Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Lee Martin

Keith W Kawate

Christian V Pellon

Jianhong Kang

Systems and methods of detecting arcing in a DC power system that can provide improved noise propagation immunity. The system includes at least two current sensors for monitoring at least two current outputs, respectively. The current sensors have reverse polarities, and are configured and arranged in parallel to provide a combined current output signal. The current sensors monitor the respective current outputs, which are provided for monitoring by the current sensors over at least two adjacent conductors. If arcing occurs at a location on a first conductor, then arcing (adjacent conductor crosstalk), having an arc current signature like that of the arcing on the first conductor, can occur at a location on the other adjacent conductor. The system can effectively cancel out such adjacent conductor crosstalk within a photovoltaic (PV) system, thereby improving the capability of an arc fault detection device for detecting arcing at the PV string level.

Noise propagation immunity of a multi-string arc fault detection device

Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability.

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Providence, RI, United States of America

Lee Martin