An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy when a high-voltage gap exists and a breakdown between conductors happens. This event makes an intense burst of light and heat, capable of causing severe blindness, burns, and fatal injuries. During this incident, the temperatures can reach up to 19,400°C, which is hotter than the sun’s surface. When the conductors’ voltage is high enough to ionize the air between them, an arc is created. Air becomes a very good electrical conductor when ions are introduced. A current is produced when the air is ionized, warming and illuminating it. The ionized air rises as a result of this heat, creating an arch-shaped stream. Now we will discuss the methods to reduce the risk of an electrical flash.
How Can We Reduce the Risk of an Arc Flash?
- Use Technology That Poses Little Risks
Power system studies and electric flash analysis are practiced to determine the dangers associated with short circuits and how safeguarded devices interact with each other. You should low-risk solutions like remote racking equipment to keep property and people safe.
- Turn Off Electrical Components
It decreases the risk of potential hazards. Work should not be practiced on live equipment. When testing the equipment, extra care should be taken either before it is turned back on or after it has been de-energized. Remote tracking is usually used to keep circuit breakers from being too close to electric flash boundaries. This might jeopardize the workers using them.
- Electrical and Control Systems Should be Replaced
Depending on the severity of the electric flash, ensure the appropriate amount of personal protection equipment (PPE) is available. To make engineering tools and processes safer, they are being modified. Energy distribution systems and circuit breakers are designed to limit the amount of energy that passes through.
What are the Common Causes of Arc Flash Incident?
An electrical flash may cause hearing loss, burns, lung damage, eye injuries, and blast injuries. The common causes of ARC Flash incidents are mentioned below.
- Testing and Troubleshooting Live Equipment
The uptime for important processes sometimes results in the requirement to practice troubleshooting on live equipment. If a test probe accidentally creates a phase-to-ground or phase-to-phase connection during a routine check, it could result in downtime and personal injury. Ensure that the right tools are used for the electric flash risk assessment to decrease the probability and risk of occurring.
- Accidental Contact
It is dangerous to work near exposed, live parts, and accidents do happen. In incidents involving electrical equipment, a simple tool drop or direct contact with the active component can cause an arc flash, which can rapidly result in an energy explosion that releases temperatures above 35,000˚F.
- Installing and Operating Live Equipment
Electric flashes might be caused by the addition or deletion of motor control center (MCC) buckets from a live bus, or by replacing the contactors, circuit breakers, or other components in energized control circuits. Arc flash may be present in improperly installed, tested, and maintained equipment when breakers and disconnect switches are operated frequently, especially when racking breakers are in or out of low- and medium-voltage switchgear.
- Poor Condition of Equipment
Failures and eventually arc flash accidents can be caused by loose or improperly wired control connections, damaged insulation, or both. Heat or arcing brought on by insulation failure may result in an arc flash incident. Before working on any electrical equipment, it’s crucial to confirm the integrity of the wire installation. Employees can be exposed to hazardous regions and parts if there is no insulation, barriers, and guards. Damaged equipment cases, working mechanisms, and cable/bus supports are the key factors to consider when calculating the likelihood of an accident and the extent of exposure to hazards.
Conclusion
An electric flash is a highly dangerous incident that can cause hearing loss, burns, lung damage, eye injuries, and blast injuries. The risk of the flash can be reduced by using less risky technology, turning off electrical components, replacing electrical and control systems, etc. Trident Techlabs offers advanced arc flash risk assessment solutions that reduce the risk of the flash and safeguard the workers and assets. Check out the electric flash risk assessment services from our website at https://www.tridenttechlabs.com/
