A SPICE model for simulating arc discharge loads

A SPICE circuit model simulating a simplified voltage-current characteristic of an arc discharge during the ignition is proposed. The model is constructed from a two-transistor circuit which simulates a nonlinear load with a negative resistance portion. The proposed model is simulated with a simplified arc ignition circuit and compared with experimental results. Limitations of both the arc model and the simulation procedure are discussed. In a number of simulation cases, the arc current and voltage waveforms obtained were not consistent with expected results. This was attributed to restrictions in the simulation program SPICE when dealing with the peculiar V-I characteristic of an arc. It is proposed that these simulation failures could also reflect actual circuit deficiencies in the selection of capacitor and inductor values.<
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