Arc detection system and method
View Patent ↗A system for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution systems is provided. The system comprises a sensor configured to detect ultraviolet light and to generate a signal indicative of the arcing event propagating from the electrical distribution system. A processor coupled to the sensor and configured to analyze an ultraviolet light characteristic from the signal and generate an arc fault signal. A protective device configured to receive the arc fault signal and to mitigate the arcing event in the electrical distribution system.
1. A system for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution system comprising:
a sensor configured to detect ultraviolet light and to generate a signal indicative of the arcing event propagating from the electrical distribution system;
a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to analyze an ultraviolet light characteristic from the signal and to generate an arc fault signal indicative of the arcing event; and
a protective device configured to receive the arc fault signal and to mitigate the arcing event in the electrical distribution system.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to analyze the ultraviolet light characteristic from the signal by comparing the ultraviolet light characteristic with a pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic, identifying an occurrence of the arcing event.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein extracted ultraviolet light characteristic is indicative of wavelength and intensity.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic is indicative of low intensity light signal from ultraviolet wavelength.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed in electrical distribution system.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a fiber optic sensor or a photo-diode sensor.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic indicative of a noise.
8. An arc detection system for identifying an arcing event within an electrical distribution system comprising:
a plurality of optical sensors disposed proximate to the electrical distribution system and configured to sense an ultraviolet light and to generate a first signal indicative of the arcing event in the electrical distribution system;
a plurality of radio frequency sensors disposed proximate to the electrical distribution system and configured to sense a radio frequency signal indicative of the arcing event generated in the electrical distribution system;
a processor coupled to the optical sensors and to the radio frequency sensors, the processor being configured to extract an ultraviolet light characteristic from first signal, and a radio frequency characteristic from the radio frequency signal, and to compare the extracted ultraviolet light characteristic and the extracted radio frequency characteristic to a pre-determined characteristic to identify occurrence of the arcing event, and to generate an arc fault signal; and
a protective device configured to receive the arc fault signal and to mitigate the arcing event in the electrical distribution system.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the ultraviolet light characteristic and the radio frequency characteristic are indicative of frequency and intensity.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical sensors and the radio frequency sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations around the electrical distribution system.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to discriminate noise from the first signal and radio frequency signal.
12. A method for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution system comprising:
detecting ultraviolet light and generating a signal indicative of the arcing event in the electrical distribution system and propagating from electrical distribution system;
extracting an ultraviolet light characteristic from the signal;
comparing the extracted ultraviolet light characteristic to a pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic to identify occurrence of the arcing event; and
generating an arc fault signal indicative of occurrence of the arcing event.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using the arc fault signal to initiate protective action to mitigate the arcing event.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic comprises a peak ultraviolet light intensity indicative of an arcing event.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising disposing a sensor configured for detecting ultraviolet light proximate a region of the electrical distribution system likely to experience arcing.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising relating the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic to a current present in the electrical distribution system.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising discriminating the extracted ultraviolet light characteristics from noise.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising triggering a protective device based upon the arc fault signal.
19. A method for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution system comprising:
detecting ultraviolet light and generating a first signal indicative of the arcing event;
detecting a radio frequency signal indicative of the arcing event;
extracting an ultraviolet light characteristic from the detected first signal and a radio frequency characteristic from the detected radio frequency signal;
comparing the extracted ultraviolet light characteristic and the extracted radio frequency characteristic with pre-determined characteristics to identify occurrence of an arcing event; and
generating an arc fault signal indicative of occurrence of the arcing event.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising using the arc fault signal to initiate protective action for the arcing event.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic comprises a peak ultraviolet light intensity indicative of an arcing event.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising disposing an optical sensor for detecting ultraviolet light and a radio frequency sensor for detecting radio frequency signal proximate a region of the electrical distribution system likely to experience arcing.
23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising relating the pre-determined ultraviolet light characteristic and the pre-determined radio frequency characteristic to a current present in the electrical distribution system.
24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising discriminating the extracted characteristics from noise.
25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising triggering a protective device by the arc fault signal.