Description of the Principle of the Digital Technology
of the Built-In Processing of the Current Signal of the
Arc-Fault Detection Device (AFCI)
I.V.Korolev, P.V. Valeuv, O.S. Sherbachova
Federal State Educational Institution of High Education National Research University «MPEI»
Moscow, Russia
KorolevIV@mpei.ru
Abstract — this article is intended for specialists in the field of
electrical safety and fire safety. It describes the principle of
operation of an analog and logic units, which are designed for
digital processing of a current signal in devices for determining arc
breaking. The material demonstrates the applied nature of
information technology in modern modular protective equipment
up to 0.4 kilovolt, which will also be useful for students of electrical
and energy specialties
Keywords — arc-fault circuit interrupter; AFCI; arc-
breakdown; style; processing of the arc current signal.
I. INTRODUCTION
According to statistic NFPA report (National Fire
Protection Association), electrical fires caused by arc-
breakdowns consist 11% of all electrical fires. Injuries, victims
and money loss meanings are on a high level. AFCI topicality
is proved by the fact that since the active implementation of
regulatory and prescriptive states in the NEC (National Electric
Code) regulations we can observe the persistent trend since
2005 till 2015 year regarding decreasing of negative meanings
in NFPA reports [1].
There are two types of arc-breakdowns in 0,4 kilovolt grids:
serial and parallel. Serial arc-breakdown occurs due to
interruption of normal current way through conductor because
of its or insulation damages, whereas parallel arc-breakdown
occurs due to the same causes between conductors [1].
Although the behavior of both of types is dictated by the same
mathematical equations, there are still some differences,
expressed in the values of the arc current.
II. DETERMINATION OF SOURCES THAT MIMCRY AND MASK
ARC. NECESSARY PARAMETERS FOR ARCS FIXING.
A behavior of serial arc-breakdowns depends of an
impedance (an electrical load), when in parallel arc-
breakdowns a source of current, but not an electrical load, sets
its current quantity, which is able to flow through an arc,
changing its parameters [2].
Differences in that fact allow the AFCI to differentiate arc-
faults from other emergency conditions. Observations show
that in case of parallel arc-breakdowns the arc current value is
approximate 15 times more than in case of serials (when testing
60Hz and 120V) [2], but ratio of short-circuit current to rated
current is not enough for MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)
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triggering. In addition, RCCB (residual current operated circuit
breaker without integral overcurrent protection) is not in
conditions for triggering because of lack of ground current.
Arc-breakdown also can produce broadband noise in the
range from dozens of hertz to gigahertz. Energy pattern from
this noise can be attributed to the so-called “pink noise”, with
which AFCI compares actual patterns in protected grid.
Observations show that the energy contained in the spectrum of
broadband noise can be influenced by the medium carrying the
noise (branch), as well as the amount of current flowing
through the arc can to that. These remarks are one of the
fundamental in the algorithm for analyzing the existence of an
arc in the protected grid by the microprocessor of the AFCI.
Arc-breakdown is fixed by an AFCI, and a circuit interrupts
if the row of conditions with aim of avoiding of false-triggering
accomplishes: 1. By means of the microprocessor, the values of
broadband noise correlated with the current’s value and
generated by the arc must coincide with some model called
PINK, whose parameters match to the parameters of the "pink
noise". 2. In this frequency spectrum + in the spectrum of radio
frequencies due to the flowing of the main component of the
alternating current through zero, there should be gaps at zero
current values (fig. 1. D), and the arc pattern must correlates
with the curve of the main component AC. 3. If there are sharp
jumps in the current, further repeating peaks during in a short
time should not be below a certain threshold (dislocating from
starting currents) 4. These positions must accomplish during
the time equivalent to five periods of main AC component or
longer.
Besides of the phenomenon of that devices can mimic the
arc discharge, there is a dangerous phenomenon of its disguise.
