Reducing Arc Flash Energy in Substations with Protective Relays, Optical Sensors & Virtual Mains

Mitigating Arc Flash Energy is a challenge on medium voltage (MV) to low voltage (LV) substations. On the secondary side, LV switchboards or switchgear are exposed to amplified, high levels of arc flash current directly from the MV-LV transformer. This creates major issues for maintenance that cannot be resolved by including an Energy Reduced Maintenance Switch (ERMS), the typical solution for mitigating arc-flash per NEC 240.8 at the LV main breaker. The line-side of this breaker can easily have an arc flash incident energy above 40 calories/cm2 at the IEEE 1584 recommended 18 inch working distance in front of the switchboard. This high level of arc flash risk would be referenced as PPE category Dangerous. This means no PPE (personal protective equipment) is safe. It can mean the whole switchboard cannot be maintained without a shutdown.
Co-sponsored by: Santa Clara University
Speaker(s): James Alvers,
Agenda:
Agenda: CHeck back for room assignment, should be open by 5:45 PM. Parking is free in the summer but you need to pick up a parking pass at the gate.
6:00 Check in, Meet and Greet, Latimer Energy Lab Tour
6:30 Dinner buffet
7:00 Talk
8:00 Q&A
Room: To be announced, check back, Bldg: New Science Building SCDI, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, California, United States, 95053