What is certain is that an arc flash can cause equipment damage and be hazardous to personnel. There are four main factors that determine the energy level: Different levels of danger and destruction result from particular-site energy levels. The effects of an arcing fault depend on the energy at the point of interest. The bottom line… if you are in an arc flash zone, you risk injury, burns, and even death. This also increases the likelihood of shrapnel and toxic gases. This significantly increases the pressure wave. How? The vaporizing copper expands to over 60,000 times its original size. This further adds to the destructive power of the arc flash. If your conductor is copper, for instance, it would instantly vaporize at this arc flash temperature. There is more! The high temperature can also change circuit components from solid to vapor. The accompanying radiant energy burns dramatically. The resulting pressure wave can blow you off your feet and damage or destroy anything in its wake. When the flash occurs, the instantaneous temperature increase rapidly expands the air volume. That energy combines radiant heat, intense light, and high-pressure waves. High power arc-flash faults are electrical explosions, releasing a great deal of energy. With that extreme temperature, the “flash” is violent. That is hotter than the surface of the sun! Does that get your attention? We are just getting started! The plasma temperature can reach 20,000 Kelvin (or about 35,000 Fahrenheit).
The key is that the arc travels through ionized air, also known as plasma, which turns the normally nonconductive air into a conductive path. It is an invisible danger that can reach out and hurt or kill you if you are not cautious and prepared.Īn arc flash is the light and heat which is produced as the result of an arc between one live electrical conductor and ground or between two live conductors. Hotter than the Surface of the Sun!Īccidents happen! Even on Tuesdays! The above scenario depicts an arc flash incident. Your dog will wonder when you are coming home-it will never know what happened. There is a sudden flash and deafening zap. You give the dog a quick pat on the head and out the door to work you go…never to return! Three hours later, you reach out to check a system you are working on. You kiss your spouse and holler to the kids to be good.
The first paragraph of that blog sets the tone for this month…Īnother Tuesday.
It had the heart-tugging title “Your Dog Will Miss You-Why Safety Training Makes the Difference”. How this Dangerous Hazard Can Change Your Life in Split Second!įor those of you who read this blog, you will remember our December article on safety training.
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