Experimental characterization of series arc faults in AC and DC electrical circuits

This paper presents an experimental characterization of the arc fault phenomenon, for both AC and DC systems, focusing the attention on series arcs. The aim of the study is to find some current characteristics, which can be significant for the purpose of arc detection. The arcing current signal is analyzed in both time and frequency domain. For the AC analysis, the test conditions are chosen in accordance with the “unwanted tripping tests” and the “operation inhibition tests” reported in the Standard UL 1699. The DC study is carried out on the currents waveforms acquired during some on-field tests on a PV plant. Starting from the study herein presented, the authors have found that is it possible to suitably detect the arc faults, in both AC and DC systems, by using an high resolution low frequency harmonic current analysis.