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nited <br />eevices <br />roup~' <br />THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMER ARC FLASH ANALYSIS FOR <br />ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES <br />2i22io8 <br />Arc flash hazard analysis is important to determine the PPE required for personnel <br />when working with energized equipment. This hazard analysis focuses on three-phase <br />padmounted and substation transformers at various working distances and operational <br />voltages. In addition, time-current curves (TCCs) with the arc flash hazard category <br />superimposed on the TCC are provided for various system fuses and protective <br />devices. <br />The bolted fault current was calculated using an infinite bus calculation and input into <br />the IEEE 1584 arc flash analysis spreadsheet. The resultant arcing fault current was <br />calculated within the spreadsheet through a formula derived from experimental analysis <br />of the relationship between the bolted fault current and the anticipated arcing fault <br />current. Using the calculated arcing fault current value, the total clear time of the <br />transformer high-side fuse or upstream protective device was determined and input into <br />the spreadsheet. The time in which a fault is cleared is by-large the largest factor in the <br />calories emitted during a fault event. In the case of substation transformers, the total <br />clear time was determined using the protection settings proposed in the 2007 <br />Sectionalizing Study. For transformers less than 500 kVA, arc flash hazard analysis was <br />performed for both 208V and 480V bus voltages. For all transformers, working distance <br />of both 381mm (15") and 2440mm (8') were used, which correspond to the distance <br />between the chest/torso and the energized equipment while working with your hands <br />(381 mm) and a hotstick (2440mm). Analysis results include an arc flash hazard risk <br />category classification and arc flash boundary distance, or the distance in which a <br />second degree burn to the face and torso does not occur. <br />Also provided is a table relating transformer secondary current to transformer primary <br />current. This table illustrates that for many transformers a value close to the infinite bus <br />bolted fault current and/or calculated arcing fault current is obtainable given the location <br />of the transformers and the available primary fault current at that location. <br />The following table defines the PPE requirements for each of the arc flash hazard <br />classifications: <br />PPE Ratin Table from NFPA 70E -Table 130.7 C 11 - 2004 Edition <br />Min. Cal/cm Ratin of PPE Max. Cal/cm Ratin of PPE Risk Cate o <br />0 1.2 0 <br />1.2001 4 1 <br />4.001 8 2 <br />8.001 25 3 <br />25.001 40 4 <br />40.001 No maximum X <br />Exposure to Risk Category X equipment is not recommended. <br />1 of 3 <br />