Electric arc detection based on signal injection

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrical system and method capable of detecting electric arcs. [Solution] The electrical system 100 includes a power transmission component 102 having a first terminal 112 and a second terminal 114, a signal generator 110, one or more electrical components 104 connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, and a processing circuit. The signal generator injects an electrical signal into one or more electrical components. The processing circuit measures a first signal energy associated with one or more specific frequency electrical signals at the first terminal, measures a second signal energy associated with one or more specific frequency electrical signals at the second terminal, and determines the occurrence of an electrical arc associated with one or more electrical components based at least in part on the first and second signal energies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrical systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for detecting electrical arcs.

Background Art

[0002] Electrical circuits, such as direct current (DC) electrical circuits, can be incorporated into electrical systems to support a variety of applications (e.g., solar cells, batteries, power transmission, etc.). Electrical arcs (e.g., unintended discharges) can cause thermal / safety issues and / or system failures, posing technical challenges to the operation of electrical circuits. In certain applications, improved arc detection is desirable.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Each of the systems, methods, and apparatuses of the present disclosure has several innovative embodiments, of which no single one alone possesses all of the desirable attributes disclosed herein. The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

[0004] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system with electric arc detection, the electrical system comprising: a power transmission component having a first terminal and a second terminal, the power transmission component including a signal generator configured to inject an electrical signal into one or more electrical components coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; one or more electrical components; a first circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, the first circuit configured to measure a first signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal; a second circuit electrically connected to the second terminal, the second circuit configured to measure a second signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal; and a detection circuit communicating with the first and second circuits, the detection circuit configured to detect the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, at least in part, based on the first and second signal energies.

[0005] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which a detection circuit determines the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, at least in part, based on the difference between a first signal energy and a second signal energy.

[0006] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which a first circuit measures a first signal energy and compares the measured first signal energy with a measurement from a second circuit after the generation of an electric arc.

[0007] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which a detection circuit determines the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components based on a first signal energy, a second signal energy, a third signal energy, and a fourth signal energy, the first circuit is configured to measure a third signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at a first terminal prior to the occurrence of an electric arc, and the second circuit is configured to measure a fourth signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at a second terminal prior to the occurrence of an electric arc.

[0008] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which one or more specific frequencies are in the range of 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 150 kHz.

[0009] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which the first circuit includes a Fourier transform (FT) circuit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which one or more electrical components include at least one of a solar cell or a battery cell.

[0011] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which one or more electrical components include a plurality of electrical components in series with respect to each other between a first terminal and a second terminal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to an electrical system in which the signal generator includes a solenoid.

[0013] In some embodiments, the technology described herein further includes an additional electrical component coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the additional electrical component is in series with each other and in parallel with one or more electrical components, a signal generator is configured to inject a second electrical signal into the additional electrical component, and a detection circuit is configured to detect the occurrence of a second electrical arc associated with the additional electrical component, at least in part, based on the first and second signal energies.

[0014] In some embodiments, the techniques described herein are methods for detecting an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, the method comprising: injecting an electrical signal into an electrical loop, the electrical loop comprising a first terminal of a power transmission component, a second terminal of a power transmission component, and one or more electrical components electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; generating a first indicator (index) of a first signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal; generating a second indicator of a second signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal; and detecting an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, at least in part, based on the first and second indicators.

[0015] In some embodiments, the techniques described herein further include injecting one or more calibration signals into an electrical loop; receiving one or more electrical responses from the electrical loop related to one or more calibration signals; and determining, based on one or more electrical responses, that an electrical arc related to one or more electrical components causes significant energy absorption in the electrical loop at one or more specific frequencies.

[0016] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a method by which a first and a second indicator are generated after the generation of an electric arc.

[0017] In some embodiments, the technique described herein further comprises: generating a third representation of a third signal energy associated with one or more specific frequencies of electrical signals at a first terminal prior to the generation of an electric arc; generating a fourth representation of a fourth signal energy associated with one or more specific frequencies of electrical signals at a second terminal prior to the generation of an electric arc; and detecting an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components based on the first, second, third, and fourth representations.

[0018] In some embodiments, the techniques described herein relate to a method in which one or more specific frequencies are in the range of 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 150 kHz.

[0019] In some embodiments, the techniques described herein relate to a method for generating a first representation using a first Fourier transform (FT) circuit and generating a second representation using a second Fourier transform (FT) circuit.

[0020] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a method in which one or more electrical components include at least one of a solar cell or a battery cell.

[0021] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a method in which one or more electrical components include a plurality of electrical components arranged in series with respect to each other between a first terminal and a second terminal.

[0022] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a method in which the power transmission component includes an inverter or a transformer.

