output by the Rogowski coil, which is proportional to the rate of change of the measured current, to a voltage signal proportional to the instantaneous value of the measured current, and output it to the port of the analog-to-digital conversion unit of the main control processing module 6.

[0038] Optionally, the first Rogowski coil 51, the second Rogowski coil 52, and the third Rogowski coil 53 can all be hollow Rogowski coils with an inner diameter of 8 mm, an outer diameter of 15 mm, 20 turns, a bandwidth covering 1 kHz to 1 GHz, and a current measurement range of 100 mA to 1000 A, meeting the measurement requirements of nuclear electromagnetic pulse fast leading edge signals.

[0039] Optionally, such as Figure 2As shown, the output signals of the first Rogowski coil 51, the second Rogowski coil 52, and the third Rogowski coil 53 can share a common integrating conditioning circuit 54, which is connected via a multiplexer or analog switch. Figure 2 (Not shown in the diagram) These are sequentially connected to the same integration channel, suitable for applications with low real-time requirements, cost sensitivity, or space constraints. Alternatively, each Rogowski coil can be configured with an independent integration conditioning circuit (i.e., three parallel integration conditioning circuits) to achieve synchronous, high-bandwidth, and low-crosstalk acquisition of the three voltage signals, based on actual monitoring accuracy and synchronization requirements. This configuration avoids delays and nonlinear errors introduced by signal switching, making it suitable for high-reliability protection assessment scenarios requiring precise analysis of the surge current timing relationships of each branch (such as pre-stage discharge current, post-stage residual current, ground return path current, etc.). In practical applications, the configuration of the integration conditioning circuit can be customized according to actual bandwidth, sampling rate, power consumption, and integration requirements.

[0040] The main control processing module 6 is used to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the first, second, and third voltage signals to obtain the corresponding input current, output current, and discharge current. Based on the input current, output current, and discharge current, it evaluates the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMIP) antenna feeder protector. The evaluation of the EMIP antenna feeder protector's protection capability includes: assessing whether the EMIP antenna feeder protector's protection performance is normal or abnormal, and identifying the abnormality; and estimating the device lifespan of the EMIP antenna feeder protector.

[0041] Optionally, the main control processing module 6 can use a high-performance MCU as the main control chip, containing multiple different functional units to implement different functions. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the main control processing module 6 may include: an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) sampling unit (i.e., analog-to-digital conversion sampling unit) 61, a protection performance evaluation unit 62, and a device lifetime prediction unit 63.

[0042] The ADC sampling unit 61 is connected to the integral conditioning circuit 54 in the non-contact monitoring module 5. It receives the integrated and conditioned first voltage signal, second voltage signal, and third voltage signal, and converts them synchronously or time-divisionally into high-precision digital current signals (i.e., input current, output current, and discharge current). Optionally, the ADC sampling unit 61 can be a 16-bit high-speed analog-to-digital converter with a maximum sampling rate of 36 MSPS to meet the synchronous sampling requirements of the fast leading edge signal of nuclear electromagnetic pulses.

[0043] The protection performance evaluation unit 62 is coupled to the output of the ADC sampling unit 61. Based on the amplitude, waveform, phase and timing relationship of the input current, output current and discharge current, it determines in real time whether the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector is in normal working condition. When the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector is abnormal, it identifies the abnormality type and locates the fault location based on the input current, output current and discharge current.

[0044] The device lifetime estimation unit 63 dynamically estimates the remaining lifetime based on the energy discharge information corresponding to historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact events (i.e., historical surge events) and the degradation model of protective devices (such as gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppression diodes).

[0045] Optionally, the main control processing module 6 may also include: an early warning communication unit 64. The early warning communication unit 64 is used to generate a replacement warning when the performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector is abnormal and / or the remaining service life of the device reaches the life warning threshold (e.g., 20%).

