The global market for Arc Flash
Protection is projected to reach US$2.4 billion by 2025, driven by the
ever-present threat of arc flash hazards in virtually every industrial environment
ranging from utilities, manufacturing and processing, oil & gas to transportation
and infrastructure. The ever-present threat of arc flashes can be out into
perspective by the fact that virtually all electrical systems of voltages 200V
or greater are susceptible to arc flash incidents. The addressable market
opportunity can also be measured by the growing use of electrical enclosures
against the backdrop of massive quantities of electricity produced and consumed
worldwide coupled with the ubiquity of power electronics. Arc flash is an electrical
explosion of light and heat caused when stray electric current flows through
air gaps between conductors. Causes of arc flash accidents include gaps in electrical
insulation; improper installation; use of non-standard and/or sub-standard
electrical parts; accumulation of corrosion, dust on the surface of the
conductor; worn-out conductor insulation; loose wire connections; obstructed
disconnect panels; and improperly
maintained switches and circuit breakers. All of these factors trigger faulty current
magnetic fields by abnormal conduction of electrical current from phase to
ground, phase to neutral, and/or phase to phase and when ionized by surrounding
air results in an explosion. Arc faults are extremely hazardous to personnel
and the enormous energy and heat released by the explosion can result in severe
skin burns. Heat released by the arc can reach 40,000 degrees Fahrenheit, temperatures
over 4 times higher than the temperature of the sun’s surface, making the
explosion fatal for people and equipment. The high intensity flash can also damage
the eyes and cause permanent loss of vision, while the shock waves caused by
the explosion can knock down people and walls. The sound of the explosion can rupture
eardrums and cause hearing loss. Read More…
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