In the conductors, there are noise inducements through
electrostatic or capacitive coupling in frequencies limits of
which lay in the range of the AFCI algorithmic module for
recognizing arc according to comparing its parameters with
parameters of “pink noise” range [3]. AFCI can solve this
problem analyzing frequency spectrum pattern in different
points of distance from it. There are optimal ranges of
attenuation in normal and emergency mode (50 megahertz
attenuation for every 15,2 meters from AFCI when there is an 1
gigahertz arc; if AFCI observes attenuation in range 5-50
gigahertz at this distance, then there is possibly an additional
RF (radio frequency) nuisance in addition to broadband
coupling in power line which masks an arc in the branch) [2].
Fig. 1. Description of the method for detecting a serial arc
breakdowns due to AFCI.
III. DEFINITION OF SERIAL ARC-BREAKDOWN AND DISLOCATING
FROM POSSIBLE NUISANCES IN BRANCH
Processing of analog signal is accomplished by analog
block (operation amplifiers and transistors) while output is the
series of logical signals interpreted by logical block such as a
microcontroller.
The signal represented by AC at the fig. 1. A is used for
generating signal which in charge of presence or absence (1 or
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0 value) of zone of transition of current through zero. (“Zero
Crossing Mask”, fig. 1. D)
Receiver in the form of dependence voltage from time
submits the second signal representing energy of RF specter in
line at the current time. This signal is famous as “Received
Signal Strength Indicator”, (RSSI), (fig. 1. Е).
Then in RF specter the basic noise value is highlighted
which is characteristic to DC caused by third-party electronics,
line quality and other accidental conditionals. From this
meaning (RSSI), AFCI dislocates (“ZC Minimum tracking
signal”, рис. 1. Е-F)
Due to these deviations, a part of the analog scheme
receives the incoming RSSI signal and removes the DC offset
from it in the following way (fig. 1. F):
1. While signal “Zero Crossing Mask” = 1 (the current in a
zone of transition of current through zero) the value of RSSI is
being recorded inside of memory of a block of logical
managing (minimum RSSI is recorded (fig. 1. Е)); 2. With
further entry into the zone of transition of current through zero
(“Zero Crossing Mask” = 0) the recorded sooner RSSI value
subtracts from the actual value RSSI at that time (fig. 1. F); 3.
The RSSI value recorded in the p.1 is reset, and everything is
repeated anew.
This approach helps to differentiate signals that can cause
incorrect triggerings, because some devices can generate a
broadband radio frequency component (it is denoted by a
signal “ZC Minimum tracking signal” at the fig. 2. E — green
line), which does not create gaps around the vicinities of zero
transitions, what will serve as the signal of presence of arc
masking: i.e. if the signal has a high RSSI level (RSSI of The
Arc Fault coupled AC current with DC offset) with gaps in
zone of transition of current through the zero (fig. 2. Е, gap
between zones 3,4) or gaps are not in one row with “Zero
Crossing Mask” = 1 in the area of intersection of zero so than
minimal RSSI value (from p.2) will be close to high values of
RSSI in actual time.
Thus, the AFCI microcontroller receives a small difference
value between the RSSI value in the current transfer field
through zero and the minimum RSSI value recorded previously
in accordance with p.1. Such a small difference between these
two values will be uncharacteristic for the arc. (smaller — fig.
2. F (4) than for the signal with the arc discharge of fig. 2. F
(2)).
