Detecting and predicting arc flash events at low operational loads

Abstract

One of the primary causes of electrical arc flash incidents is compromised joints. The accepted “Best Practice” has been periodic thermal scans (typically annual). However, this does not overcome critical issues e.g. workers remain exposed to risks, it's only an annual “snapshot”, often taken at a time not reflecting the most critical operating phases, or conversely at such a critical instant that it may actually cause the incident, and the measurement is taken externally requiring operator correlation to the true internal temperature. This is of particular relevance to the oil & gas industry where dual power feeds, each operating at low operational load (typically below 40%), is the norm.