[0046] Among them, the real-time current monitoring data, nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event records, device life data, and early warning information obtained through the functional units in the main control processing module 6 can be directly transmitted to the display device for on-site viewing. Furthermore, it is convenient to set life warning thresholds and calibrate sampling parameters on-site, thereby improving the convenience of on-site operation and maintenance.

[0047] Optionally, the early warning communication unit 64 can also communicate with the monitoring terminal via communication technologies such as Ethernet module, 4G communication, and 5G communication. Furthermore, it can transmit real-time current monitoring data, nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event records, device lifespan data, and early warning information to the communication-connected monitoring terminal (e.g., Figure 2 The remote monitoring terminal shown is 8).

[0048] The basic functions of the main control processing module 6 have been explained above. Next, we will discuss... Figure 3 The specific work process for assessing the protective capability of nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protectors is explained in detail.

[0049] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a main control processing module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Combination Figure 3 First, the process by which the protection performance evaluation unit 62 determines in real time whether the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector is in normal working condition based on the input current, output current, and discharge current will be explained. The specific implementation may include the following steps: Based on the ratio of the peak current of the discharged current Ignd to the peak current of the input current Iin, Ignd / Iin, the current discharge rate η of the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is determined as Ignd / Iin×100%; The peak current Iout of the output current is used as the residual current after the transient high-energy current is discharged. Based on the ratio Iin / Iout between the peak current of the input current and the peak current of the output current, the residual current suppression ratio K of the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is determined as K=20lg(Iin / Iout). If the current discharge rate η is greater than or equal to the first set threshold (e.g., 97.5%), the residual current is less than or equal to the second set threshold (e.g., 10A), and the residual current suppression ratio K is greater than or equal to the third set threshold (e.g., 32dB), then the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder is determined to be normal; if any one of the current discharge rate η, residual current, or residual current suppression ratio K does not meet the corresponding set threshold, then the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder is determined to be abnormal.

[0051] As mentioned earlier, in the event of an anomaly in the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector, the protection performance evaluation unit 62 can also identify the anomaly type and locate the fault location based on the input current, output current, and discharge current. The specific implementation process may include the following steps: If the input current is within the first preset current range, the discharge current is within the second preset current range, and the residual current is greater than the upper limit of the third preset current range, then the transient voltage suppression diode in the subsequent protection circuit is determined to be abnormal. If the input current is within the first preset current range, the discharge current is less than the lower limit of the second preset current range, and the residual current is greater than the upper limit of the third preset current range, then it is determined that the gas discharge tube in the front-end protection circuit is abnormal or the grounding circuit is faulty. If the difference between the sum of the input current and the residual current and the discharge current (i.e., input current ≠ discharge current + output current) exceeds the preset tolerance threshold, then the non-contact current sensor in the non-contact monitoring module is determined to be faulty.

[0052] Therefore, the three-level non-contact current sensor monitoring architecture proposed in this application adopts a non-contact socket design, eliminating the need to disconnect the main RF path, introducing insertion loss, and not affecting the impedance matching and signal integrity of the antenna feeder. This architecture, by arranging non-contact current sensors at the input, output, and common ground terminals to construct a closed-loop monitoring system, overcomes the inherent defects of traditional protectors that only protect without monitoring, and the inaccurate, non-calibrated, and difficult-to-locate monitoring of dual-coil schemes. It achieves a deep integration of protection function and state perception, providing a reliable data foundation and support for the comprehensive and accurate evaluation and self-calibrated closed-loop control of the protection performance of nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protectors. Specifically, the third non-contact current sensor, arranged at the common ground terminal, directly collects the actual discharge current of the protector. Combined with the measured input and output current data, it can accurately separate the effective discharge current and various ineffective losses in the RF path, avoiding systematic deviations introduced by difference calculations. This significantly improves the calculation accuracy of key parameters such as the actual discharge rate and residual current suppression ratio of the protector, achieving precise quantification of protection effectiveness. In addition, based on Kirchhoff's current law, the conservation relationship of peak input current = peak discharge current + peak output current is verified in real time. When the measured data deviates from the theoretical value, the device fault, wiring abnormality or data deviation of the three-level non-contact current sensor can be identified in time, and the alarm or compensation mechanism can be automatically triggered to provide early warning, which significantly improves the reliability and stability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector in the strong electromagnetic pulse environment.

