Arc-Flash Question

[fitzg7]

I'm a new engineer, just out of school and still wet behind the ears. I'm trying to do a little arc-flash project for my boss to show marketability, and if he likes, he might ante up for some training. I figured out the flash hazards associated with the transformer, and any work that might be done to it, but how would I go about the arc-flash analysis for each of the panels in the building. Do I just use the ratings for the fused disconnects at each panel in order to calculate the available short circuit? I'm not ready to buy the IEEE manual for the exorbitant price of $600.00, so I'm using the slightly less sexy and much more conservative and vague NFPA70E book. thanks in advance guys.

 

[davidbeach]

Sorry, but you'll have to bit the bullet. If you don't want to spring for the IEEE standard, (less than $500 for members in PDF), you probably won't be interested in software packages designed for doing arc flash calculations. You need a full fault study for your system, for both maximum and minimum fault currents, and determine the clearing time for every fault at every location. Not really a task one would want to by hand.

 

[fitzg7]

I am interested in both of those, however that being said, I'm just trying to analyze a simple system, to show him a little bit about it so we might begin to offer these services to local businesses. And if he's not quite ready, for that then I highly doubt we'll spring for the $8495.00 that Easypower charges, plus the IEEE standards. If he goes for it, I'd probably be sent to a seminar of some sort, and then we would pick up some software.

 

[davidbeach]

Hire it done? There aren't really any short cuts, the information in the standard is the bare minimum you'll need.

 

[Zogzog]

There are 2 free calculators here that you can use for a demo, we also provide training on conducting these studies.

http://www.epowerplus.com/Training.htm/download.shtml

Scott Peterson
Training Manager
Power Plus Engineering

http://www.epowerplus.com