Arc Flash – Calculating Arcing Current

POSTED BY: VER PANGONILO APRIL 22, 2017

Arcing current is used to calculate the incident energy from an arc flash. The predicted three-
phase arcing current, which is lower than the bolt fault current, must be determined so that
operating time for protective devices can be set.
For a system with a voltage under 1000 V, equation (1) will be used:

.....[1]
where:
log = log10
Ia = arcing current (kA)
K = –0.153 for open configurations or
K = –0.097 for box configurations
Ibf = bolted fault current for three-phase faults (symmetrical RMS) (kA)
V = system voltage (kV)
G = the gap between conductors, (mm) (see Table 2)
For system voltage of 1000 V and higher, equation (2) is applicable:

.....[2]

Classes of equipment Typical bus gaps (mm)

15 kV switchgear 152

5 kV switchgear 104

Low-voltage switchgear 32

Low-voltage MCCs and panel

25
boards

Cable 13

Other Not required

Source: IEEE 1584-2002 IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations

Table 2—Classes of equipment and typical bus gaps

Example Calculation
A single line diagram is provided below to illustrate how to calculate arc flash arcing current.
The bolted fault current is calculated using MVA method for simplicity.

Given:
K = -0.097 (Box Configuration)
Ibf = 34.73 kA
log Ibf = 1.540704783
V = 0.46 kV
G = 25 (LV MCC from Table 2)
log Ia = -0.097+0.662log(34.73)+0.0966x0.46+0.000526x25+0.5588x0.46xlog(34.73)-
0.00304x25xlog(34.73)
log Ia = 1.259474086
Ia = 18.17498605 kA
For low-voltage applications, under 1 kV, a reduced arcing fault current which is 85% of the
arcing fault current Ia is required to be calculated to allow a second calculation needed due to
variation in arc current. For cases where the arc current falls on the steep part of the time-
current curve or falls near a step change, the variation in arc current could cause a significant
error in protective-device tripping or operating time.
Ia = 85% x 18.17498605 = 15.4487 kA
On the next post, we will be calculating the Incident Energy and PPE using the provisions of
NPFA 70E.
Arc Flash – Incident Energy at Working Distance
POSTED BY: VER PANGONILO APRIL 29, 2017
From the previous article, the arcing current Ia was calculated from the bolted fault current.
With the arcing current already known, the incident energy can then be calculated. To
determine the incident energy using the empirically derived equation from NFPA 70E 2015,
calculate the log 10 of the normalized incident energy. The following empirical equation [1] is
based on data normalized for an arc time of 0.2 second and a distance from the possible arc
point to the person of 610 mm.

.....[1]
where:
En = incident energy, normalized for time and distance, J/cm2
Ia = 18.17498605 kA (See Arc Flash – Calculating Arcing Current)
85% x Ia = 15.44873814 kA (Second arcing current)
k1 = −0.792 for open air arcs
k1 = −0.555 for arcs-in-a-box
k2= 0 for ungrounded and high-resistance grounded systems
k2 = −0.113 for grounded systems
G = conductor gap, mm (see Table 2)
From the example in the previous article, the bolted fault is 34.73 kA.
Substituting the given values in [1] where k1 = −0.555 for arcs-in-a-box, and k2 = −0.113 for
grounded systems as the transformer is Delta-Wye neutral grounded. G is 25 mm for LV MCC.

J/cm2
This is the incident energy normalized at 0.2 s arcing time and a working distance of 610 mm.
The normalized incident energy based on the reduced arcing fault current is

J/cm2
For other values of arcing time and working distance, use the following equation [2].

.....[2]
where:
E = incident energy, J/cm2.
Cf = calculation factor
Cf = 1.0 for voltages above 1 kV.
Cf = 1.5 for voltages at or below 1 kV.
En = incident energy normalized.
t = arcing time, sec.
x = distance exponent from Table D.4.2.
D = distance, mm, from the arc to the person (working distance). See Table 3.

Opening time at
Circuit breaker rating and type 60 Hz (cycles) Opening time (seconds)

Low voltage (molded case) (<

1.5 0.025
1000 V) (integral trip)

Low voltage (insulated case) (<

1000 V) power circuit breaker 3.0 0.050
(integral trip or relay operated)

Medium voltage (1–35 kV) 5.0 0.080

Some high voltage (> 35 kV) 8.0 0.130

a
This table does not include the external relay trip times.

Source: IEEE 1584-2002 IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations

Table 1—Power circuit breaker operating timesa

Classes of equipment Typical working distance (mm)a

15 kV switchgear 910

5 kV switchgear 910

Low-voltage switchgear 610

Low-voltage MCCs and panel boards 455

Cable 455

Other To be determined in field

a
Typical working distance is the sum of the distance between the worker standing in front
of the equipment, and from the front of the equipment to the potential arc source inside the
equipment.

Source: IEEE 1584-2002 IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations

Table 3 - Classes of equipment and typical working distances

 Typical Distance
Type of Conductor Exponent
System Voltage (kV) Equipment Gap (mm) Factor x

Open air 10–40 2.000

Switchgear 32 1.473
0.208–1 MCCs and
25 1.641
panels
Cables 13 2.000
Open air 102 2.000
>1–5 Switchgear 13–102 0.973
Cables 13 2.000
Open air 13–153 2.000
>5–15 Switchgear 153 0.973
Cables 13 2.000

Source: NFPA 70E® - 2015 Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
Note: Same table is also provided in IEEE 1584-2002, Table 6 - Factors for equipment and
voltage classes

Table D.4.2 Factors for Equipment and Voltage Classes

Arc Flash PPE Arc-Flash

Equipment Category Boundary

Panel boards or other equipment rated 240 V and

below
485 mm
Parameters: Maximum of 25 kA short-circuit current 1
(19 in.)
available; maximum of 0.03 sec (2 cycles) fault
clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.)
Panel boards or other equipment rated >240 V and
up to 600 V
900 mm
Parameters: Maximum of 25 kA short-circuit current 2
(3 ft)
available; maximum of 0.03 sec (2 cycles) fault
clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.)

