Arc-Fault Detection and Isolation
DC Arc-Fault Detection Circuits
DC arc-fault detection circuits are specialized protection units that identify series and parallel electrical arcs in high-voltage power networks and trigger rapid isolation via solid-state circuit breakers. In the lunar vacuum, direct-current arcs sustain longer than terrestrial discharges, posing critical fire risks to high-voltage systems. Operating on two watts, each two-kilogram assembly employs high-bandwidth analog-to-digital converters and digital signal processing to analyze high-frequency current noise. Multi-channel correlation distinguishes faults from normal switching events, achieving a 10-millisecond detection time and a false-trip rate of 0.1 per year across a 25-year operational lifetime.
Specialised circuits detecting series and parallel DC arc faults (a known fire-risk failure mode in high-voltage DC systems) and rapidly isolating affected segments.
Purpose
Specialised circuits detecting series and parallel DC arc faults (a known fire-risk failure mode in high-voltage DC systems) and rapidly isolating affected segments.
Context
Child of L2-PDM-PROT within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Arc signature detected by high-frequency current noise analysis
- ▸Multi-channel correlation distinguishes arc from normal switching
- ▸Rapid isolation via SSCB trip
- ▸DC arc much harder to extinguish than AC — fast detection critical
- ▸UL 1699B / IEEE PV-AFCI methodology
Typical implementations
- ▸UL Photovoltaic arc-fault detection standard
- ▸Industrial DC arc detection (mining, EV)
- ▸Spacecraft high-voltage protection R&D
Lunar considerations
- ▸DC arcs in vacuum can be sustained longer than terrestrial
- ▸Hot-spot detection via thermal imaging supplements electrical detection
- ▸Long-mission self-test essential
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Specialised circuits detecting series and parallel DC arc faults (a known fire-risk failure mode in high-voltage DC systems) and rapidly isolating affected segments. |
| detection time ms | 10 |
| false trip rate per year | 0.1 |
Physical
| mass kg | 2 |
| materials | High-bandwidth ADCs, DSP processor, SSCB output |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 2 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 25 |
| mtbf hours | 200000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Arc-fault trip
- Arc event alerts
Requires
- High-bandwidth current samples
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Arc-Fault Detection and Isolation" (L3-PDM-PROT-ARC). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-PDM-PROT-ARC
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.