Localizing breakdown in a high power RF network

1. An apparatus for localizing an arc inside a radio-frequency (RF) waveguide, comprising:

(a) multiple sound vibration transducers, comprising two pair of said sound vibration transducers, configured for coupling to positions within an RF waveguide;

(b) wherein a first pair of sound vibration transducers are positioned in the RF waveguide at a first location in a general area where suspected arcing occurs, and a second pair of sound vibration transducers are positioned in the RF waveguide at a second location in a general area where suspected arcing occurs;

(c) wherein a first sound vibration transducer in the first sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a first face of the RF waveguide, and a second sound vibration transducer of the first sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a second face of the RF waveguide, and wherein said first and second faces of the RF waveguide are perpendicular; and

wherein a first sound vibration transducer in the second sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a first face of the RF waveguide, and a second sound vibration transducer of the second sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a second face of the RF waveguide, and wherein said first and second faces of the RF waveguide are perpendicular;

(d) a data acquisition circuit coupled to said multiple sound vibration transducers and configured for collecting sound vibration information from said multiple sound vibration transducers;

(e) a circuit for generating a trigger signal when a threshold level of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is exceeded;

(f) a processor; and

(g) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;

(h) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:

(i) detecting a high voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) in the RF waveguide;

(ii) acquiring data from the sound vibration transducers when the high VSWR is detected;

(iii) measuring time-of-flight for the sound vibration transducers, wherein in each transducer pair, the first signal to arrive at a sound vibration transducer will be a longitudinal mode, indicating angular position of the arcing;

(iv) comparing data from each sound vibration transducer pair, and from that comparison identifying the faster longitudinal component and recording the time required for the sound to reach the transducer pair; and

(v) comparing the respective time of flights for the sound vibration transducers, and speed of sound in the RF waveguide material, and from that comparison identifying longitudinal position of the arc.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sound vibration transducers comprise piezoelectric transducers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said instructions when executed by the processor perform steps comprising generating said longitudinal position of the arc regardless of the angular location of the arc within the RF waveguide.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said instructions when executed by the processor further perform steps comprising collecting information on the RF waveguide into which said multiple sound vibration transducers are coupled and performing a calibration process to create a set of baseline information for use when generating said longitudinal position of the arc when the network is operating.

5. A method for localizing an arc inside a radio-frequency (RF) waveguide, the method comprising:

(a) placing a first pair of sound vibration transducers on an RF waveguide in a first location in a general area where suspected arcing occurs;

(b) placing a second pair of sound vibration transducers on an RF waveguide in a second location in the general area where suspected arcing occurs;

(c) wherein a first sound vibration transducer in the first sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a first face of the RF waveguide, wherein a second sound vibration transducer in the first sound vibration transducer pair is placed at an approximate center of a second face of the RF waveguide, and wherein said first and second faces of the RF waveguide are perpendicular;

(d) wherein a first sound vibration transducer in the second sound vibration transducer pair is placed at the approximate center of the first face of the RF waveguide, and wherein a second sound vibration transducer in the second sound vibration transducer pair is placed at the approximate center of the second face of the RF waveguide;

(e) detecting a high voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) in the RF waveguide;

(f) acquiring data from the sound vibration transducers when the high VSWR is detected;

(g) measuring time-of-flight for the sound vibration transducers, wherein in each transducer pair, the first signal to arrive at a sound vibration transducer will be a longitudinal mode, indicating angular position of the arcing;

(h) comparing data from each sound vibration transducer pair, and from that comparison identifying the faster longitudinal component and recording the time required for the sound to reach the transducer pair; and

(i) comparing the respective time of flights for the sound vibration transducers, and speed of sound in the RF waveguide material, and from that comparison identifying longitudinal position of the arc.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sound vibration transducers comprise piezoelectric transducers.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said information on the longitudinal position of the arc is generated regardless of the angular location of the arc within the RF waveguide.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising collecting information on the RF waveguide into which the at least one pair of sound vibration transducers are coupled and performing a calibration process to create a set of baseline information for use when generating said longitudinal position of the arc within the RF waveguide.