Preemptive Medium-Low Voltage Arc Flash Detection With Geometric Distribution Analysis on Magnetic Field

As power distribution systems become increasingly interconnected and concentrated with distributed energy resources (DER) and high potential equipment, effectively avoiding the medium-low voltage caused safety risk, drawing more attention. Therefore, the accurate, fast, and reliable preemptive arc detection and location method is essential to be developed. However, due to the issues such as low sensitivity, delayed detection, complex structure, and susceptible to interference by other sources, the traditional approaches are not up to the detection and location job, for weak system source and high arcing resistance featured medium-low voltage arc flash. To overcome the limitations, this article explores a novel arc flash preemptive detection and location mechanism. With the application of geometric distribution analysis on magnetic density flux and current density, mathematical modeling incorporated magnetohydrodynamic approach is developed. With a series of actual cases incorporated simulations were performed, the criterion of arc initiation and concisely numerical model on arc fault location estimation is derived, which shows a good ability to catch the transient dynamics of arcing current in the early initiating stage, and also proves the reliability and accuracy on fast detection and location uses. These results offered valuable information for medium-low arc fault mitigation and hazard prevention.