[0023] In some embodiments, the techniques described herein relate to a method by which an electrical signal is injected into an electrical loop by a solenoid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] Throughout the drawings, reference numerals are reused to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate examples of the subject matter described in the present specification, and do not limit the scope thereof.

[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of an electrical system capable of detecting an electric arc, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] [Figure 2] 2 is an exemplary timeline for detecting an electric arc using the electrical system of Figure 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] [Figure 3] 3 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of an electrical system capable of detecting an electric arc, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] [Figure 4] 4 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of an electrical system capable of detecting an electric arc, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Detailed Description of the Embodiments]

[0030] The following descriptions of specific embodiments present various descriptions of those specific embodiments. However, the technological innovations described herein can be implemented in numerous different ways, for example, as defined and encompassed by the claims. In this description, similar reference numerals may refer to drawings in which identical or functionally similar elements are shown. It will be understood that the elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Furthermore, it will be understood that a particular embodiment may include more elements and / or subsets of elements shown in the drawings than those shown. Furthermore, some embodiments may incorporate any suitable combination of features from two or more drawings. Any suitable principles and advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented together with one another.

[0031] Generally speaking, one or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for detecting an electric arc by injecting one or more signals at one or more specific frequencies (e.g., one or more frequencies at which an electric arc absorbs or consumes most of its energy) into an electrical system and measuring the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies at separate locations (e.g., different points or nodes in an electrical loop or electrical circuit of the electrical system). More specifically, some embodiments of the present disclosure disclose injecting a control signal (e.g., using a signal generator for injecting electrical signals at one or more specific frequencies) into an electrical loop including one or more electrical components (e.g., battery cells, solar cells, etc.) coupled between the terminals of a power transmission component, measuring the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies at multiple nodes in the electrical loop, and performing frequency domain analysis to determine the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components (e.g., within one or more electrical components). The electrical components may be direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), or a combination thereof.

[0032] Advantageously, by injecting electrical signals at one or more specific frequencies to detect electric arcs, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with electric arc detection can be enhanced or improved compared to existing methods that involve using uncontrolled signals to detect electric arcs. Improved SNR can reduce the likelihood of false positives and / or false trips, resulting in more reliable and accurate electric arc detection. Furthermore, by measuring signal energy at multiple nodes in an electrical loop (e.g., the positive and negative terminals of an inverter) and comparing the signal energy at multiple nodes before and / or after the electric arc occurs, electric arcs can be detected at any point after their occurrence. In contrast, certain existing methods that measure signal energy at a single node in an electrical circuit can only detect electric arcs within a relatively narrow time window (e.g., immediately after the electric arc occurs).

[0033] Furthermore, the system of this disclosure can reuse at least some hardware used in existing systems and can support electric arc detection mechanisms performed by existing systems (e.g., measuring signal energy at a single node). Thus, the disclosed system can be made compatible and / or integrated into existing infrastructure without extensive system redesign. The disclosed system can also support electric arc detection in parallel electrical loops or electrical circuits. For example, by controlling the amplitude and / or frequency of the injected signal, the disclosed system can be made adaptable to detect electric arcs under various circuit topologies, complexities, and / or structures.

[0034] In the field of power transmission systems and / or electromagnetic systems, electric arcs (e.g., unintended discharges, electricity across air gaps, or other uncontrolled paths to ground) can pose significant design challenges because they can cause thermal events and system failures. Once an electric arc occurs, it can persist, leading to continuous discharge and increased risks associated with the operation of electrical circuits. Therefore, detecting electric arcs is crucial for maintaining the safety and reliability of electrical systems.

[0035] Existing methods for detecting electric arcs may include comparing the energy emitted by an electric arc at both frequencies before and after the arc occurs (e.g., between 10 kHz and 150 kHz). For example, some methods for detecting electric arcs may include monitoring changes in the frequency components of an electrical signal on a signal bus and continuously comparing energy levels at specific frequencies measured at different timestamps. These methods can determine the occurrence of an electric arc if the difference between the energy levels measured at two timestamps exceeds a threshold. For example, an energy level at a specific frequency measured before an electric arc occurs may be higher than another energy level at a specific frequency measured after an electric arc occurs due to energy absorption characteristics associated with the electric arc.

[0036] However, because the energy emitted and / or absorbed by electric arcs can be relatively low, existing detection methods may face technical challenges associated with relatively low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), such as a large number of false positives and false trips. Furthermore, existing methods may involve continuously measuring or calculating signal energy at various frequencies at a single location (e.g., a single node in an electrical loop or circuit) (e.g., using a fast Fourier transform (FFT)), and determining the occurrence of an electric arc by comparing the FFT outputs before and after the occurrence. However, these methods, including detection at a single location, can only detect electric arcs within a relatively narrow time window (e.g., immediately after the occurrence of the electric arc), which can thus substantially limit their detection capabilities.

