A novel circuit design for time-dependent short circuit measurement and analysis

Abstract

Electrical short circuits pose significant challenges in power systems and electronics, where traditional models often fail to accurately capture the dynamic behavior of voltage, current, and resistance during fault events. The problem stems from the assumption that short circuit currents tend towards infinite values, based on exponential growth models, and the limitation of current protection systems in providing precise measurements or preventing backflow currents. This paper introduces a novel framework for measuring and understanding short circuit phenomena, challenging these conventional assumptions. The objective is to present a new experimental and theoretical approach for short circuit analysis, incorporating time-varying resistance and current. The presented framework involves an unconventional measurement system based on a Modified Ohm’s Law and a parallel diode configuration. Experiments were conducted over $3$-minute durations with data recorded at $1$-second intervals using an Arduino Microcontroller. This system captures real-time electrical quantities during a short circuit event, providing a more accurate representation compared to traditional instantaneous models. The paper results demonstrate that, contrary to traditional models, short circuit currents converge to finite values rather than tending to infinity. Higher initial supply voltages lead to higher short circuit currents, with voltage and resistance stabilizing at constant values. These observations lead to the introduction of two new characteristic properties: “minimal short voltage” and “minimal short resistance”, which describe the stabilized values observed during a short circuit and challenge traditional fault conditions. The novelty of this paper lies in the development of a continuous, time-dependent framework for short circuit analysis, offering a universal model applicable to a wide range of systems. The findings have significant implications for improving short circuit protection systems, enabling more reliable and accurate detection and enhancing the understanding of electrical short circuits under dynamic conditions.