Arc Fault Detection using

Rogowski Coils
Glenn Roemer
Senior Field Applications
pp Engineer
g
groemer@pulseelectronics.com
Arc Fault Detection - Abstract

Arc Fault failures in solar power inverters has become a

recognized
g p
problem and arc fault detection will soon be required
q
for all string inverters. Likewise, commercial building HVDC
power micro grids must also be protected from arc faults.
Accurately y detecting
g Arc Faults requires
q sensingg the current for a
specific signature waveform. Rogowski coils are ideal for the
signal sensing because they are immune to the DC current, have
unlimited saturation characteristics, and fully isolated. The
sensors have a very wide bandwidth from 1 Hz to greater than 1
MHz which is needed to sense the specific signature waveform.
This paper will detail how a Rogowski coil can be used to detect
arc faults and provide a system with the information that a fault
has occurred so it can be arrested.

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Arc Fault Detection UL 1699B

Arc faults are an electrical breakdown of the resistance of air

resulting
g in an electric arc which can occur where there is
sufficient voltage in an electrical system and a path to a lower
voltage.
Series arcs occur when a single
g DC line begins
g to open
p
Parallel arcs from one DC line to another
Faults to Ground from a DC line to ground

UL 1699B is the new standard for Arc Faults in NA

Arc Fault detection will be required by UL and IEC standards for
DC Solar Power String Inverters and HVDC Microgrids as well as
many other applications

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Arc Fault Detection How to Detect

To detect Arc Faults, Pulse worked with TI to developed a Current

Transformer AC Sensor for the TI reference designg RD-195
When an Arc Fault occurs, it creates a high frequency, AC current
signal that can be detected, and compared to known Arc Fault
spectrum
p waveforms

Block Diagram for TI RD-195 and AN-2154

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Arc Fault Detection CT Detector

The PA3655NL is a 200:1, Ferrite Core, Current Transformer

Designed for UL 60950-1 and UL 1699B compliance
The CT functions from 1kHz to 400kHz in frequency spectrum

However, th
H the core iis DC Li
Limited
it d
to 1.75 Amps DC max because
the ferrite core will saturate
T increase
To i the
th DC currentt capability
bilit
Increase the DC Current by 10 times
From 1.75 Amps to 17.5 Amps DC
Core size must be increased10 times!
CTs cannot be used for higher DC current applications

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Arc Fault Detection Rogowski Coil
Sidewinder Current Sensor is based on the Rogowski Coil Principle
When an AC current flows through the center of the sensor, an
output
p voltage
g is induced,, that is p
proportional
p to the rate of change
g
of the current, di(t)/dt
Primary

v(t)out = -M di(t)/dt Secondary

where M = osn
o = permeability of air = 4 10-7 H/m
s = cross sectional area of a turn (m2)
n = number of turns per unit length (m)

Discovered by W. Rogowski in 1912

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Arc Fault Detection Rogowski Coil

Using a Rogowski Coil has several advantages

No Core
Core, no DC saturation or AC saturation
No AC core loss
Wide frequency range from 1 Hz to 1 MHz and higher
Full Isolation to UL 60950-1
60950 1 and UL 1699B
Output voltage is dI/dT of the AC current
waveform, and this waveform must be
integrated to reproduce the original
AC current waveform

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Arc Fault Detection Photo

TI RD-195 with Pulse Rogowski Coil

Page 8
 Arc Fault Detection Test Results
0
Arc Fault Event Spectrum
-20
Comparing Baseline to CT and Rogowski Coil
Rogowski Coil
CT - Ferrite
-40
Baseline
dB)
Spectrum (d

-60

-80
80

-100

-120
10,000 30,000 50,000 70,000 90,000 110,000 130,000 150,000 170,000 190,000
Frequency (Hertz)

Page 9
Arc Fault Detection - Conclusion

Testing has shown that the Rogowski coil is a valid solution that is
fullyy capable
p of providing
p g AC current signal,
g , to the A/D converter,,
that can be used to detect Arc Faults
The Rogowski Coil solution has no DC current limit and no AC
current limit. There is no core,, so there is no core saturation
The Rogowski Coil is a dI/dT sensor, and still provides an AC
signal similar or better than a traditional ferrite CT
CTss cannot be used for higher DC current applications
CT

Rogowski Coils are the preferred solution for an Arc Fault Sensor
for High Voltage DC Applications and AC applications

Page 10
Contact Information

More information is available at

www.PulseElectronics.com/Sidewinder

Contact Glenn Roemer at

email: groemer@pulseelectronics.com

Page 11