[0037] To address at least some of the above-mentioned problems, some embodiments of the present disclosure disclose systems and methods for detecting electric arcs by injecting a control signal (e.g., an electric signal of one or more specific frequencies) into an electric loop comprising one or more electric components (e.g., a direct current (DC) component such as a battery cell or a solar cell), measuring the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies at multiple nodes in the electric loop, and / or performing frequency domain analysis to determine the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electric components.

[0038] In some examples, a system for detecting an electric arc may include a power transmission component (e.g., an inverter, a transformer, etc.), one or more electrical components (e.g., DC components such as a battery cell or a solar cell), a first circuit, a second circuit, and a processing circuit. The power transmission component may have a first terminal (e.g., a positive terminal) and a second terminal (e.g., a negative terminal). One or more electrical components may be electrically connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. The power transmission component may include a signal generator. The signal generator may inject an electrical signal via the first terminal into an electrical loop between the first terminal and the second terminal, which includes one or more electrical components.

[0039] The first circuit can be electrically connected to the first terminal. The first circuit can be configured to measure a first signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 50 kHz and 80 kHz) at the first terminal. For example, the first circuit can generate a first representation of the first signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal. The second circuit can be electrically connected to the second terminal. The second circuit can be configured to measure a second signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal. For example, the second circuit can generate a second representation of the second signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal. The processing circuit can communicate with the first and second circuits. The processing circuit can be configured to determine the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, at least in part, based on the first and second signal energies. For example, the processing circuit can detect an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components based at least in part on the first and second indicators.

[0040] In some examples, a first circuit can measure a first signal energy, and a second circuit can measure a second signal energy after the occurrence of an electric arc. A processing circuit can determine the occurrence of an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, at least partially based on the difference between the first and second signal energies. In other examples, a processing circuit can determine the occurrence of an electric arc based on both signal energies calculated before and after the occurrence of the electric arc. The processing circuit and / or other circuits can be made to perform corrective actions in response to the detection of an electric arc.

[0041] In some examples, one or more specific frequencies can be determined based on the energy absorption characteristics of the electric arc associated with one or more electrical components. For example, a system can perform a calibration process (e.g., via frequency sweep) to characterize or determine the frequencies at which an electric arc occurs and / or absorbs a significant amount of energy (e.g., maximum or near-maximum energy) associated with one or more electrical components. More specifically, a system can inject calibration signals of various frequencies (e.g., 10 kHz to 150 kHz) into one or more electrical components and analyze the responses associated with the calibration signals to determine one or more frequencies at which the electric arc associated with one or more electrical components absorbs the most energy. The system can then set the one or more frequencies at which the electric arc absorbs the most energy (e.g., 100 kHz and 120 kHz) as one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz and 120 kHz) used by the signal generator to inject the electrical signal. For example, after the calibration process, the signal generator can inject 100kHz and / or 80kHz signals into the electrical loop to detect an electrical arc.

[0042] In some examples, the calibration process can be performed initially during system setup or installation. An initial calibration process can help establish a baseline frequency at which the arc is most likely to release and / or absorb energy. Additionally and / or optionally, the system can be calibrated periodically, in real-time during operation, and / or in response to specific triggers (e.g., detection of changes in environmental conditions). This allows the system to account for changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, that could affect the frequency at which the arc is most likely to release and / or absorb energy. In some embodiments, calibration can be performed with a deliberately failed component to characterize the component's response to failure (e.g., which frequencies or more of energy are absorbed by a failed component, as opposed to a nominally functioning component). Analysis can also be performed to characterize similar characteristics of a failed component. Analysis and / or fault injection can be used to determine the threshold(s) of energy bypassed by the arc caused by the failed component. Thresholds may correspond to different failures and / or different components, thereby enabling the use of the disclosed technology to identify specific types of failures, specific failed components, or combinations of failure types / components.

[0043] In some examples, the system can support the detection of electric arcs in one or more other electric loops or circuits that are in parallel with the electric loop and connected to the power transfer components. For example, by controlling the amplitude and / or frequency of the injected signal generated by the signal generator, the system may be adaptable to detect electric arcs under various circuit topologies (e.g., two or more electric loops in parallel), complexities, and / or structures. In some examples, the first and second circuits may include one or more Fourier transform (FT) circuits or fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuits. In some examples, the first circuit, the second circuit, and / or the processing circuit may be implemented or embodied as a digital signal processor (DSP) or other suitable type of processing circuit.

