arc flash software

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bob52

Member
Location
pittsfield ma
My company would like to start doing our own Arc Flash Analysis, including printing our own labels. any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
 
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wbdvt

Senior Member
Location
Rutland, VT, USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer, PE
There is much more to doing an arc flash analysis than just getting the software. There is:

  1. Learning to be proficient with the software in modeling and analysis. This can be a lengthy process especially if you are not given adequate time to learn but it is just an additional responsibility that may or may not be high on the priority list.
  2. The cost of the software, training, and yearly maintenance fees should be looked at versus having a consultant perform the study. Typical software is around $10k, $3k for training (course, lodging, travel), and $1500 per year for maintenance fees. If it is a small facility without a lot of changes going on all the time, it may not have a good cost benefit. Plus the cost of label printing hardware and label material.
  3. Performing a short circuit analysis
  4. Checking for overdutied equipment - what to with analysis when found?
  5. Coordination study - developing time current curves and optimizing coordination for maximum selectivity.
  6. Arc Flash - setting the correct parameters in the software and performing study of results to see where the incident energy can be reduced but what affect does that have on the coordination of the system.
  7. Prior to the study there is the data collection portion. What is the minimum information needed, who is collecting the data and what AR PPE do they wear to do the data collection?
  8. What types of protection devices are there? Is it all fuses or low voltage circuit breakers or are there relays in the system? Differential relays?

If you are going to do it, then you should really buy a copy of IEEE 1584-2002 and IEEE 1584.1-2013 and thoroughly read and understand the basics behind the equations used and limitations of such.

All being said, you should get demo versions of various vendors software and build a small system model in each one to see how easy it is and how the result are presented.
 
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Bugman1400

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
I cannot agree more. Arc Flash studies should not be done by folks who don't routinely perform this service. There are many facets to a study like this....the first of which is modeling the system. As the saying goes....garbage in equals garbage out. I've seen many models that are just that. Also, an experienced arc flash analyzer can recommend cost effective ways of mitigating AF and a reduction in PPE class. They can also detect protection or system configurations that may be atypical as compared with other clients.
 
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