Abstract
Unpressurized aircraft circuits facilitate the initiation of electrical discharges in wiring systems, with consequent damage to related insulation materials and safety hazards, that can and have already caused severe incidents and accidents. Specific sensors and solutions must be developed to detect these types of faults at a very incipient stage, before further damage occurs. Electrical discharges in air generate the corona effect, which is characterized by emissions of bluish light, which are found in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectra. However, due to sunlight interference, the corona effect is very difficult to detect at the very initial stage, so the use of solar-blind sensors can be a possible solution. This work analyzes the feasibility of using inexpensive non-invasive solar-blind sensors in a range of pressures compatible with aircraft environments to detect the electrical discharges at a very incipient stage. Their behavior and sensitivity compared with other alternatives, i.e., an antenna sensor and a CMOS imaging sensor, is also assessed. Experimental results presented in this paper show that the analyzed solar-blind sensors can be applied for the on-line detection of electrical discharges in unpressurized aircraft environments at the very initial stage, thus facilitating and enabling the application of predictive maintenance strategies. They also offer the possibility to be combined with existing electrical protections to expand their capabilities and improve their sensitivity to detect very early discharges, thus allowing the timely identification of their occurrence.
Highlights
The first test consisted of comparing the behavior of the solar-blind sensors under sunlight conditions and under total darkness, resulting in the same sensitivity for the UVTRON sensors under both conditions, proving that sunlight does not interfere their measurements
10–100 kPa pressure interval, which accounts for the pressure range found in unpressurized aircraft circuits
The analyzed solar-blind sensors are sensitive within the 185–260 nm ultraviolet spectral range
Summary
Recent and future developments in the area of more electric aircrafts (MEA) and all electric aircrafts (AEA)
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