AC Arc Flash Analysis

Agenda
❑ Arc flash and its hazard
❑ Arc flash assessment methods
❑ Regulatory authorities
❑ Comparison of various arc flash methods
❑ Input parameters
❑ Arc flash calculations
❑ Arc flash mitigation
What is an Arc Flash and it’s Hazard ?
“Arc Flash: current that passes through air when insulation or isolation
between conductors is no longer sufficient to withstand the applied voltage.”
❑ Electrical Arc Hazards
❑ Arc Blast Impacts
– The heating of the air and vaporization of metal creates a pressure
wave that can damage hearing and cause memory loss (from concussion)
and other injuries.
❑ Falls
– Electric shocks and arc blasts can cause falls, especially from
ladders or unguarded scaffolding.
❑ Arc Flash Burns
– Arc Flash plasma with temperature as high as 35,000 F
– Arc flash can cause severe skin burns
Arc Flash and Assessment Methods
❑ Analyze a worker’s potential exposure to arc flash energy and determine
the minimum Personal protective equipment (PPE) rating.
❑ Arc Flash Hazard Assessment Methods

❑ NFPA 70E-2018

❑ IEEE Standard 1584-2002

❑ IEEE Standard 1584-2018 (released on 27th Sept, 2018)

Definitions
❑ Limited Approach Boundary: A shock protection boundary not to be
crossed by unqualified persons unless escorted by qualified personnel

❑ Restricted Approach Boundary: A shock protection boundary to be

crossed by only qualified persons. Shock protection is required

❑ Prohibited Approach Boundary: A shock protection boundary to be

crossed by only qualified persons. The use of techniques that may
require direct contact with energized equipment.
Definitions of Approach Boundaries
Definitions
❑ Arc Flash Boundary: Distance at which the incident energy equals 1.2
Cal/cm^2.

❑ Incident Energy: The amount of energy impressed on a surface, a certain

distance from the source, generated during and electrical arc event.

❑ Working Distance: The dimension between the possible arc point and the
head and body of a worker positioned in place to perform the task.

❑ Bolted fault current: A short-circuit contact between two conductors at

different potentials in which the impedance between the conductors is
zero.
Regulating Authorities
❑ OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) 29 CFR 1910.132 (d)
requires employers to assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or
likely to be present and select and have each employee use the types of PPE that
will protect them.

❑ OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333 Requires employees who are exposed to electrical shock
hazard to be qualified for the specific task that they are performing and use the
appropriate PPE

❑ OSHA 29 CFR 1910.335 (a)(1)(I): Protective equipment for specific body parts

❑ OSHA 29 CFR 1910.335 (a)(2)(I): use of Insulated tools when working around
energized equipment.
Regulating Authorities
❑ NEC 110.6: equipment must be marked to warn qualified persons of potential
electrical arc-flash hazards.
❑ NFPA 70E Part II Chapter 2, paragraph 2-1.3.3 states that arc-flash analysis must be
performed in order to determine the incident energy level and appropriate PPE for
given tasks.
Comparison of Arc Flash Methods
NFPA IEEE
Parameters
70E-2018 1584-2002

208V–15kV (Empirical)
Voltage range 208V –600V
15kV+ (Lee Method)

Current range 16kA –50kA 0.7kA to 106kA

Arc Duration Range No limit No Limit

Open Air,
Equipment Type Open Air, Enclosed, Cable Bus
Enclosed
Electrode
VCB, VOA VCB, VOA
Configuration

Working Distance 12 inches + 12 inches +

Cal/cm2or
Unit of Measure Cal/cm2or J/cm2
J/cm2
Input Parameters
Required Parameter NFPA 70E IEEE 1584-2002

System Nominal Voltage X X

Gap Between Conductors X

Distance X Factor X

System Grounding
X
(Grounded/Ungrounded)

Open/Enclosed Equipment X X

Panel dimensions

Working Distance X X

Coordination Information (TCC) X X

Calculation: NFPA 70E 2018
❑ Section D.3.1(1) states that expected arc current magnitude can be as low as
38% of the prospective short-circuit current.
❑ The key to apply this method is to determine the expected protective device
operating time under the reduced magnitude arc current using:

