DGUV Information 203-077e - Thermal hazards due to electric fault arcing Guide for selecting Personal protective equipment

4.2.1
Work environment parameters

The working environment in an electrical installation is characterized by the following parameters:

Table 4-1 Work environment parameters

4.2.2
Determination of system electric arc energy in the event of a fault

Fig. 4-2
Determination of electric arc energy

The actual electric arc short-circuit current I_{k, arc} in the low voltage range is significantly lower than the short-circuit current I"_{k 3} calculated for the installation (a minimal value of the initial 3-pole short-circuit AC current is assumed in this context) due to the limiting characteristics of the electric fault arc. In principle, the applicable correlation is:

The current limiting factor k_B cannot be precisely determined, but can be ascertained, for example, from a diagram in [21]. Refer to Table 4-2 for reference values.

The limiting properties of the electric fault arc can be disregarded in the > 1 kV range. The following applies: k_B = 1.

Fig. 4-1
Electrical system parameters

The low voltage range is generally considered to be safe if one assumes a current limitation of 50 % and uses this reduced current to ascertain the trip time from the protection characteristic curve. The current limiting factor then equates to k_B = 0.5; it follows that I_{k, arc} = 0.5･I"_{k 3,min}

The short-circuit duration t_k, which is also the arc duration t_arc, is now determined using the overcurrent protection characteristics and the electric arc short-circuit current I_{k, arc} determined (refer also to A 3.4.3).

The trip time is determined using the minimum 3-phase short-circuit current I"_{k 3,min} (worst-case scenario) (refer also to Fig. 4-3).

Arc energy W_arc is determined by the electric arc power P_arc and the arc duration t_arc, which corresponds to the short-circuit duration t_k up to the trip time of the overcurrent protection device:

W_arc = P_arc･t_arc

Electric arc power P_arc is dependent upon the type of arc formation and the geometry of the live components at the fault location. It is determined using the normalized arc power k_P from the short-circuit power S"_k with the equation P_arc = k_P · S"_k .

Normalized arc power k_P can be determined with consideration given to the effective electrode gap d (equipment conductor spacing), e.g. according to the text in German, "Schau, H.; Halinka. A.; Winkler, W.: Elektrische Schutzeinrichtungen in Industrienetzen und -anlagen") [21]. Reference values for k_P are specified in Table A 3-2 in Annex 3.

In general, an estimation of arc energy in the event of a fault results in the correlation:

W_arc = k_p･S"_k･t_k

Table 4-2 Current limiting factor reference values for a worst-case calculation

With the short-circuit power S"_k = √3 ･U_Nn･I"_{k 3,max} follows W_arc = k_p ･ √3 ･U_Nn･I"_{k 3,max}･t_k

For worst-case considerations, k_P can be replaced by the maximum value k_Pmax :

The decisive short-circuit current I"_{k 3} is the prospective 3-pole short-circuit current at the workplace (fault location). This is the result of a short-circuit current calculation (refer to Annex A 3.4.2 and VDE 0102); for this, the maximum value for the 3-pole initial short-circuit AC current must be assumed.

The duration of arc combustion t_arc corresponds to the short-circuit duration t_k and is determined by the overcurrent protection devices. The short-circuit duration can generally be derived the overcurrent protection device manufacturer's selectivity evaluations and/or trip time characteristic curves (current-time curves).

4.2.3
Determining the PPEaA protection level for the work situation

The protection level W_{arc, prot} afforded by PPEaA is determined by the test level of the PPEaA and the working distance a, as well as the geometry of the installation (factor k_T ) (refer to Fig. 4-4).

Working distance a is the distance between the electric fault arc and the operative part of a person's body (torso) while performing work or while present in the working environment under consideration. Where different tasks are being carried out in the working environment, the shortest operative distance should be applied.

It can be assumed that the distance to a person's torso while working will not be lower than a = 300 mm. Different distances may be considered for PPEaA intended for other parts of the body (e.g. head, legs, etc.). Typical values are referenced in Annex A 3.4.5, Table A 3-3.

Fig. 4-3
Example for determining the trip time for an overcurrent protection device

Fig. 4-4
Determination of the protection level

The transmission factor k_T considers the electrical system's geometric configuration and describes the spatial propagation of the thermal impact of an electric arc.

In a small-scale installation, the thermal influence of an arc flash propagates directionally. In more open or spacious installations, the thermal influence will propagate in a more omnidirectional pattern (refer to Fig. 4-5).

Exemplary pictures of actual on-site work situations are depicted in Section 6.

The test method used to verify the thermal impact of an electric fault arc is described in detail in Section A 2.2. This test method distinguishes between two Arc protection classes (APC), which define the protection afforded by PPEaA against the thermal effects of electric arcing. Verification for both Arc protection classes is by subjection to electric arcing at the resulting arc energy intensity (test level), using the test setups described in the test method.

Equivalent arc energy W_{arc, prot} can be determined from the electric arc energy of test category W_{arc, test} for any working distance a (≥ 300 mm) using the formula below. It represents the protection level W_{arc, prot}, at which the protection afforded by the PPEaA for the respective distance a is still maintained. 2 Moreover, using the factor k_T allows the system configuration to be accounted for.

The following formula applies in general on the basis of the Box test method:

Fig. 4-5
Transmission factor reference values for different installation relationships

Note:

This formula is valid only for the calculation and the selection of PPEaA that has been tested under (IEC 61482-1-2) standardized conditions (a = 300 mm, APC 1 or APC 2).

4.2.4
Selection of PPEaA

Insofar as the expected value of the electric arc energy W_arc does not fall below a value of 50 kJ, the relationship to the expected value of the electric arc energy W_arc is to be accounted for on the basis of the protection level W_{arc, prot} used for choosing the PPEaA Arc protection class (Box test according to IEC 61482-1-2). The thermal hazards associated with electric fault arching are deemed to have been met if

W_arc ≤ W_{arc, prot} applies.

On the basis of this relationship, with application of the determinants and conditional equations referenced above, limitations for the use of PPEaA in a selected Arc protection class can also be determined with respect to

• the short-circuit current range,

• the permissible short-circuit duration or the trip time of the overcurrent protection device (and with that the overcurrent protection device, itself ),

• and the permissible working distance (also refer to Annex 7).

A summary of the estimation process for AC installations is depicted in Fig. 4-6.