Power Arcing Source Location Using First Peak of Arrivalof RF-Signal

Abstract

This paper reports an experimental investigation of locating arc sources using strategically placed antennas and the signal arrival times of first peak component of the wideband electromagnetic signals radiated from the sources toward the antennas. Theoretical approaches of such electromagnetic source location are first introduced and then a new approach of using the dominant frequency component of the first peak wave to clarify the source location distance is discussed. Experiments of arc generation and radiation signal measurement are conducted and, using the measured electromagnetic data, the arc source location method is applied and the results are compared against the actual location. It is found that the first peak arrival method works at a reasonable level of accuracy.

Novel Approach of Arcing Faults Electromagnetic Radiated Energy Source Location Using Antennas in Power Systems

“…Assuming that the transmitted radiated energy emitted by the source per placement is constant for the 4 antennas within the same placement, the measured distances between the arc source and the antennas are calculated using (16) and presented in Table IX. The distance ( ) and time ( ) as discussed in [1]- [2] are proportional since = * , where is the speed of light. Next the signal times of arrival (TOA) are calculated for both actual and measured distances as summarized respectively in Tables III and VII. From the TOA calculated results, the TDOA are simply obtained using an arithmetic subtraction between pairs of TOA and the outcomes are illustrated respectively for both actual and measured results in Tables VI and VIII.…”

“…Next the signal times of arrival (TOA) are calculated for both actual and measured distances as summarized respectively in Tables III and VII. From the TOA calculated results, the TDOA are simply obtained using an arithmetic subtraction between pairs of TOA and the outcomes are illustrated respectively for both actual and measured results in Tables VI and VIII. Having obtained the TDOA, the algorithm used to derive the exact arc source point location based on the captured signal data is explained in detail in [1]- [2]. According to [1] the solution of (18) is formed by an application of the Newton-Raphson technique procedure in order to solve the nonlinear Eqs.…”

“…In this experiment 5 antennas' placements as discussed in [1]- [2] are used, and the entire energy results derived from (15) when applied to the real experimental data are shown in Table I. As seen in Table I the absorbed energy varies with respect to the antennas' placement.…”

“…However an investigation conducted by [3] showed that in reality the arc has both an inductance and conductance. Therefore the time dependency of such arc current characteristic due to its small inductance and conductance can be modelled using the arc current and its time derivative as expressed in (2) and (3):…”

“…The set-up depicted in Figures 7-8 is similar to the setup made and discussed in [1]- [2]. It consists of four strategically placed antennas around the arc source covering a portion of RF radiation space.…”