Modelling Serial Arcs in High Voltage DC Aircraft Networks

The implementation of high voltage direct current power distribution networks in future hybrid electrical aircraft, will increase the risk of arcing. Apart from mitigation measures in the cabling and power electronics themselves, inductive sensors are developed to detect serial arcing based on high-frequency behaviour of arc currents. This paper presents the model that will be used to analyse the physical phenomena behind arcing behaviour observed in experiments. A modified Mayr model that includes the effects of arc length is used in conjunction with differential equations that describe the other components in the circuit. Parameter analysis is performed to learn the impact of each parameter to the arcing behaviour. This enables the fitting of the arc model to get a very good match between simulated and measured arc currents and voltages. As a final step, stochastic variations in the arc length are included, to be able to simulate effects of fluctuating arc length in the arc currents and voltage.