Risk-based EMC engineering for susceptibility exposure: Thinking outside the box

The continuously growing technological developments over the past years require the use of more electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in everyday life applications such as cars, airplanes, etc. This results in more electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) challenges, which call for novel and efficient approaches that can cover a wide variety of applications and can ensure the expected operation of any equipment in its intended environment of use (IEME). However, applying solely a series of regulations issued by each government, known as “EMC standards”, does not ensure EMC of any EEE in their IEME. Instead, as also advised by the Guide for the European EMC directive (EMCD), each manufacturer should apply an “appropriate” method of assessment, which shall account for potential risk(s). Therefore, a risk-based EMC approach should be adopted by the manufacturer. The reason(s) and proof that risk-based EMC engineering is required in today’s EMC assessment is the focus of this thesis. The thesis starts with an overall overview of the complete framework of risk-based EMC engineering and its comparison with the so-far-used rule-based EMC engineering approach. Later, it continues with an investigation of real dynamic environments via developing a theoretical conceptual model of real-life scenarios and performing an experimental campaign in automotive environments. Finally, the thesis ends with exposing the EM vulnerability of an actual electric scooter - which had fulfilled the EMC standards - by following the risk-based EMC engineering approach. The work of this thesis is part of the EU-funded project PETER, which focuses on providing insight into risk-based EMC engineering approaches via 4 key areas: EMC, reliability engineering, functional safety, and risk management. The research in this thesis is conducted within the above key areas as it applies the risk-based EMC engineering approach by exposing the EM susceptibility of potential victims.