Arc detection

A method for detecting an electric arc in an electrical system, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal originating from at least one sensor that is arranged in one or more positions in the electrical system for detecting an electrical current;
• analyzing the received signal to determine a direction of the electrical current at the one or more positions in the electrical system;
• and
• determining, based on the direction of the electrical current, an origin of the electric arc in the electrical system.

A monitoring apparatus for determining an origin of an arcing event in an X-ray imaging system comprising an X-ray tube having a vacuum-containing envelope, a liquid cooling circuit for cooling the X-ray tube, and voltage generator configured to power the X-ray tube, the monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of sensors;
• and
• one or more processors;
• wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a first sensor configured to detect radiofrequency, RF, radiation generated by the arcing event, and a second sensor configured to detect vibration and/or acoustic radiation generated by the arcing event;
• and
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• receive signals generated by the first sensor and the second sensor in response to the detection of the arcing event;
• and
• selectively identify the origin of the arcing event as one of:
• within the vacuum-containing envelope, within the liquid cooling circuit, and within the voltage generator, based on the received signals.