Abstract: A system for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system includes: a) a data acquisition unit that is electrically connected to an electrical power system, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to monitor signals indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system, wherein the signal includes a normal load component; and b) a computing device operably connected to the data acquisition unit. The computing device is programmed to: i) obtain first data from the data acquisition unit indicative of the temporal behavior of the first signal; ii) remove the normal load component from the first data; and iii) determine that an arcing event is present on the electrical power system when the at least one burst within the first data presents a generally sinusoidal shape which includes generally flat regions which are present where the generally sinusoidal shape crosses over a zero-magnitude line.

Abstract: A system for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system includes: a) a data acquisition unit that is electrically connected to an electrical power system, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to monitor signals indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system, wherein the signal includes a normal load component; and b) a computing device operably connected to the data acquisition unit. The computing device is programmed to: i) obtain first data from the data acquisition unit indicative of the temporal behavior of the first signal; ii) remove the normal load component from the first data; and iii) determine that an arcing event is present on the electrical power system when the at least one burst within the first data presents a generally sinusoidal shape which includes generally flat regions which are present where the generally sinusoidal shape crosses over a zero-magnitude line.

Abstract: Methods for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the method. The method includes the steps of: a) obtaining data indicative of the temporal behavior of a signal which is indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system; and b) determining whether an arcing event is present on the electrical power system based on the shape observed in the first data.

Abstract: Methods for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the method. The method includes the steps of: a) obtaining data indicative of the temporal behavior of a signal which is indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system; and b) determining whether an arcing event is present on the electrical power system based on the shape observed in the first data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. Parameters indicative of power flow and possible fault events on the line, such as voltage and load current, are monitored and analyzed for an arc burst pattern exhibited by arcing faults in a power system. These arcing faults are detected by identifying bursts of each half-cycle of the fundamental current. Bursts occurring at or near a voltage peak indicate arcing on that phase. Once a faulted phase line is identified, a comparison of the current and voltage reveals whether the fault is located in a downstream direction of power flow toward customers, or upstream toward a generation station. If the fault is located downstream, the line is de-energized, and if located upstream, the line may remain energized to prevent unnecessary power outages.

Abstract: To prevent unnecessary power outages, and to remove feeder lines from service only when certain hazardous fault conditions occur, a load analysis system including an apparatus and method, monitors the load level of a feeder line and determines the presence of any arcing on the feeder line. In a two stage load pattern analysis, the presence of arcing and load current level changes are used to discriminate high impedance, low current conditions including a downed conductor, a broken and dangling conductor, a tree or object contact with the feeder line, overcurrent activities, and normal switching events such as recloser operation. The load analysis system also provides output commands including wait, alarm, trip-ready, trip and normal, depending upon which status is diagnosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain frequency components. The analyzed load current is then compared to frequency components of an arcing fault model spectrum to determine whether an arcing fault exists on the power line. If the difference between the analyzed load current and the model spectrum is less than a selected error value, then an arcing fault exists on the power line. Otherwise, no arcing fault exists and conditions are normal on the line.

Abstract: An expert detection system includes a method and apparatus for detecting high impedance faults occurring on a distribution circuit coupled to an AC power source. Based upon an expert's knowledge of high impedance fault behavior and the performance of various fault detection techniques, the expert forms a belief as to whether a high impedance fault has indeed occurred. The expert's beliefs may be adjusted with an elliptic formula, and then used to weight the status output of each technique. The weighted multiple technique outputs are combined to determine whether a high impedance fault has occurred. The expert's beliefs are calibrated during initial start-up by comparison with a confirmed performance history of the detector using a scoring rule. The belief calibration may be included during operation to provide on-line adaption of the expert detector to the changing situations of the distribution circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes energy values of the load current flowing through the line. The analyzed energy values are compared to several threshold values. The number of energy values being greater than the threshold values are compiled to determine whether an arcing fault exists on the power line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors, compiles and analyzes sample parameters taken from successive cycles of the power line load signal indicative of power flow and possible fault events on the line, such as voltage or load current. The analyzed sample parameter is then used to determine a normal parameter corresponding to a normal load pattern for the line. The normal load parameter is extracted from the compiled sample parameter data, and the resulting difference signal waveform has a magnitude value which changes in amplitude corresponding to the load-extracted data which is used to determine whether a fault exists on the power line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a fault on a power line carrying a line parameter such as a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain an energy value. The energy value is compared to a threshold value stored in a buffer. If the energy value is greater than the threshold value a counter is incremented. If the energy value is greater than a high value threshold or less than a low value threshold then a second counter is incremented. If the difference between two subsequent energy values is greater than a constant then a third counter is incremented. A fault signal is issued if the counter is greater than a counter limit value and either the second counter is greater than a second limit value or the third counter is greater than a third limit value.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of a high impedance arcing fault on an electrical circuit, particularly a high voltage power line. Detection of a high impedance fault is realized by monitoring the high frequency components of the alternating current in the circuit, and evaluating the high frequency components of each cycle of the alternating current using a microcomputer operating in accordance with a program of instructions, to determine the occurrence of a significant increase in magnitude of the high frequency components, and then to determine whether the increase exists for a prescribed period of time and follows a prescribed pattern. The high frequency components are monitored using a current-to-voltage transducer coupled to the electrical circuit, bandpass filters coupled to the transducer, and an analog-to-digital converter providing digitized samples of the filtered transducer output voltage signal.