Iarc = 0.38 x Ibf, where Ibf = Prospective bolted 3Φ fault current

❑ NFPA 70E method was superseded by IEEE 1584-2002 method

❑ The detailed calculation methodology is not shown due to various limitation of
the method
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-1: Collect the system and installation data
❑ Step-2: Determine the system mode of operation
❑ Radial system – simple and normal mode of operation
❑ Complex system – many mode of operation
❑ One or more utility feeder in service
❑ Bus tie breakers open or close
❑ One of the two power transformers out of service
❑ One incomer or multiple incomers in parallel
❑ Generators running in standby, islanded or in parallel with grid
It is important to determine the available short circuit current for modes of
operation that provide both maximum and minimum available short circuit
current
❑ Step-3: Determine the bolted fault current
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-4: Determine the arcing current
• For nominal kV of 0.208 to 1.0 kV:
IgIa = K + 0.662 * IgIbf + 0.0966*V + 0.000526* G + 0.5588*V * IgIbf − 0.00304 * G * IgIbf

• For nominal kV of 1 to 15.0 kV:

• For nominal kV greater than 15kV:

Where,
G : Gap distance between conductors (mm)
Ia : Arcing current
Ibf: Bolted fault current, symm rms (kA)
Lg: Log 10
K: -0.153 for open configurations and
-0.097 for box configurations
V: System voltage (kV)
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-5: Find protection device characteristics and duration of arc
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-6: Determine the system voltages and class of equipment to select the
typical bus gaps
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-7: Select the working distance
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-8: Determine the incident energy
Empirical method (1.0 to 15.0 kV)
t 610 x
E = 4.184 * Cf * En *( ) *( x )
0.2 D
Lee method (higher than 15.0 kV)
𝑡
𝐸 = 2.142 ∗ 106 ∗ 𝑉 ∗ 𝐼𝑏𝑓 ∗ ( 2 )
𝐷
Where,
E : Incident energy in J/cm2 En : Normalized Incident energy in J/cm2
t : Arcing time in seconds Eb : Incident energy in J/cm2 at boundary distance
D : Distance from a possible arc point to the person (mm)
V : System voltage in kV
Ibf : Bolted fault current.
Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-9: Calculation of arc flash boundary
Empirical method (1.0 to 15.0 kV)

Lee method (higher than 15.0 kV)

Calculation: IEEE 1584-2002 Method
❑ Step-10: Determine energy levels and PPE
IE-1.2 upto 12 Cal/cm2
❑ Arc-rated long-sleeve shirt and arc-rated pants or arc-rated coverall and/or arc
flash suit
❑ Arc-rated face shield
❑ Arc rated jacket
❑ Hard hat
❑ Arc rated hard hat liner
❑ Safety glasses
❑ Hearing protection
❑ Leather gloves
❑ Leather work shoes
IE-Greater than 12 Cal/cm2
❑ Arc Flash Suit
❑ Arc-rated arc flash hood
❑ Arc-rated gloves
❑ Arc-rated jacket, parka
❑ Hard Hat
❑ Arc-rated hard hat liner
❑ Hearing Protection
❑ Arc-rated gloves
❑ Leather work shoes
ASTM Insulating Gloves Class
❑ American Society For Testing and Materials
Mitigation of Arc Flash Hazards
❑ First important stage is elimination of risk
❑ Selection of PPE is the last stage in terms of effectiveness

Arc Flash Control Hierarchy

Mitigation of Arc Flash Hazards
❑ Methods to Reduce the Fault Clearing Time
▪ Improving coordination settings of O/C PDs.
▪ Type 50 protective devices (Instantaneous)
▪ Arc-flash light sensors
▪ Maintenance mode (switch)
▪ Differential protection
▪ Zone selective interlocking protection (ZSIP)

❑ Methods to Increase the Working Distance

▪ Remote racking of breakers/Remote switching
▪ Use of Hot Sticks
Mitigation of Arc Flash Hazards
❑ Methods to Reduce the Short-Circuit Current
▪ Current limiting fuses and circuit breakers
▪ Current limiting reactors, Isolating Transformers
▪ High resistance grounding

❑ Methods to Reduce the Energy Exposure

▪ Arc resistant switchgear
▪ Arc shields
▪ Infrared scanning
▪ Partial Discharge and or Corona Cameras
Thank You