Prepared and Presented by:

Engr. Adrian L. Rey

About the Speaker
Engr. Rey is a Professional Electrical Engineer with Graduate Degrees in
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, Master in Business
Administration, and Master of Science in Renewable Energy Systems. He
is currently taking up his Doctor of Engineering Management from PUP
Open University System. He is the 4th Placer in the April 2011 RME Board
Examination and has more than a decade of experience in the practice of
electrical engineering with significant work in the development, design,
construction, and operation of microgrid systems in the Philippines. He is a
Certified Energy Transformation Expert, an ASEAN Certified Energy
Manager, and an ASEAN Engineer with specialization in the Project
Management of Microgrid Systems.
General Manager – Rey-Tech Engineering Services
Project Technical Manager – Island Light and Water Energy Development Corp.
President – IIEE Palawan Chapter (2015-2016)
Regional Governor – IIEE Southern Luzon Region (2022)
2022 IIEE Best Regional Governor Award
Chairman – UPEEP Training and Development Committee
Committee Secretary – IIEE Training and Continuing Professional Development Committee (TCPDC)
Sub-Committee Head – IIEE Job and Career Opportunities Committee (JCOC)
Vice-Chairman – IIEE Branding and Promotions Committee
Definition of Terms

Arc flash: An electric arc event with

thermal energy dissipated as radiant,
convective, and conductive heat.
Definition of Terms

Incident energy: The amount of thermal

energy impressed on a surface, a certain
distance from the source, generated
during an electric arc event.
Definition of Terms

Arcing fault current: A fault current

flowing through an electrical arc plasma.
Definition of Terms

Arc-flash boundary: The distance at which

the incident energy equals 1.2 cal/cm2.

At 1.2 cal/cm2 an operator is likely to

receive second-degree burns if arc-rated
PPE is not used.
KEY CHANGES from IEEE 1584-2002

- New arcing fault equations

- New incident energy equations
- Electrode configuration
- Enclosure size factor
- New guidance for equipment ≤ 240V
IEEE 1584-2002 Calculation Procedure
1. Collect system and installation data
2. Determine the system modes of operation
3. Determine bolted fault currents
4. Determine arcing fault currents
5. Find protective device characteristics and duration of arcs
6. Document system voltages and classes of equipment
7. Select working distances
8. Determine incident energy for all equipment
9. Determine flash protection boundary for all equipment
IEEE 1584-2018 Calculation Procedure
1. Collect system and installation data
2. Determine the system modes of operation
3. Determine bolted fault currents
4. Determine typical gap and enclosure size based on system voltages
and classes of equipment
5. Determine equipment electrode configuration
6. Determine working distances
7. Calculate arcing current
8. Calculate arc duration (through OCPD)
9. Calculate incident energy
10. Determine arc flash boundary for all equipment
The distance between the potential arc source and the face and chest of the worker.
Source: European Arc Guide
Source: European Arc Guide
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Categories
Arc Flash Label Requirements as per NFPA 70E
ARC FLASH CALCULATION WORKSHOP
Parameter Value Unit
Voltage 0.4 kV
3ph Bolted Fault 14.41 kA (Sym, RMS)
Equipment Class Panelboard
Gap Between Electrodes 25 mm
Working Distance 457.2 mm
Enclosure Dimension
Height 355.6 mm
Width 304.8 mm
Depth 200 mm
Electrode Config VCB
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Arc Flash References
1. “Arc Flash Calculations for Exposures to DC Systems” by D. R. Doan. It was published in IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 46, No. 6.
2. “DC-Arc Models and Incident-Energy Calculations” by R. F. Ammerman, T. Gammon, P. K.
Sen, and J. P. Nelson provides a comparison study of the existing body of research into DC
arcs and arc flash modeling that has been conducted over the years.
3. “Electric Arcs in Open Air” published in the Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics in 1991 by
A. D. Stokes and W. T. Oppenlander.
4. “Complete Guide to Arc Flash Hazard Calculation Studies” by J. Phillips, published by
Brainfiller, Inc. 2010. ISBN Number 978-0-615-48691-8.
5. “Simple Improved Equations for Arc Flash Hazard Analysis” IEEE Electrical Safety Forum,
August 30, 2004, by R. Wilkins.
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving
DC ARC RESISTANCE AND DC ARCING CURRENT CALCULATIONS – ITERATIVE SOLUTION

Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x G)] / (Idc_arc^0.88)

where:
Rarc = resistance of the arc in ohms
G = conductor gap distance in mm = 25 mm (typical bus gap from IEEE 1584-2018)
Idc_arc = DC arcing current

Assume: Idc_bolted = 842 A

First Iteration
Idc_arc = Idc_bolted x 50% = 842 x 0.5 = 421 A
Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x 25)] / (421^0.88)
Rarc = 0.164 ohm
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving
Second Iteration
Idc_arc = V/(RT+ Rarc)
Assume: V = 736, RT = 0.87

Idc_arc = V/(RT+ Rarc) = 736/(0.87+ 0.164) = 712.1 A

Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x 25)] / (712.1^0.88)
Rarc = 0.103 ohm

Third Iteration
Idc_arc = V/(RT+ Rarc) = 736/(0.87+ 0.103) = 756.4 A
Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x 25)] / (756.4^0.88)
Rarc = 0.098 ohm
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving
Fourth Iteration
Idc_arc = V/(RT+ Rarc) = 736/(0.87+ 0.098) = 760.6 A
Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x 25)] / (760.6^0.88)
Rarc = 0.097 ohm

Fifth Iteration
Idc_arc = V/(RT+ Rarc) = 736/(0.87+ 0.097) = 761 A
Rarc = [20 + (0.534 x 25)] / (761^0.88)
Rarc = 0.097 ohm

The value of Rarc remains at 0.097 ohm; therefore Idc_arc

value of 761 A is acceptable.
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving

DC INCIDENT ENERGY

Earc = Idc_arc² x Rarc x Tarc

Where:

Earc = arc energy in Joules

Tarc = arc duration in seconds, IEEE 1584-2018 suggests that a
maximum time of 2 seconds may be used based on the
reaction time and assuming there are reasonable conditions for
a person to escape.
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving

Earc = Idc_arc² x Rarc x Tarc

Earc = 761² x 0.097 x 2 = 112,524.88 J

IE_dc = k x Earc/ (a² + d²)

Where:
IE_dc = incident energy from an arc flash in a box
at distance d in J/mm²
d = distance from the arc source in mm = 457.2 (typical working distance from IEEE 1584-
2018)
a = 100 mm, k = 0.127 from “Simple Improved Equations for Arc Flash Hazard Analysis” IEEE
Electrical Safety Forum, August 30, 2004, by R. Wilkins.
DC ARC FLASH CALCULATION
Problem Solving
IE_dc = k x Earc/ (a² + d²)
IE_dc = 0.127 x 112,524.88/ (100² + 457.2²)
IE_dc = 0.07 J/mm² = 1.56 cal/cm²