Arc Flash Detection Research Articles

Evaluation of Time-Based Arc Flash Detection with Non-contact UV Sensor

Evaluation of Time-Based Arc Flash Detection with Non-contact UV Sensor

Preemptive Medium-Low Voltage Arc Flash Detection With Geometric Distribution Analysis on Magnetic Field

As power distribution systems become increasingly interconnected and concentrated with distributed energy resources (DER) and high potential equipment, effectively avoiding the medium-low voltage caused safety risk, drawing more attention. Therefore, the accurate, fast, and reliable preemptive arc detection and location method is essential to be developed. However, due to the issues such as low sensitivity, delayed detection, complex structure, and susceptible to interference by other sources, the traditional approaches are not up to the detection and location job, for weak system source and high arcing resistance featured medium-low voltage arc flash. To overcome the limitations, this article explores a novel arc flash preemptive detection and location mechanism. With the application of geometric distribution analysis on magnetic density flux and current density, mathematical modeling incorporated magnetohydrodynamic approach is developed. With a series of actual cases incorporated simulations were performed, the criterion of arc initiation and concisely numerical model on arc fault location estimation is derived, which shows a good ability to catch the transient dynamics of arcing current in the early initiating stage, and also proves the reliability and accuracy on fast detection and location uses. These results offered valuable information for medium-low arc fault mitigation and hazard prevention.

Making My Paper Mill Safer: An Arc-Flash Energy Reduction Story

A Midwestern pulp and paper mill had arc-flash ratings around 100 cal/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> on 50 480-V unit substations. New relays were installed to replace the existing protection and add light detection to improve arc-flash detection times. During a couple of one-day outages, sample installations took place. During the cold mill outage, 44 installations were completed over 12 days by working around the clock. Old relays were removed, new plates were mounted and wired in, and fiber sensors were routed through the buswork and into the breaker cubicles. Updated arc-flash studies show an average arc-flash rating reduction of 90%.

A Novel Approach for Arc-Flash Detection and Mitigation: At the Speed of Light and Sound

Arc flash (AF) protection is very important for all power and process industries to maintain the safety of personnel at the workplace. As the amount of incident AF energy is a function of time, every millisecond counts in the race toward reducing the amount of incident energy to which an individual might be subjected. Since the introduction of the first AF detection technology, the ability to dynamically process not only light but also other signatures has become technologically and economically feasible - enabling faster operating times (less than 4 ms). This paper proposes a novel technology which utilizes a unique signature of the light and sound pressure signals during AF within metal-clad switchgear/cabling compartments. The detection of light and sound by means of a modern and newly developed sensor technology provides fast, secure, and cost-effective protection against AF, even for low/load-current arcing events. Furthermore, the extensive laboratory testing is presented considering various scenarios, e.g., the distance from the arc, sensor's exposure to the arc, directions between the arc and sensor head, and arcing current. The testing results are analyzed and discussed in detail.