Arc Flash Risk Assessment, An important Analysis to perfom on ETAP

By Syed Atif Naseem

Arcing faults may occur during switching events and short circuit in the network.
There is a number of techniques and technologies that can be used to investigate and mitigate
arc flash exposures. These include the IEEE Standard 1584-2002 to calculate incident energy
in AC systems and the most recent version of NFPA-70E, 2015 to apply the PPE category
method. On the other hand, the NFP A 70E defines specific rules for determining the
electrical risk assessment and corresponding PPE required for personnel to work in a certain
zone or with equipment which can be applied for both AC and DC systems. The protection
system design and coordination helps to avoid nuisance trips and perform a critical role to
protect people who work on energized equipment in industrial facilities.

According to NESC, an arc flash occurs due to rapid release of energy caused by short
circuit between conductors or between conductors and ground. Arc flash is basically not a
direct short circuit between the two conductors, it is in fact an arc created in the air after the
occurrence of short circuit. Air acts as a conductor during the arc flash that develops
problems for the utility companies that have linemen working on energized equipment. The
accidents that occur in power utility companies are majorly due to arc flashes rather than due
to electrocution.

Arcing fault current can be easily created due to poor electrical contact, worn out insulation
and carelessness. There is no way to eliminate arc fault hazard while working on an
energized line, but we can decrease the amount of energy dissipated from an arc flash that
will reduce the harm to the lineman.

The primary purpose of studying the system analysis of arc flashes is the injuries that occur
as a result of it. During an arc flash, the temperature can reach up to a maximum of 35000
Fahrenheit that is actually 4 times greater than the sun. Molten metal is blasted forward from
terminal material upon contact that can consequently cause severe injuries. A shockwave is
produced that can throw away humans. The light produced due to an arc flash can cause
blindness as it contains ultra violet rays in it. Moreover, the sound pressure is too much that
can damage ear drums of anyone who is in close proximity.

Factors on which survival depend from an arc flash:

a. Clearing time- time in which the protective device clears the arc flash.
b. Magnitude- amount of arc fault current created.
c. Distance- length between the worker and where the arc flash has occurred
d. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- cloths wore by workers for protection from
any potential identified hazard.

IEEE STD 1584-2002

IEEE 1584-2002 is titled “IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations,” and
provides a methodology for calculating prospective arc flash hazards. Based on test data, the
IEEE 1584 committee developed empirical equations to calculate arc flash incident energy
for AC systems.
The IEEE 1584 calculation method has empirical equations for conversion of calculated
bolted ( zero impedance ) faults to estimated arcing fault currents. Due to the resistance of
the arc, arcing current will be less than a zero impedance fault at the same location. The
lower the system voltage, the greater impact the arc resistance has on the calculated arcing
current.
For low voltage systems ( < 1 kV ), the arc current is given by

Ia = 10𝐾 + 0.662 log(Ibf )+0.0966 ( 𝑉 )+ 0.000526( 𝐺 )+ 0.5588( 𝑉 )[ log(Ibf )]− 0.00304 (𝐺)[ log(Ibf )]
For medium voltage systems (>1 kV), the arc current is given by

Ia = 10[ 0.00402 + 0.983 log(Ibf )]

Estimate of Normalized Incident Energy

The normalized incident energy, based on 0.2 second arc duration and 610 mm
distance from the arc, is given by Equation (2.3)

𝐸𝑛 = 10( K1 + K2 + 1.031 log( Ia ) + 0.00011 G )

Estimate of Incident Energy

The normalized incident energy is used to obtain the estimated incident energy. The
following Equation ( 2.4 ) 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

t 610 x
𝐸 = 4.184 𝐶𝑓 𝐸𝑛 ( )( )
0.2 D
Arc Flash Analysis
ETAP Arc Flash Analysis provides multiple capabilities for faster and easier performance.
ETAP Arc Flash Analysis allows you to identify and analyze high risk arc flash areas in your
electrical system, and it also allows simulation of several different methods used by engineers
to mitigate and lower high incident energy. This integrated program enables you to create
multiple scenarios to determine which configuration produces the highest incident energy. In
addition, it provides several methods to print professional quality reports and arc flash labels.
We perform the arc flash analysis on given SLD and get the following result as shown in fig
1.
 Fig.1 Determine the incident energy at each branch with FCT

Engineering Controls To Avoid Arc Flash

 Effect Of Varying FCT (Fault Clarence Time)

 Effect Of % Impedance Variation of transformer
 Effect Of Grounding
 Effect Of Feeder Loading.

Conclusion
Arc flash is a destructive phenomenon that could cause loss of precious lives and belongings.
Repercussions of Arc flash incidents include substantial harm to workers, including severe
burn injuries and even death. This single line diagram deals to guarantee the safety of
workforce who work on or adjacent electrical equipment voltage relative to 13.8 kilovolts or
less. The major concern of the analysis was to make the system secure i.e. suggesting “Safety
by design” and emphasizing over its implementation gradually.

Through engineering controls, it was observed that by decreasing both Fault Clearance Time
(FCT) and Incident energy can decrease the Arc Flash incident energy up to an acceptable
level so that proper Personal protective equipment could be worse by worker and accurate arc
flash labels could be placed on Equipment. Proper protection and Multiple Mitigation
techniques were adopted like effect of varying FCT, effect of %Z variation, effect of feeder
loading, effect of transformer’s grounding impedance and Effect of feeder loading to
minimized the incident energy.