This presentation evaluates the built-in Real‑Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) Arc Fault model when adapted to model high impedance faults (HIFs) in distribution systems. In practice, HIF waveform data is scarce, and thus accurately modeling and simulating HIF events could prove to be an effective alternative for ML model training, testing, and HIL simulations involving HIFs. The RTDS arc model is selected to accomplish this task, with the understanding that this arc model was originally developed for modeling single‑pole breaker secondary arcs in transmission‑level systems. Drawing on findings from experimental research and field case studies, HIFs and transmission-level arc faults are found to share physical traits. However, the underlying parameters of the transmission-level arc fault model create challenges when simulating the low‑current, highly variable behavior characteristic of HIF at a distribution-level. The presentation details an attempt to tune arc fault control parameters to generate more realistic HIFs and how Python‑based automation enables iterative generation of diverse arcing scenarios with inherent randomness in the model. Results illustrate both the strengths of the RTDS framework and its structural limitations for HIF modeling and simulation. This talk will conclude with recommendations for future development of custom arc components tailored to distribution-level HIF behavior.
This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 with Release Number LLNL-ABS-2017531.