Method and apparatus for protecting electrical components from a transient electromagnetic disturbance

A device for preventing an electrical signal induced on a power line of an electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution system by hazardous EMI from reaching an electrical component connected to the power line, the device comprising:

• a plurality of conductive impedance transition elements that are mounted to the power line and have diameters that are greater than a diameter of the power line to deliberately create an impedance mismatch between the conductive impedance transition elements and adjacent portions of the power line;
• wherein the impedance mismatch causes the conductive impedance transition elements to reflect high-frequency components of a signal induced on the power line by hazardous EMI, and
• wherein the high-frequency components are reflected and dissipated as heat by decaying resonators formed between pairs of plurality of conductive impedance transition elements.

(canceled)

A method of protecting a component coupled to an underground power line of an electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system from hazardous EMI comprising:

• deliberately creating an impedance mismatch by introducing impedance variations in a semiconductive layer surrounding conductors of the power line;
• wherein a difference between impedance in sections of the semiconductor layer intentionally causes a differential impedance mismatch between the semiconductive layer and adjacent portions of the power line, the impedance mismatch causing high-frequency components of a signal induced on the power line by the hazardous EMI to be dissipated along the power line as heat.

(canceled)