[0044] Various embodiments are described according to exemplary combinations of embodiments and features, but those skilled in the art will understand that the examples and feature combinations are illustrative in nature and should not necessarily be construed as limiting. More specifically, embodiments of this application may be applicable to various types of electrical and / or electromagnetic systems under different circumstances (e.g., related to vehicles, solar systems, and battery systems). Furthermore, specific architectures of circuit block diagrams for detecting electric arcs are described, but such exemplary circuit block diagrams or architectures should not necessarily be construed as limiting. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application are not necessarily limited to application to any particular type of electric arc detection system.

[0045] Figure 1 is an illustrative schematic block diagram of an electrical system 100 capable of detecting an electric arc, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the electrical system 100 may include at least a power transmission component 102, a first FFT circuit 106, a second FFT circuit 108, and an electrical component 104. The power transmission component 102 includes a signal generator 110, as shown. The signal generator 110 may include a solenoid. The power transmission component 102 may have a first terminal 112 (e.g., a positive terminal or a non-inverting terminal) and a second terminal 114 (e.g., a negative terminal or an inverting terminal). The first FFT circuit 106 may be a 64-point FFT circuit, a 128-point FFT circuit, and the like, depending on the desired frequency resolution for detecting an electric arc. The first FFT circuit 106 is electrically connectable to the first terminal 112. The second FFT circuit 108 can be a 64-point FFT circuit, a 128-point FFT circuit, or the like, depending on the desired frequency resolution for detecting electric arcs. The second FFT circuit 108 can be electrically connected to the second terminal 114. The electrical component 104 can be electrically connected to terminal 112 at one end and to terminal 114 at the other end.

[0046] In some examples, the power transmission component 102 may be or include an inverter, a transformer, and / or other suitable power conversion and / or transmission circuit that facilitates power transmission to and from the electrical component 104. For example, the power transmission component 102 may include a transformer that receives an alternating current (AC) signal and converts the AC signal to a DC signal for the electrical component 104. The power transmission component 102 may include a signal generator 110. Even if the signal generator 110 is implemented outside the power transmission component 102, the signal generator can be considered part of the power transmission component 102.

[0047] In some examples, the signal generator 110 can inject electrical signals of one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz, 20 kHz, and 80 kHz) via the first terminal 112 into an electrical loop 160 including the first terminal 112, electrical components 104, and the second terminal 114. In the electrical loop 160, the electrical components 104 are in series with each other. The signal generator 110 can superimpose the injected signals onto the power signals that the power transfer component 102 provides to the electrical components 104. The injected signals can be, for example, sinusoidal signals. One or more specific frequencies of the electrical signals can be determined based on the energy absorption characteristics of the electric arc within the electrical components 104 (e.g., via a calibration process), thereby advantageously enabling the electrical system 100 to effectively detect the electric arc by measuring and calculating changes in signal energy. By adjusting the amplitude and / or frequency of the injected electrical signal, the signal generator 110 can provide the electrical system 100 with the ability to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) related to the detection of electric arcs, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of detecting electric arcs.

[0048] In some examples, the electrical component 104 can include various types of components such as battery cells and solar cells. The electrical component 104 can be a DC component. The electrical component 104 can be connected in series with each other between the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114. In Figure 1, the electrical component 104 is shown as a photovoltaic solar cell. During operation, an electric arc 150 may occur associated with the DC component of the electrical component 104. Using the signal generator 110, the first FFT circuit 106, and the second FFT circuit 108, the electrical system 100 can reliably detect the electric arc 150.

[0049] More specifically, the first FFT circuit 106 is electrically connectable to the first terminal 112. The first FFT circuit 106 can measure the signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 80 kHz) at the first terminal 112 (e.g., via frequency domain analysis to obtain the energy distribution over a frequency band of interest, such as 10 kHz to 150 kHz). More specifically, the first FFT circuit 106 can detect the signal energy of an injection signal (e.g., generated by the signal generator 110) superimposed on the power signal that the power transfer component 102 provides to the electrical component 104 at the first terminal 112. The second FFT circuit 108 is electrically connectable to the second terminal 114. The second FFT circuit 108 can measure the signal energy associated with an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal 114. More specifically, the second FFT circuit 108 can detect at the second terminal 114 the signal energy of an injection signal superimposed on the power signal that the power transfer component 102 provides to the electrical component 104 (e.g., generated by the signal generator 110). Based at least in part on the signal energy measured at the first terminal 112 and the signal energy measured at the second terminal 114 (e.g., the difference between the signal energy at terminal 112 and the signal energy at terminal 114), the processing circuit of the electrical system 100 (not shown in Figure 1) can determine the occurrence of an electric arc 150 associated with one or more electrical components 104. The energy difference at one or more specific frequencies may be due to the absorption of the injection signal by the electric arc 150.

