GROUP THREE

NAMES: NSHOM RICHARD KENG

: FONMBI JEFFREY NYINGCHIA
LEVEL : TWO
COURSE: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SYSTEM DESIGN
ANALYSIS.
ASSIGNMENTS
INSTITUTION: FONAB POLYTECHNIC

The Problem Of Arcing Faults In Low-Voltage Power

Distribution System.
Definition of electric arc.

Arcing, or electrical arcing is when an electric current flows through the air
from one conductive point to another. Heat and energy emitted by this
arcing current can cause significant injury or death to anyone exposed to it.

NB, Undesired arcing occurs when equipment is damaged in such a way that
the current conducted through the equipment becomes uncontrolled,
producing an arc fault. This causes the current to ionize the air, creating a
conductive pathway through the air to another conductor - either a grounded
object or person. As energy travels through the air, the resulting arc flash
may produce temperatures of over 10,000oF (5537oC) capable of causing an
electrical fire.

• Not all instances of arcing are undesired. For example, arc welding,
like TIG and MIG welding, relies on the purposeful and controlled
production of electrical arcs.

Causes of Arcing
Arcing can be caused by numerous flaws in electrical systems including
breaks in the insulation and the presence of impurities such as dust or rust.

Major causes of electrical arcing include:

• Overload – When the circuits in a panel are overloaded, arcing can take
place. In case of excess current flow, the circuit breakers may malfunction
and allow the current to keep flowing instead of tripping, causing overheating
and arcing.
• Faulty panels – Some electrical panels may have design flaws such as
defective circuit breaker links. They may not be directly responsible for
arcing but play a role and can be considered a safety hazard.
• Surroundings – Too many fuses in the box will allow additional current to
flow through the circuit causing overheating and arcing. The presence of
flammable material such as gasoline or thinner should never be kept near an
electrical panel.
Common causes of arc flash include:

• Equipment failure
• Dropping un-insulated tools or metal parts
• Using incorrectly specified instruments
• Live work on damaged equipment such as cables
• Loose connections and exposed live parts
• Lack of awareness and training

Effect of Electrical Arcing:

Arc faults, and arc flashes are extremely dangerous as it concentrates

current and voltage in a single place, releasing a massive amount of energy.
Some of the dangers associated with arcing include:

• Heat generated can damage wire insulation, potentially resulting in electrical

fires
• Generated heat can also cause a fire if the arc strikes a flammable material
• The extreme temperature of the arc can vaporize the conductors forming a
considerable pressure of wave and sound resulting in damage to hearing
• Poisonous gasses capable of causing lung damage can be released from
arcing
• Arcing can cause substantial damage to electrical equipment.

How to prevent Arc flash

Other than isolating the power supply, completely eliminating the arc flash
hazard is very difficult, but there are measures you can take to reduce the
possibility and severity of hazards

The likelihood of an electric arc (or worse) occurring is low but the potential
severity is high. Control measures can be adopted to reduce both the hazard
and likelihood of taking place, therefore reducing the risk. For example, you
can:

• De-energize electrical equipment

• Wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Keep at a safe distance
• Reduce the energy output from an incident
• Carry out a risk assessment
• Train on-site workers to control risks and interrupt faults
➢ NB. If you hear any popping, buzzing or hissing sounds from electrical
connections, those are signs of arcing. The best way to protect your property is
to get an arc-fault interrupter (AFCI) installed; these devices are able to detect
arcing faults and protect the system from their effects. If any arcing is detected,
the interrupter shuts the connecting circuit down.

Many believe the risk of arc flash occurs when working at high voltage
but there is evidence to suggest low voltage may be even riskier.
Studies show hazard severity is, on average, higher at low voltage than
high voltage.