A Novel Mathematical–Physical Arc Model and its Application to the Simulation of High-Impedance Arc Faults in Distribution Networks

High-impedance arc faults (HIAFs) occur frequently in distribution networks. An electric arc can easily cause serious accidents. The detection and prevention of arc faults are crucial for the safety of electrical systems and equipment. The electrical characteristics of an electric arc are influenced by various factors such as the environmental pressure, current magnitude, and arc length. Describing these characteristics using conventional mathematical models can be challenging. Hence, in this work, a novel mathematical–physical arc model was established based on the arc discharge mechanism. Compared with the conventional mathematical model, the proposed arc model is more accurate and can reflect the variations in the attribute parameters during the arc discharge process. The proposed model has excellent universality and is applicable under various discharge conditions including varying air pressure, ground resistance, and arc gap length. The model can be used in the detection of HIAFs under different discharge conditions.