[0050] Figure 1 shows that the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 are electrically connected to the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114, respectively. However, in some other embodiments, the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 can be electrically connected to other suitable nodes in the electrical loop 160. The first FFT circuit 106 can be connected to a first node in the electrical loop 160, and the second FFT circuit 108 can be connected to a second node in the electrical loop 160, with the first and second nodes located on opposite sides of an electrical component 104 that is in series with respect to each other. The first FFT circuit 106 can generate a first measure of signal energy related to one or more specific frequency electrical signals at the first end of the electrical component 104 in the electrical loop 160. The second FFT circuit 108 can generate a first measure of signal energy associated with one or more specific frequencies of electrical signals at the second end of the electrical component 104 within the electrical loop 160.

[0051] Figure 2 shows an exemplary timeline for detecting an electric arc using the electrical system 100 of Figure 1 (e.g., a first FFT circuit 106 and a second FFT circuit 108) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, the electric arc 150 occurs between timestamp 2 (e.g., 10 seconds after the reference time) and timestamp 3 (e.g., 10.5 seconds, 11 seconds, or 60 seconds after the reference time) and may persist after occurrence if no corrective action is taken. Figure 2 also shows that the arc continues over time after occurrence.

[0052] In some examples, both the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 can measure the signal energy at timestamp 3. For example, at the first terminal 112, the first FFT circuit 106 can measure the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz, 90 kHz, and 120 kHz, or one or more frequencies at which the electric arc 150 absorbs a significant and / or maximum amount of energy). At the second terminal 114, the second FFT circuit 108 measures the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies. Due to the generation of the electric arc 150 associated with one or more of the electrical components 104, the signal energy measured by the first FFT circuit 106 may be higher than the signal energy measured by the second FFT circuit 108 (e.g., 3 dB, 5 dB, 10 dB, or other levels higher). By comparing the difference between the signal energy measured by the first FFT circuit 106 and the signal energy measured by the second FFT circuit 108 at timestamp 3, the processing circuit (not shown in Figure 2) can determine the occurrence of an electric arc 150.

[0053] In some examples, the processing circuit can determine the occurrence of an electric arc 150 based on both signal energies calculated before and after the occurrence of the electric arc 150. For example, in addition to using the signal energy measured at timestamp 3, the processing circuit can also utilize the signal energies measured by the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 at timestamp 2 to determine the occurrence of the electric arc 150. For example, the signal energies at one or more specific frequencies measured by the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 at timestamp 2 may be similar to each other because the electric arc 150 has not yet occurred at timestamp 2. Based on the signal energies measured at both timestamp 2 and timestamp 3 (for example, the measured signal energies are similar at timestamp 2 but completely different at timestamp 3), the electrical system 100 can determine that the electric arc 150 occurred between timestamp 2 and timestamp 3.

[0054] Advantageously, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, by injecting an electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies (e.g., using a signal generator 110) to detect an electric arc, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with electric arc detection can be improved or enhanced compared to existing methods that rely on uncontrolled signals to detect electric arcs. Improved SNR can reduce the likelihood of false positives and / or false trips, resulting in more reliable and accurate electric arc detection. Furthermore, by measuring signal energy at multiple nodes in the electrical loop 160 (e.g., a first terminal 112 and a second terminal 114) and comparing the signal energy at multiple nodes before and / or after the occurrence of the electric arc 150, the electric arc 150 can be detected at any point after its occurrence. In contrast, certain existing methods that measure signal energy at a single node in an electrical circuit can only detect the electric arc within a relatively narrow time window (e.g., immediately after the occurrence of the electric arc 150). This may be because these existing methods involve comparing energy levels measured at different timestamps or points in time (e.g., before and after the occurrence of the electric arc 150) and determining the occurrence of the electric arc 150 if the difference between the energy levels measured at the two timestamps exceeds a threshold. Therefore, existing methods may fail to detect the electric arc 150 by comparing energy levels measured at both points in time after the occurrence of the electric arc 150, or by comparing energy levels measured at both points in time before the occurrence of the electric arc 150.

[0055] Figure 3 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of an electrical system 300 capable of detecting an electric arc, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the electrical system 300 includes at least a power transmission component 102 having a signal generator 110, a first FFT circuit 106, a second FFT circuit 108, an electrical component 104, and an electrical component 304. In contrast to the electrical system 100 of Figure 1, which includes an electrical loop 160, the electrical system 300 may further include a second electrical loop 360, which includes electrical components 304 in series with each other. Electrical components 304 may include any suitable features of electrical components 104. The second electrical loop 360 may be in parallel with the electrical loop 160, as shown in Figure 3.

