Evaluation of Time-Based Arc Flash Detection with Non-contact UV Sensor

An arc flash is caused by electrical faults or mechanical non-contact such as insulation failure, short circuit, partial disconnection, and poor contact, emits high energy and strong light, so it can be detected by optical methods with relatively simple structures. The optical detection methods using the wavelength of light may malfunction depending on the surrounding environment, the sunlight and lighting. In addition, with such methods, it is difficult to measure the detection distance to the point where the arc flash occurs, measure the detection range of the detection sensor, and monitor how amounts of harmful from the arc flash. This paper aims to examine the techniques for quantitatively detecting arc flash caused by electrical faults. To this end, a system for detecting the time when an arc flash occurs and the techniques for calibrating this system were analyzed, respectively. A field test was also conducted to detect the arc flash caused by mechanical non-contact between the pantograph of electric railway vehicles and the catenary. In the field test, 9 number of arc flashes were detected using the percentage (%) technique for quantitative detection. The technique of detecting the time when an arc flash occurs is a new quantitative evaluation method, which is expected to be widely used to prevent negligent accidents in the electrical field as well as being able to determine in real time whether there is a harmful arc.