Development of a Method for Wavelet Decomposition of Load Current in an Arc Breakdown Detection System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24160/0013-5380-2025-12-58-69Keywords:
arc fault, low-voltage networks, wavelet transform, current decomposition, breakdown protectionAbstract
The article addresses matters concerned with ensuring fire safety for electrical installations by detecting series arc faults in low-voltage distribution networks. The conventional protection methods based predominantly on monitoring the amplitude and frequency characteristics of the current are analyzed. The analysis results have shown significant system limitations of these methods, such as insufficient sensitivity at low currents and increased proneness to false actuation when operating with modern nonlinear and pulsed loads. An arc breakdown detection algorithm is proposed as a solution. The proposed method utilizes a high-order Daubechies discrete wavelet transform (db4) to effectively isolate high-frequency components of the fault current signal and then applies a complex "band-transmission-repeat" (BTR) criterion. To test the method in practice, a functional prototype of a protective device was developed and assembled using a high-performance STM32F411 microcontroller, which has capacities sufficient for full-valued implementation of a computationally complex algorithm in real time. Experimental tests of the device, which were carried out under a wide range of conditions, including non-sinusoidal current waveforms and parallel operation of various types of electrical consumers, have confirmed high efficiency, selectivity, and reliability of the proposed approach. The developed model has demonstrated its ability to reliably distinguish between normal network operating conditions and dangerous arc faults, which ultimately results in significantly more reliable operation of protective devices preventing fire breakouts in electrical equipment.
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