The RSSI signal model with the already subtracted DC base
value (DC offset removed RSSI) is then compared to three
threshold values (fig. 1. F и fig. 2. F). Two thresholds are
relative to the RSSI functional range (the maximum amplitude
value is 100%), and one is its absolute value. It is used to
certify that the functional range of the changed RSSI (with the
DC offset component removed) is above its minimum
threshold value. If this is not observed, then the evaluation of
the other two thresholds is meaningless. The other two
thresholds represent a percentage of approximately 60% and
25% of the total functional range (Upper threshold и Lower
threshold). These comparisons are used to generate logical
outputs that reflect whether a modified RSSI (DC offset
removed RSSI) signal is above or below a corresponding
thresholds. A condition indicating that the RSSI exceeds a
predetermined threshold will result in an increase of the
integrator (counter), (fig. 1. G and fig. 2. G). If the condition
indicates that the RSSI is below this threshold, the counter
value will decrease. In addition, a constant frequent and abrupt
transition from top to bottom to thresholds will be considered
an "interruption" of the RSSI signal outside the zero crossing
area. Those interrupts can be used as an additional
differentiator between arc breakdown and interference similar
to it, because arc breakdown has a small number of such
interrupts. The chaotic nature of the arc and the evaporation of
contact points because of its high temperature allows a slight
attenuation of the broadband side RF spectrum of the arc. The
number of such allowed interrupts is set differently for each
threshold. When this number of interrupts is exceeded, the
integrator is reset to the initial value, which will be zero, (fig. 2.
F and fig. 2. G, zones 5).
The arc breakdown is fixed in the protected branch, when
this integrator (counter) reaches the exceeded threshold of
triggering.
As a result, the process of arc differentiation from
interference occurs in an algorithmic block consisting of two
logical outputs. For the final analysis, they both take
information about the RSSI, its first derivative, and the
retention time of the peak value of this first derivative. These
signals are compared with thresholds, and each of them affects
the counter in different ways. If the peak hold signal of the first
derivative of the RSSI is below the set threshold, then the
counter is only allowed to decrease. If the signal of the first
derivative is higher than the set threshold only outside the zero-
crossing areas, then the integrator is set to the initial value
(zero), (fig. 2 F and G, end of zone 5).
Thus, in order for the system to interpret the signal as an
arc breakdown rather than interference and, accordingly, to
initiate an increase in the value of the breakdown integrator,
two conditions must be met: 1. The first RSSI derivative is
longer than a certain limit value, 2. RSSI reaches at least a
threshold value, and it is fixed for a certain time. Once the
value on the breakdown integrator rises above the threshold,
the microcontroller sends a command to the switch to turn it
off.
IV. DEFINITION OF PARALLEL ARC-BREAKDOWN
The calculation operation performed by the microcontroller Fig. 2. Description of the method for detecting interferences
to determine parallel arc breakdown requires relatively little due to AFCI
time compared to the general algorithm (20%), but this is not
related to the fact that the determination of parallel arc The algorithm for calculating parallel arc breakdowns
breakdowns requires less effort than in the case of serial ones. includes the definition not only of dRSSI/dt, but also of the
The reason, rather, is that some signal characteristics, which current derivative dI/dt. The function of determining parallel
are calculated to determine serial breakdowns, can be used to arc breakdowns is not activated until the value of dI/dt does not
calculate parallel arc breakdowns. exceeds the threshold value G6 in fig. 3. If the RSSI is greater
than the ultimate value G2 in fig. 3, than the half-wave current
will also be interpreted as an arc current, and the breakdown
integrator will work according to a value proportional to the arc
current. If after some time another half-wave of arc does not
occur, then the breakdown integrator is again deactivated. If a
sufficient number of half-wave of arc occur during a certain
time period, than the breakdown integrator reaches the

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threshold value G8 in fig. 3, and the microcontroller sends a [2] C. Restrepo, “Arc Fault Detection and Discrimination Methods,”
command to turn on the installed protective device [4]. Siemens Energy and Automation Residential Product Division,
Norcross, 2007, pp. 3-8.
[3] D. Bailey, E Wright, “Practical Fiber Optics”, Newnes, 2003, pp.50-52.
[4] LLC "Siemens", Sector "Infrastructure and Cities"., Device for
determination of arc breakdown 5SM6. Technology Guide, Siemens
AG, 2012, pp.28-29.

REFERENCES
[1] Korolev IV, Kondratieva OE, Valuev PV, Loktionov OA, “Analysis of
advisability of arc breakdown detectors for integrated protection from
fires cased by failures of electrical equipment”, "Electric power.
Transmission and distribution", #47(2), Moscow, 2018, p.108.
Fig. 3. Method for detecting parallel arc breakdown due to AFCI

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