Characterization of Arc/spark Discharge Phenomena in Low Voltage Distribution Systems in the Presence of Power Electronic Devices

This paper presents a physics-based model and experimental results describing the arc/spark discharge behavior in low-voltage distribution systems in the presence of power electronics devices. The glow and arc discharge characteristics are studied and modeled as a current-dependent voltage source. A circuit model is developed to analyze the dynamic behavior of arcs/spark discharge. To evaluate the effectiveness of the simulation, experimental results are compared with simulation results. Finally, the effect of the time constant and carbon bridge resistance of the arc/spark discharge is investigated.