ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
(OP)
Hi Guys
This is Shan from EPCOR, I am working as Distribution P&C Engineer with Epcor and looking after Arc Flash Analysis of our Medium voltage(5kV-15kV & 25kV) primary distribution system. I have been using IEEE-1584 for arc flash analysis and it works fine up to 15KV but for 25KV the arc flash energy results using IEEE-1584 are very conservative and unrealistic. It doesn’t make sense to use IEEE-1584 for voltage higher than 15KV. I am curious to know about the approach that industries been adopted for voltages greater than 15kv Primary for open air and underground arc flash analysis. There are some tools available to perform analysis for voltage >15KV and one of the tool I am aware of is“Duke power heat flux calculator” module that Duke energy created for open air single phase analysis , would it be appropriate to use Duke model single phase open air analysis with multiplication factor of 2.8 to 3 applied for 3 phase analysis for three phase under ground analysis(for example for three phase pad mount cubicle).
I have also heard about ARCPRO tool for arc flash analysis, Do any one, in this forum have experience with using Duke model or ARCPRO for arc flash analysis and do these models work for close box configuration (For example: Energy analysis for three phase pad mount cubicles).
I am using Synregi with standard IEEE-1584 for arc flash analysis at our utility, I would appreciate some input in regards to what other Preferred software tools would be that could be used for arc flash analysis for medium voltage >15KV. I am thinking of buying ARCPRO modul but not sure whether it works for underground analysis too.
Will greatly appreciate some advise on this.
Regards
Shan
This is Shan from EPCOR, I am working as Distribution P&C Engineer with Epcor and looking after Arc Flash Analysis of our Medium voltage(5kV-15kV & 25kV) primary distribution system. I have been using IEEE-1584 for arc flash analysis and it works fine up to 15KV but for 25KV the arc flash energy results using IEEE-1584 are very conservative and unrealistic. It doesn’t make sense to use IEEE-1584 for voltage higher than 15KV. I am curious to know about the approach that industries been adopted for voltages greater than 15kv Primary for open air and underground arc flash analysis. There are some tools available to perform analysis for voltage >15KV and one of the tool I am aware of is“Duke power heat flux calculator” module that Duke energy created for open air single phase analysis , would it be appropriate to use Duke model single phase open air analysis with multiplication factor of 2.8 to 3 applied for 3 phase analysis for three phase under ground analysis(for example for three phase pad mount cubicle).
I have also heard about ARCPRO tool for arc flash analysis, Do any one, in this forum have experience with using Duke model or ARCPRO for arc flash analysis and do these models work for close box configuration (For example: Energy analysis for three phase pad mount cubicles).
I am using Synregi with standard IEEE-1584 for arc flash analysis at our utility, I would appreciate some input in regards to what other Preferred software tools would be that could be used for arc flash analysis for medium voltage >15KV. I am thinking of buying ARCPRO modul but not sure whether it works for underground analysis too.
Will greatly appreciate some advise on this.
Regards
Shan






RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
As a co-developer of Arcpro, my apologies for the delayed response to Barry's e-mail. I would encourage anyone to ask us at Kinectrics if you have questions on Arcpro and we'll provide you with a factual answer. Call me at 416-207-6557 if you wish to discuss. Kinectrics is the Consulting Engineering and test lab where virtually all of the North American testing is done to establish ATPVs. We have conducted arc hazard assessments for some of North Americas largest utilities. We also provide Courses on the proper application of most of the arc hazard analysis techniques available.
Regarding the Factors: first please be sure you are using the latest set of factors from Disk 2 on your Arcpro CD. The factors referred to by Barry from the Help Menu have been refined to reduce the range based on comparisons with test data. When we are discussing the factors we are referring to this upgraded Table.
The basis for the factors is an engineering analysis of all published test data both from Kinectrics and IEEE and a comparison of this with Arcpro outputs. Arcpro models single arcs, either phase to phase or phase to ground, so without the factors it produces results applicable to single arc situations. Note that IEEE1584 models only 3-phase situations. Essentially the factors adjust the output of Arcpro to yield the best match to the 3-phase and in-box test data that exists. Feel free to call if you wish more detail.
On the subject of Arcpro algorithm and equations - there are 6 references in the Arcpro manual that provide the base peer reviewed engineering papers upon which the methodology is based. Unlike most of the other methods that are simple single equation curve fits to test data Arcpro is a finite element analysis iterative model of arc plasma, its conductivity and the radiation and convection from an arc. The theory and equations are readily available in these published papers. It is correct to say that the Arcpro equations are not simple - but they are available
Yes Arcpro requires the arcing current. On medium voltage systems it is reasonable to assume that this is equivalent to the bolted current. On low voltage systems the arcing current can be as low as 40% of the arcing current. A proper engineering analysis would involve putting the arc resistance in your symmetrical component model and determine the resulting arc current. Arcpro tells you what that arc resistance should be. Please beware with IEEE 1584 equations that compute arcing from bolted current. Under certain conditions the results will yield the result that arcing current is greater than bolted - clearly incorrect. A circuit analysis approach is more accurate. In our Course we show some simple engineering ways to determine arcing current.
The Lee formula - while valid for the test results it was deigned to emulate - is clearly incorrect for high voltage applications.
IEEE 1584 - while valid for relatively small arc gaps for which it was derived is clearly incorrect for large arc lengths ie certainly anything 2' or greater.
If any of these areas are of further interest please feel free to e-mail at steve.cress@kinectrics.com or call 416-207-6557.
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
When will they provide a program that will run on 64 bit machines?
RE: ARCPRO and Duke heat flux calculator
It is also important to note that,according to the program user manual, "the ARCPRO program calculates the thermal parameters associated with an electric power arc aligned vertically in air. The program does not consider arcs in any other physical configuration, [...]". The use of ARCPRO for estimating the arc hazard immediately becomes an engineer's best guess because situations where we have arcs "aligned vertically in air" are at best very limited.