Investigation of factors affecting the sustainability of arcs below 250V

Author

Lang, Mike ; Jones, Ken

Author_Institution

Mersen, Newburyport, MA, USA

fYear

2011

fDate

9-13 Oct. 2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

9

Abstract

Recent testing with various electrode configurations and insulating barriers suggests that 250V equipment omitted from arc flash hazard analyses has the potential for burn injury. Research into the sustainability of arcs at these voltages shows assumptions about the magnitude of these hazards need to be revised. This research enhanced the work of previous efforts by focusing on the sustainability of arcs with fault currents lower than 10kA. Gap lengths between electrodes, electrode shape, electrode material and voltage variations were studied for their effects on arc sustainability. A modified barrier design, representative of the space around panelboard bus bars was also studied.

Keywords

arcs (electric); busbars; electrodes; flashover; hazards; insulation; arc flash hazard; arc sustainability; burn injury; electrode configurations; electrode material; electrode shape; fault currents; gap lengths; insulating barriers; panelboard bus bars; voltage variations; Copper; Electrodes; Ignition; Testing; Arc fault sustainability; arc flash hazard testing; effect of insulating barriers; plasma; terminated vertical conductors; terminated vertical electrodes; vertical conductors; vertical electrodes;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting (IAS), 2011 IEEE

Conference_Location

Orlando, FL

ISSN

0197-2618

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-9498-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IAS.2011.6074423

Filename

6074423