Arc fault power balance in AC and DC electrical aeronautic networks: influence of pressure and cable material

Abstract A systematic study of arc faulting between two cables in aeronautic conditions is performed and a power balance of the arc is realized. Electrical characteristics and radiative heat flux are recorded. The effect of the current mode (AC/DC), cable material and pressure is highlighted with the assessment of the power balance, which includes the mean power of the arc, power transferred to the cables that can cause melting and vaporization, and the power lost by radiation, conduction and convection in the arc column. The evaporated mass of the cables can be estimated in this way. Optical emission spectroscopy measurements of the induced plasma are performed rendering the overall temperature of the arc using a Boltzmann plot method. The overall temperature is higher for copper-contaminated plasma than for aluminium-contaminated plasma. Despite the erratic behaviour of the plasma, the trend shows that the DC as well as the use of lighter aluminium-based cables lead to higher power.