Apparatus and method for real time determination of arc fault energy, location and type

An apparatus for determining arc fault energy in real time for a power circuit between a power source and a load, said apparatus comprising:

• means for determining a value of voltage at said load;
• means for determining a value of current flowing in said power circuit to or from said power source;
• means for determining a value of said arc fault energy from said value of voltage and said value of current,
• wherein said means for determining a value of said arc fault energy includes means for determining a value of parallel arc power from said value of voltage at said load times said value of current, and means for determining said value of said arc fault energy as a function of an integral of said parallel arc power, and
• wherein said means for determining said value of said arc fault energy as a function of an integral of said parallel arc power includes means for integrating a difference of said parallel arc power less a decay rate.

A method for determining parallel arc fault energy in real time for a power circuit between a power source and a load, said method comprising:

• determining a value of voltage at said load;
• determining a value of current flowing in said power circuit to or from said power source;
• and
• determining a value of said parallel arc fault energy from said value of voltage at said load and said value of current.

A method for determining arc fault energy in real time for a power circuit between a power source and a load, said method comprising:

• determining a value of voltage at said load;
• determining a value of current flowing in said power circuit to or from said power source;
• determining a value of said arc fault energy from said value of voltage and said value of current;
• determining a value of parallel arc power from said value of voltage times said value of current;
• and
• determining said value of said arc fault energy as a function of an integral of said parallel arc power less a decay rate.

An apparatus for determining a location of a parallel arc for a power circuit between a power source and a load in real time, said apparatus comprising:

• means for providing a value of voltage from said power source;
• means for measuring a value of current flowing in said power circuit to or from said power source;
• means for measuring a value of voltage at said load;
• and
• means for determining said location from said value of voltage from said power source, said value of current, said value of voltage at said load, and a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length of said power circuit.

A method for determining parallel arc location in real time for a power circuit between a power source and a load, said method comprising:

• providing a value of voltage from said power source;
• measuring a value of current flowing in said power circuit to or from said power source;
• measuring a value of voltage at said load;
• and
• determining said parallel arc location from said value of voltage from said power source, said value of current, said value of voltage at said load, and a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length of said power circuit.