[0056] In some examples, the signal generator 110 can inject one or more electrical signals into both the electrical loop 160 and the second electrical loop 360 to detect an electrical arc 150 associated with one or more of the electrical components 104, and an electrical arc (not shown in Figure 3) associated with one or more of the electrical components 304. In some examples, the electrical system 300 can employ an additional FFT circuit (not shown in Figure 3) and / or measure signal energy at additional nodes in the second electrical loop 360 and electrical loop 160 (e.g., in addition to the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114), which can improve the detection performance (e.g., through an improved SNR associated with the detection). Advantageously, the electrical system 300 can reliably detect the electrical arc 150 by measuring energy levels using the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108 and comparing the difference between the energy levels measured by the first FFT circuit 106 and the second FFT circuit 108. For example, the electrical system 300 can reliably determine the occurrence of an electric arc 150 when the difference exceeds a threshold in the presence of system fluctuations and / or fluctuations in environmental conditions.

[0057] Figure 4 is an exemplary schematic block diagram of an electrical system 400 capable of detecting an electric arc, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, the electrical system 400 may include a power transfer component 102 having a signal generator 110, a processing circuit 406, one or more electrical components 404, and a controller 430. The power transfer component 102 includes a first terminal 112 and a second terminal 114. The processing circuit 406 and the controller 430 can be considered separate elements of the electrical system 400 from the power transfer component 102 due to their distinct functionality, even if the processing circuit 406 and / or the controller 430 are physically mounted on the power transfer component 102 (e.g., an inverter). The processing circuit 406 may be implemented by a dedicated circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) and / or a general-purpose circuit (e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP)). Unless otherwise specified, the components in Figure 4 may be structurally and / or functionally identical or substantially identical to the components of the same number in Figures 1 and 3.

[0058] In some examples, the processing circuit 406 may be embodied as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller, or other processor or processing / control circuit. The processing circuit 406 may implement and / or perform the functions of any of the FFT circuits 106 and / or 108 in Figures 1, 2, and 3 to measure the signal energy at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114. Based on the measured signal energy (e.g., the difference in signal energy measured at the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114), the processing circuit 406 may further determine the occurrence of an electric arc.

[0059] In some examples, the processing circuit 406 may include a first circuit 452, a second circuit 454, and a detection circuit 456, as shown in Figure 4, for example. The first circuit 452 can implement and / or perform the functions of the first FFT circuit 106. For example, the first circuit 452 may include a dedicated circuit for performing the FFT. The second circuit 454 can implement and / or perform the functions of the second FFT circuit 108. For example, the second circuit 454 may include a dedicated circuit for performing the FFT. Based on the signal energy measured by the first circuit 452 and the second circuit 454, the detection circuit 456 can determine the occurrence of an electric arc associated with the electrical component 404. In some examples, the first circuit 452 and / or the second circuit 454 may include processing circuits such as a DSP, ASIC, or other suitable processing / control circuits (instead of a dedicated FFT circuit). The first circuit 452 and / or the second circuit 454 may be reconfigurable to detect signal energy at various frequencies depending on the application. In some examples, the first circuit 452 and / or the second circuit 454 may include a Fourier transform (FT) circuit.

[0060] In some examples, the electrical components 404 may include other electrical components (e.g., battery cells, solar cells) and / or other electrical elements. The signal generator 110 may inject one or more electrical signals into the electrical components 404 via the first terminal 112 to detect the occurrence of an electrical arc associated with one or more of the electrical components 404. The controller 430 may provide control signals to adjust the operation of the signal generator 110, thereby achieving accurate electrical arc detection. For example, based on the number of elements in the electrical components 404, the controller 430 may cause the signal generator 110 to adjust the amplitude and / or frequency of one or more electrical signals injected via the first terminal 112.

[0061] In some examples, the controller 430 can control the signal generator 110 to inject one or more specific frequencies of electrical signals into an electrical loop 460, which includes electrical components 404 connected between a first terminal 112 and a second terminal 114. The one or more specific frequencies can be determined based on the energy absorption characteristics of the electric arc associated with one or more of the electrical components 404. For example, the controller 430 can perform a calibration process (e.g., via a frequency sweep) to characterize or determine the frequencies at which electric arcs associated with one or more electrical components 404 occur and / or absorb maximum energy. More specifically, the controller 430 can control the signal generator 110 to inject calibration signals at various frequencies (e.g., 10 kHz to 150 kHz) toward the electrical components 404. The processing circuit 406 can analyze the response associated with the calibration signals to determine the frequencies at which the electric arcs associated with one or more electrical components 404 absorb maximum energy. Next, the controller 430 can set one or more frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz) that the electric arc absorbs the most energy as one or more specific frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz) used by the signal generator 110 to inject an electrical signal for detecting the electric arc. For example, after the calibration process, the signal generator can inject a 100 kHz signal (e.g., an electrical signal) into the electric loop 460 to detect the electric arc. In some cases, the functions of the controller 430 and the processing circuit 406 can be implemented by a common integrated circuit such as a DSP. For example, at least some of the functions of the controller 430 and the processing circuit 406 can be performed by a single DSP.

