Detection of arcs in automotive electrical systems

Abstract

At the present time, there is no established method for the detection of DC electric arcing. This is a concern for forthcoming advanced automotive electrical systems which consist of higher DC electric power bus voltages, such as the automotive industry proposed 42 volt standard. At these higher voltages, wire faults can lead to stable electric arcs, which may hazardously cause insulation to catch on fire. This thesis presents the results of investigations of phase noise and broadband emissions as indicators of DC electric arcing. We have developed a broadband emissions system based detection system. A proof-of-concept implementation of such a detector indicated favorable results in a laboratory simulated arcing environment, and in a vehicle. Suggestions for robust detection in a noisy environment are presented. Keywords: 42v, 42 volt, arcing, automotive, broadband, DC, detection, electric, emissions, harness, phase noise, RF