Source: NFPA 70E® - 2015 Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(b) Arc-Flash Hazard PPE Categories for Alternating Current

(ac) Systems [Part only]
Arc Flash – Simplified Two-Category Clothing
POSTED BY: VER PANGONILO MAY 4, 2017
The 2015 edition of NFPA 70E has a simplified approach to provide minimum PPE for
electrical workers within facilities with large and diverse electrical systems.
The simplified clothing categories listed in NFPA 70E 2015 Table H.2 fulfils the minimum arc-
rated clothing requirements. The clothing systems listed in this table should be used with the
other PPE appropriate for the arc flash PPE category. Table H.2 provides guidance on the
selection of arc-rated and other PPE for users who determine the incident energy exposure.

Clothinga Applicable Tasks

Everyday Work Clothing

Arc-rated long-sleeve shirt
All arc flash PPE category 1 and arc flash PPE category
with arc-rated pants
2 tasks listed in Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(a), Table
(minimum arc rating of 8) or
130.7(C)(15)(A)(b), and Table 130.7(C)(15)(B) b
Arc-rated coveralls (minimum
arc rating of 8 cal/m2)

Arc Flash Suit

A total clothing system
consisting of arc-rated shirt
All arc flash PPE category 3 and arc flash PPE category
and pants and/or arc-rated
4 tasks listed in Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(a), Table
coveralls and/or arc flash coat
130.7(C)(15)(A)(b), and Table 130.7(C)(15)(B) b
and pants (clothing system
minimum arc rating of 40
cal/m2)

a
Note that other PPE listed in Table 130.7(C) (16), which include arc-rated face shields
or arc flash suit hoods, arc-rated hard hat liners, safety glasses or safety goggles, hard
hats, hearing protection, heavy-duty leather gloves, rubber insulating gloves, and leather
protectors, could be required. The arc rating for a garment is expressed in cal/cm 2.
b
The estimated available short-circuit current capacities and fault clearing times or arcing
durations are listed in the text of Table 130.7(C) (15) (A)(b) and Table 130.7(C) (15) (B).
Various tasks are listed in Table 130.7(C) (15) (A)(a). For tasks not listed or for power
systems with greater than the estimated available short-circuit capacity or with longer than
the assumed fault clearing times or arcing durations, an arc flash risk assessment is
required in accordance with 130.5
Source: NFPA 70E® - 2015 Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

Table H.2 Simplified Two-Category, Arc-Rated Clothing System

Arc Flash – Hazard and System Grounding
POSTED BY: VER PANGONILO MAY 6, 2017
IEEE 1584 Guide Equation for calculation of incident energy has a factor K2 for system
grounding. It is zero for ungrounded and high or low resistance grounded systems
and −0.113 for the solidly grounded (earthed) systems. The incident energy release is higher
for the ungrounded and high - or - low - resistance grounded systems as compared with solidly
grounded systems. However, it is not always recommended that solidly grounded systems
should be adopted to reduce arc flash hazard. Minimal equipment damage and continuity of
supply can be achieved with high impedance grounded systems.
In a solidly grounded system, there is no intentional impedance between the system neutral
and ground. A power system is solidly grounded when the generator, power transformer, or
grounding transformer neutral is directly connected to the ground. A solidly grounded system
is not a zero impedance circuit due to the sequence impedances of the grounded equipment,
like a generator or transformer itself. These systems, in general, meet the requirements of an
"effectively grounded" system in which ratio X0/X1 is positive and less than 3.0, and ratio
R0/X0 is less than 1, where X1, X0, and R0 are the positive - sequence reactance, zero -
sequence reactance, and zero - sequence resistance, respectively.
Solidly grounded systems have an advantage of providing effective control of over-voltages,
which become impressed on or are self-generated in the power system by insulation
breakdowns and re-striking faults. Yet these give the highest arc fault current and consequent
damage and require immediate isolation of the faulty section. Single line-to-ground fault
currents can be higher than the three-phase fault currents.
These high magnitudes of fault currents have a two-fold effect:
 higher burning or equipment damage; and
 interruption of the processes, as the faulty section must be selectively isolated without
escalation of the fault to unfaulty sections.
An impedance grounded system has a resistance or reactance connected in the neutral circuit
to ground. In a low resistance grounded system, commonly adopted for medium voltages, the
resistance in the neutral circuit is so chosen that the ground fault is limited to approximately
full load current or even lower, typically 200–400 A. The arc fault damage is reduced, and
these systems provide effective control of the over voltages in the system caused by resonant
capacitive-inductive couplings and restriking ground faults. Though the ground fault current is
much reduced, it cannot be allowed to be sustained. Selective tripping must be provided to
isolate the faulty section. High resistance grounded systems limit the ground fault current to a
low value, so that an immediate disconnection on occurrence of a ground fault is not required.
Reference:
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and Mitigation by J.C. Das (IEEE Press/Wiley - 2012)