[0053] The above describes the specific working process for evaluating the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder. Next, the device lifetime estimation unit 63 will elaborate on the dynamic estimation process of the device lifetime of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder.

[0054] Combination Figure 3 The specific implementation process may include the following steps: By integrating the discharge current in the time domain, the single discharge energy corresponding to this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event can be calculated. Obtain the first rated maximum single discharge energy of the gas discharge tube in the front-end protection circuit, and the second rated maximum single discharge energy of the transient voltage suppression diode in the back-end protection circuit; Based on the energy released in a single incident and the first rated maximum energy released in a single incident, calculate the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event. The first remaining service life of the gas discharge tube is determined based on the historical first lifetime loss and first lifetime loss corresponding to the historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact events. Based on the single discharge energy and the second rated maximum single discharge energy, calculate the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event; The second remaining lifetime of the transient voltage suppression diode is determined based on the historical second lifetime loss and second lifetime loss corresponding to historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact events.

[0055] It is understandable that each nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event will cause irreversible life loss to the gas discharge tube and transient voltage suppression diode. This life loss is due to the single energy stress that the device is subjected to during the discharge process, and its cumulative effect determines the remaining service life.

[0056] Although the physical mechanisms of gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppressor diodes differ—gas discharge tubes rely on gas ionization and electrode ablation, while transient voltage suppressor diodes rely on PN junction hot carrier injection and lattice damage—their lifetime decay both follow a single-event energy-cumulative damage relationship: the single-event discharge energy corresponding to each impact event can be mapped to a normalized lifetime consumption equivalent. Therefore, the calculation logic for the lifetime loss of both gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppressor diodes is essentially based on the ratio of the measured single-event discharge energy to the device's rated maximum single-event discharge capacity, combined with historical cumulative lifetime loss for linear or nonlinear superposition.

[0057] In practical applications, the historical first lifetime loss (i.e., the lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube corresponding to each previous historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event) and the newly added first lifetime loss caused by the current nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event are calculated using the same method; similarly, the historical second lifetime loss and the newly added second lifetime loss caused by the current nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event also follow the same calculation method. For ease of understanding, the above explanation uses the calculation process of the first lifetime loss and the second lifetime loss as examples to clearly demonstrate the calculation process of the lifetime loss corresponding to a single nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event.

[0058] In an optional embodiment, when calculating the first remaining service life of the gas discharge tube and the second remaining service life of the transient voltage suppression diode, a weighting coefficient corresponding to the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEP) event can be introduced. Specifically, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the NEP event is determined based on the relationship between the peak value of the input current and the preset rated current value. For example, when the peak value of the input current is less than or equal to 50% of the preset rated current value, the weighting coefficient is 0.5; when the peak value of the input current is greater than 50% of the preset rated current value but less than or equal to the preset rated current value, the weighting coefficient is 1; and when the peak value of the input current is greater than the preset rated current value, the weighting coefficient is 2.

[0059] With the introduction of weighting coefficients, the calculation process for the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event is as follows: calculate the first ratio between the single discharge energy corresponding to this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event and the first rated single maximum discharge energy of the gas discharge tube, and take the product of the first ratio and the weighting coefficient as the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event.

[0060] Similarly, the calculation process for the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event is as follows: calculate the second ratio between the single discharge energy corresponding to this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event and the second rated single maximum discharge energy of the transient voltage suppression diode, and use the product of the second ratio and the weighting coefficient as the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event.

