Analyzing the IEEE 1584-2002 data set and developing simple incident energy equations for low-voltage systems (< 1 kV)

The release of IEEE Standard 1584-2002, IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations, is formal recognition of the danger of arcing faults in electrical systems. The standard includes an extensive data set used for developing the 1584-2002 arc-flash calculator which predicts three-phase arc current and incident energy for appropriate selection of overcurrent protective devices and personal protective equipment, respectively. As an additional benefit, the published data set can further enhance the understanding of the electrical characteristics of arcing faults in industrial power systems. The 1584 data set has been both quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed to assess the relationships between arc current, arc voltage, system voltage, arc power, and incident energy, as well as other variables such as gap widths and the effect of equipment enclosures. Simple relationships for estimating three-phase arc current, arc power, and incident energy on low-voltage (< 1 kV) systems are presented.