[0062] In some examples, the controller 430 may optionally control the signal generator 110 to inject a signal to detect an electric arc during certain periods when interference to the operation of the electrical system 400 is reduced. For example, the controller 430 may control the signal generator 110 to inject a signal to detect an electric arc when the power transmission component 102 is not supplying power to the electrical component 404 or has temporarily suspended the supply.

[0063] In some examples, in response to the detection circuit 456 determining the occurrence of an electrical loop 460, the controller 430 may take or be facilitated to take one or more response actions. For example, the controller 430 may generate a warning or alert signal indicating the occurrence of an electrical loop 460. In another example, the controller 430 may stop power transfer from the power transfer component 102 to the electrical component 404. In yet another example, the controller 430 may restart the electrical system 400 (e.g., by following a restart protocol) or activate some safety protocol to mitigate the risks associated with the occurrence of an electrical loop 460.

[0064] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the disclosure to the exact form or specific field of use disclosed. Therefore, various alternative embodiments and / or modifications to the disclosure, whether expressly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in this manner, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications in form and detail can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is limited solely by the claims.

[0065] It should be understood that not all objectives or benefits can necessarily be achieved by following any specific example described herein. Therefore, for example, a person skilled in the art will recognize that some examples can be operated in a manner that achieves or optimizes one benefit or set of benefits taught herein, without necessarily achieving other objectives or benefits that can be taught or suggested herein.

[0066] All processes described herein can be embodied in software code modules executed by a computing system including a computer or processor, and can be fully automated through them. The code modules may be stored in any type of non-temporary computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. Some or all of the methods may be implemented in dedicated computer hardware.

[0067] Many other variations not described herein will be apparent from this disclosure. For example, depending on the example, some of the operations, events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein may be executed in a different order, added, combined, or completely excluded (for example, not all described operations or events are necessary for the implementation of the algorithm). Furthermore, in some examples, operations or events may be executed not sequentially, but simultaneously, for example, through multithreading, interrupt handling, or through multiple processors or processor cores, or on other parallel architectures. Furthermore, different tasks or processes may be executed by different machines and / or computing systems that can work together.

[0068] The various exemplary logic blocks and modules described in relation to the examples disclosed herein may be implemented or executed by machines such as processing units or processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in alternative examples, a processor may be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, or a combination thereof. A processor may include electrical circuits for processing computer-executable instructions. In some examples, a processor may include an FPGA or other programmable device that performs logical operations without processing computer-executable instructions. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, a microprocessor combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Although this specification primarily describes digital technologies, a processor may also primarily include analog components. Computing environments can include, but are not limited to, any type of computer system based on a microprocessor, mainframe computer, digital signal processor, portable computing device, device controller, or in-device computing engine.

[0069] Elements of methods, processes, routines, or algorithms described in relation to embodiments disclosed herein can be directly embodied in hardware, software modules executed by a processor device, or a combination of the two. Software modules may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of non-temporary computer-readable storage medium. Exemplary storage media may be coupled to a processor device so that the processor device can read information from and write information to the storage media. In alternative examples, the storage media may be integrated with the processor device. The processor device and storage media may reside within an ASIC. The ASIC may reside within a user terminal. In alternative examples, the processor device and storage media may reside as separate components within a user terminal.

[0070] Processes described herein or shown in the figures of this disclosure can be initiated on demand by a user or system administrator in response to an event such as a predetermined or dynamically determined schedule, or in response to any other event. Once such a process is initiated, a set of executable program instructions stored in one or more non-temporary computer-readable media (e.g., hard drives, flash memory, removable media) can be loaded into the memory (e.g., RAM) of a server or other computing device. The executable instructions may then be executed by the hardware-based computer processor of the computing device. In some embodiments, such a process or part thereof can be implemented in series or in parallel on multiple computing devices and / or multiple processors.

[0071] In particular, conditional language such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may” is understood differently in the context in which it is commonly used to indicate that some examples include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while others do not, unless otherwise specified. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that the features, elements, and / or steps are, in any case, for the sake of the example, or that the example necessarily includes logic for determining whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included in or performed within any particular example, with or without user input or prompting.

[0072] Disjunctive language, such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, or Z," is generally understood in its context to indicate that an item, term, etc., may be X, Y, Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and / or Z), unless otherwise specified. Therefore, such disjunctive language is not generally intended, nor should it be, to imply that some examples require the presence of at least one X, at least one Y, or at least one Z, respectively.