[0061] In this embodiment, by introducing a piecewise weighted coefficient based on the relative magnitude of the peak current and the preset rated current value, the systematic deviation of the traditional energy ratio method under non-standard impact conditions is effectively corrected: when the peak current of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact is within the device's safety margin (≤50% of the rated value), a weighting coefficient of 0.5 is used to reasonably reduce the equivalent lifetime loss and prevent excessive loss of remaining lifetime; when the peak current is close to the rated capacity (50%-100%), the benchmark evaluation accuracy is maintained with a unit weight; when the peak current exceeds the rated value, a weighting coefficient of 2 is activated to significantly enhance the sensitive response to exceeding the rated state and truly reflect the accelerated aging trend of the device under conditions exceeding the rated operating capacity. By using a piecewise weighted coefficient, the calculation of lifetime loss corresponding to a single impact event is transformed from a simple linear proportional relationship into a piecewise nonlinear mapping with physical meaning, which can significantly improve the reliability of remaining lifetime prediction for gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppression diodes under complex nuclear electromagnetic pulse environments.

[0062] Based on the similarity between the calculation process of lifetime loss and remaining lifetime of gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppression diodes, this application embodiment constructs a generalized and reusable dynamic estimation model for device lifetime, which can be expressed by the following formula: .

[0063] Where N represents the cumulative number of nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) impact events, and Kn represents the weighting coefficient corresponding to the nth EMP impact event. When the lifetime estimation object is a gas discharge tube, RUL represents the remaining lifetime of the gas discharge tube, En represents the single discharge energy of the gas discharge tube in the nth EMP impact event, and Erated represents the rated maximum single discharge energy of the gas discharge tube, for example, 1000J. When the lifetime estimation object is a transient voltage suppression diode, RUL represents the remaining lifetime of the transient voltage suppression diode, En represents the single discharge energy of the transient voltage suppression diode in the nth EMP impact event, and Erated represents the rated maximum single discharge energy of the transient voltage suppression diode, for example, 50J.

[0064] In summary, this application's embodiment directly acquires the time-domain waveform of the discharge current using a third non-contact current sensor, providing accurate and reliable input data for the lifetime decay model. This fundamentally solves the problem of severe distortion in lifetime calculation caused by the traditional dual-coil differential method, which cannot distinguish between effective discharge current and ineffective components such as line loss and electromagnetic radiation leakage. Furthermore, by combining a piecewise weighted coefficient mechanism, a reasonable mapping of the damage degree to the device from different discharge energies is achieved, upgrading the lifetime loss assessment corresponding to a single impact event from a coarse linear proportional relationship to an interpretable nonlinear dynamic correction model. Finally, based on this lifetime estimation model, the remaining lifetime of the gas discharge tube and transient voltage suppression diode can be output in real time and synchronously, and an early warning can be proactively triggered before the device's lifetime is exhausted, effectively avoiding the risks caused by sudden failure of protective functions.

[0065] In an optional embodiment, the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector provided in this application embodiment further includes: a housing 7.

[0066] Optionally, an electromagnetic shielding cavity is provided inside the housing 7, and the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module 4 and the main control processing module 5 are respectively set in independent shielding cavities to avoid interference from strong electromagnetic pulses on the monitoring and control circuits and improve the working stability of the equipment in a strong electromagnetic environment.

[0067] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, provided as an embodiment of this application. Figure 4As shown, the housing 7 has two sets of modular plug-in slots 71 inside, corresponding to the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode, respectively. The inner wall of the slots is provided with elastic gold-plated contacts 72. The gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode are respectively soldered to independent printed circuit board (PCB) sub-boards 73 and installed in the slots 71 via the PCB sub-boards 73 in a pluggable modular structure, allowing for removable replacement after their service life expires. The ends of the PCB sub-boards 73 are provided with gold fingers 74 that match the elastic gold-plated contacts. The gold fingers 74 and the elastic gold-plated contacts 72 are inserted and mated to achieve electrical connection between the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode and the main circuit, without the need for soldering. A cover plate 75 that can be opened and closed is provided on the housing 7 at the position corresponding to the slot 71. The cover plate 75 is connected to the housing 7 via a pivot. A sealing ring 76 is provided on the inner side of the cover plate 75. The cover plate 75 is fixed to the housing 7 by a locking screw. When the cover plate is closed and locked by the screw, the sealing ring 76 is compressed to achieve IP65 level sealing protection for the slot area, preventing rainwater and dust from entering.

