lundi 9 septembre 2013

Everything You Need To Know About Arc Flash Analysis

By Lila Berger


The world is littered with accidents occurring in the most unexpected places. The advancement of technology aids from the safety hazards that we are exposed to everyday. Therefore, we should educate ourselves about arc flash analysis to avoid any unwanted occurrence cause by electrical instability.

An arc flash is any electrical blast that uses the oxygen in the air as its conductor. It explodes from any high voltage source to another conductor nearby. It poses as an electrical hazard where electricity uses the air as transit between two conductors. Conductors are formed from any materials where the electricity can flow so easily such as copper.

The short circuit happens rapidly but produces vast amount of heat and energy. It is capable of melting nearby metals and destroying the electric circuits. This is capable of producing temperatures higher than the surface of the sun as some scientists suggested. Plasma can be produce as well through an explosion that carries shrapnel, intense electromagnetic radiation and dangerous sound waves.

Hazard analysis provides not much defense against the blast itself but it does provide a buffer space which guards any workers from the flash. Arc flashes are hazardous to anyone nearby and are known to be responsible for many electric injuries and even deaths. This poses a real threat to the safety for those around the area.

A high voltage conductor is the distinguishable factor that makes this incident possible. Any signs of leak or corrosion in the system is the predisposing factors that could lead to dangerous consequences. The common voltage that this usually observed are those around six hundred volts or higher because the explosion need a massive amount of energy for it to happen.

A quick plasma reaction happens through a rich oxygen source cause by the expansion of heat and energy. An extreme heat of around 5000 degrees have been noted by some scientists which are enough to toast people from several feet away. The metal that has been melted evaporates and can be released through an explosive gas or molten metal catapulted into the air.

Prevention of this to happen is the goal of every company that is susceptible that is why it is required that every employee knows the precautions of high voltage devices. Wearing cotton or other fabrics impervious to fire. The only known way to lessen the incidence is through proper knowledge in caring for such devices.

These arch flashes incidence unlikely to occur in any household setting unless there is a high voltage conductors involved. They are commonly seen in working environment that uses those high voltage equipment. The electricians are those commonly put in danger with this scenario because they are those exposed to such devices.

The measurement of the danger level is done by arc flash analysis. They also gather and formulate all other statistics needed for a safety zone to be established. The work they do is essential to prevent the occurrence and lessen the damage if ever any explosion will happen.




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