[0073] Any process description, element, or block in the flowcharts described herein and / or shown in the accompanying drawings should be understood as potentially representing a module, segment, or portion of code containing executable instructions for performing a particular logical function or element in the process. Alternative examples are included within the scope of the examples described herein, in which elements or functions are deleted or executed in a different order than shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneous or reversed order, depending on the function they contain, as understood by those skilled in the art.

[0074] It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications can be made to the above examples, and that these elements should be understood to be found in other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0075] Any process description, element, or block in the flowcharts described herein and / or shown in the accompanying drawings should be understood as potentially representing a module, segment, or portion of code containing executable instructions for performing a particular logical function or element in the process. Alternative implementations are included within the scope of the examples described herein, in which elements or functions are removed or executed in a different order from that shown or discussed, depending on the function they contain, as understood by those skilled in the art, including substantially simultaneous or reversed execution.

[0076] Unless otherwise specified, articles such as "a" or "an" should generally be interpreted as including one or more of the listed items. Therefore, phrases such as "devices configured to perform" are intended to include one or more of the enumerated devices. Such one or more enumerated devices can also be collectively configured to perform the stated enumeration. For example, "processors configured to perform enumerations A, B, and C" may include a first processor configured to perform enumeration A, which operates in conjunction with a second processor configured to perform enumerations B and C.

Claims

1. An electrical system that includes electric arc detection, A power transmission component having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the power transmission component includes a signal generator configured to inject an electrical signal into one or more electrical components coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, The aforementioned one or more electrical components, A first circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, wherein the first circuit is configured to measure a first signal energy related to the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal, A second circuit electrically connected to the second terminal, wherein the second circuit is configured to measure a second signal energy related to the electrical signal at the second terminal at one or more specific frequencies, A detection circuit that communicates with the first circuit and the second circuit, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect the occurrence of an electric arc related to one or more electrical components based at least in part on the first signal energy and the second signal energy, An electrical system equipped with the following features.

2. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the detection circuit determines the occurrence of the electric arc related to the one or more electrical components at least in part on the difference between the first signal energy and the second signal energy.

3. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit measures the first signal energy after the generation of the electric arc, and the second circuit measures the second signal energy after the generation of the electric arc.

4. The detection circuit determines, based on the first signal energy, the second signal energy, the third signal energy, and the fourth signal energy, whether an electric arc is generated in relation to one or more electrical components. The first circuit is configured to measure the third signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal prior to the generation of the electric arc, The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein the second circuit is configured to measure the fourth signal energy related to the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal prior to the generation of the electric arc.

5. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the specified frequencies are within the range of 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 150 kHz.

6. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes a Fourier transform (FT) circuit.

7. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one of a solar cell or a battery cell.

8. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical components include a plurality of electrical components in series with respect to each other between the first terminal and the second terminal.

9. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises a solenoid.

10. The electrical system according to claim 1, further comprising an additional electrical component coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the additional electrical component is in series with each other and in parallel with the one or more electrical components, the signal generator is configured to inject a second electrical signal into the additional electrical component, and the detection circuit is configured to detect the occurrence of a second electrical arc associated with the additional electrical component, at least in part, based on the first signal energy and the second signal energy.

11. A method for detecting an electric arc associated with one or more electrical components, A step of injecting an electrical signal into an electrical loop, wherein the electrical loop comprises a first terminal of a power transmission component, a second terminal of the power transmission component, and one or more electrical components electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The steps of generating a first representation of a first signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal, The steps of generating a second representation of the second signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal, A step of detecting the electric arc associated with one or more electrical components based at least in part on the first and second indicators, Methods that include...

12. The steps include injecting one or more calibration signals into the electrical loop, The steps include receiving one or more electrical responses from the electrical loop related to the one or more calibration signals, The steps of determining, based on the one or more electrical responses, that an electric arc associated with the one or more electrical components causes significant energy absorption in the electric loop at one or more specific frequencies, The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second indicators are generated after the generation of the electric arc.

14. Prior to the generation of the electric arc, the steps include generating a third representation of the third signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the first terminal, Prior to the generation of the electric arc, the steps include generating a fourth representation of the fourth signal energy associated with the electrical signal at one or more specific frequencies at the second terminal, A step of detecting the electric arc related to one or more electrical components based on the first indicator, the second indicator, the third indicator, and the fourth indicator, The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein one or more of the specified frequencies are within the range of 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 150 kHz.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein generating the first display is done using a first Fourier transform (FT) circuit, and generating the second display is done using a second Fourier transform (FT) circuit.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one of a solar cell or a battery cell.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more electrical components include a plurality of electrical components in series with respect to each other between the first terminal and the second terminal.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the power transmission component includes an inverter or a transformer.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electrical signal is injected into the electrical loop by a solenoid.

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