[0068] In this embodiment, by designing the core protective components, the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode, as independent pluggable modules, the components can be quickly replaced when their lifespan expires without disassembling the entire nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector or performing any welding operations. This significantly improves the ease of maintenance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector, reduces the maintenance difficulty and cost of field communication stations, and solves the problem of needing to replace the entire protector after its components are damaged.

[0069] In an optional embodiment, the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector provided in this application embodiment further includes: a remote monitoring terminal 8.

[0070] Optionally, the remote monitoring terminal 8 adopts a host computer monitoring platform, which can simultaneously connect to multiple nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protectors provided in this embodiment, realizing centralized monitoring of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protectors of the entire communication station. It supports functions such as displaying device location on an electronic map, real-time data updates, fault pop-up warnings, exporting historical data reports, and lifespan expiration reminders. Simultaneously, parameter configuration commands can be remotely issued through the remote monitoring terminal 8 to achieve centralized operation and maintenance management of large-scale communication stations.

[0071] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of a necessary general-purpose hardware platform, or by a combination of hardware and software. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a computer product. This application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0072] Finally, it should be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0073] The above are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector with monitoring function, characterized in that, The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector includes: a two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module, a non-contact monitoring module, and a main control processing module; The two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is located in the main radio frequency transmission path between the radio frequency output interface and the radio frequency input interface, and includes a parallel pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage protection circuit. The pre-stage protection circuit is used to discharge the transient high-energy current induced by the nuclear electromagnetic pulse coupled through the antenna and antenna feeder and entering the main radio frequency transmission path through the radio frequency output interface. The post-stage protection circuit is used to clamp the residual voltage after protection by the pre-stage protection circuit. The non-contact monitoring module includes: a first non-contact current sensor, a second non-contact current sensor, a third non-contact current sensor, and an integral conditioning circuit; the integral conditioning circuit is used to convert the signals sensed by the first non-contact current sensor, the second non-contact current sensor, and the third non-contact current sensor into a first voltage signal representing the input current before the operation of the front-stage protection circuit, a second voltage signal representing the output current after the operation of the rear-stage protection circuit, and a third voltage signal representing the discharge current discharged to ground. The main control processing module is used to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the first voltage signal, the second voltage signal, and the third voltage signal to obtain the corresponding input current, the output current, and the discharge current, and to evaluate the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder based on the input current, the output current, and the discharge current.

2. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first non-contact current sensor is connected to the positive wire between the RF output interface and the pre-stage protection circuit; the second non-contact current sensor is connected to the positive wire between the post-stage protection circuit and the RF input interface; and the third non-contact current sensor is connected to the common ground wire. The integral conditioning circuit includes a low-noise operational amplifier and an RC integral network.

3. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-stage protection circuit includes a gas discharge tube, and the post-stage protection circuit includes a transient voltage suppression diode. Both the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode are connected between the positive conductor and the common ground conductor between the RF output interface and the RF input interface. The gas discharge tube is positioned close to the RF output interface, and the transient voltage suppression diode is positioned close to the RF input interface.

4. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module further includes an impedance matching filter network; the impedance matching filter network is disposed between the pre-stage protection circuit and the post-stage protection circuit, and includes a high-frequency capacitor connected in series with the positive conductor between the pre-stage protection circuit and the post-stage protection circuit, and two high-frequency inductors located on both sides of the high-frequency capacitor, the high-frequency inductors being connected in parallel between the positive conductor and the common grounding wire.

5. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control processing module evaluates the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder based on the input current, the output current, and the discharge current, including: The current discharge rate of the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is determined based on the ratio between the peak value of the discharged current and the peak value of the input current. The peak value of the output current is taken as the residual current after the transient high-energy current is discharged. The residual current suppression ratio of the two-stage nuclear electromagnetic pulse protection module is determined based on the ratio between the peak value of the input current and the peak value of the output current. If the current discharge rate is greater than or equal to the first set threshold, the residual current is less than or equal to the second set threshold, and the residual current suppression ratio is greater than or equal to the third set threshold, then the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder is determined to be normal. If any of the current discharge rate, the residual current, or the residual current suppression ratio does not meet the corresponding set threshold, then the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder is determined to be abnormal.

6. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 5, characterized in that, In response to an abnormality in the protection performance of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector, the main control processing module is further configured to: If the input current is within the first preset current range, the discharge current is within the second preset current range, and the residual current is greater than the upper limit of the third preset current range, then the transient voltage suppression diode in the subsequent protection circuit is determined to be abnormal. If the input current is within the first preset current range, the discharge current is less than the lower limit of the second preset current range, and the residual current is greater than the upper limit of the third preset current range, then it is determined that the gas discharge tube in the front-end protection circuit is abnormal or the grounding circuit is faulty. If the difference between the input current and the sum of the residual current and the discharge current exceeds a preset tolerance threshold, then the non-contact current sensor in the non-contact monitoring module is determined to be faulty.

7. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control processing module evaluates the protection capability of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder based on the input current, the output current, and the discharge current, including: By integrating the discharge current in the time domain, the single discharge energy corresponding to this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event can be calculated. Obtain the first rated maximum single discharge energy of the gas discharge tube in the front-stage protection circuit, and the second rated maximum single discharge energy of the transient voltage suppression diode in the rear-stage protection circuit; Based on the single-release energy and the first rated single-release maximum energy, calculate the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event. The first remaining service life of the gas discharge tube is determined based on the historical first life loss and the first life loss corresponding to the historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact events. Based on the single discharge energy and the second rated single maximum discharge energy, calculate the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event; The second remaining lifetime of the transient voltage suppression diode is determined based on the historical second lifetime loss and the second lifetime loss corresponding to the historical nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact events.

8. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The main control processing module is also used for: Based on the relationship between the peak value of the input current and the preset rated current value, the weighting coefficient corresponding to this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event is determined; The main control processing module calculates the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event based on the single discharge energy and the first rated single maximum discharge energy, including: Calculate the first ratio between the single-release energy and the first rated single-release maximum energy, and use the product of the first ratio and the weighting coefficient as the first lifetime loss of the gas discharge tube caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event; The main control processing module calculates the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event based on the single discharge energy and the second rated single maximum discharge energy, including: Calculate the second ratio between the single discharge energy and the second rated single maximum discharge energy, and multiply the second ratio by the weighting coefficient as the second lifetime loss of the transient voltage suppression diode caused by this nuclear electromagnetic pulse impact event.

9. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector also includes: a housing; The housing is provided with a modular plug-in slot, and the inner wall of the slot is provided with elastic gold-plated contacts. The gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode are respectively soldered to independent printed circuit board sub-boards and installed in the slots through the printed circuit board sub-boards in a pluggable modular structure, so that they can be disassembled and replaced after the service life expires. The end of the printed circuit board sub-board is provided with gold fingers that match the elastic gold-plated contacts. The gold fingers are inserted and engaged with the elastic gold-plated contacts to realize the electrical connection between the gas discharge tube and the transient voltage suppression diode and the main circuit. A cover plate is provided on the housing corresponding to the slot, and a sealing ring is provided on the inner side of the cover plate.

10. The nuclear electromagnetic pulse antenna feeder protector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first non-contact current sensor, the second non-contact current sensor, and the third non-contact current sensor are Rogowski coils, the gas discharge tube is a ceramic gas discharge tube, and the transient voltage suppression diode is a bidirectional transient voltage suppression diode.

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