Non-Invasive Parameter Identification of DC Arc Models for MV Circuit Breaker Diagnostics

Accurate electrical arc modeling with physically meaningful parameters is essential for the assessment of medium-voltage DC circuit breakers in industrial and railway applications. Laboratory testing and characterization, as outlined in the IEC 61992 standard series for railway applications, typically provide data to asses the operational behavior of the componentsin the power distribution system, including recorded waveforms of terminal voltage and current but not the insights and inputs needed for inner behavior analysis and design optimization. This paper introduces lumped-parameter multi-physics models to describe different phases of arc behavior and outlines a methodology for model-data assimilation. Using experimental test data, the approach enables performance evaluation and supports non-invasive diagnostics and potential condition monitoring of circuit breakers.