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Using Fiber Optics in Arc Flash Detection Applications

Arc flashes in electrical equipment can cause fires, equipment damage, and physical harm if not quickly detected and the circuit interrupted. Fiber optic arc detection systems can respond faster than other methods by sensing the intense light of an arc flash. A typical system uses a fiber optic loop sensor positioned around equipment to detect light and transmit a signal to instantly trigger the circuit breaker if an arc occurs. Combining light and current detection provides the most effective and cost-efficient arc protection for switchgear.

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193 views6 pages

Using Fiber Optics in Arc Flash Detection Applications

Arc flashes in electrical equipment can cause fires, equipment damage, and physical harm if not quickly detected and the circuit interrupted. Fiber optic arc detection systems can respond faster than other methods by sensing the intense light of an arc flash. A typical system uses a fiber optic loop sensor positioned around equipment to detect light and transmit a signal to instantly trigger the circuit breaker if an arc occurs. Combining light and current detection provides the most effective and cost-efficient arc protection for switchgear.

Uploaded by

Buelvas Nicanor
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Using Fiber Optics In Arc Flash Detection

Applications
Failures can occur in the electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit
breakers that control, protect and isolate electrical equipment in
electrical power systems, also known as switchgear. When a failure
happens it can endanger the operation of an entire electrical power
system, the equipment using that power and nearby personnel as well.
This is especially true of short circuits.
Of the two types of short circuits typically encountered--the metal short
circuit and the arc short circuit--the latter poses the greatest danger. If
not detected and responded to in time, an arc flash can cause fires,
damage equipment and even cause physical harm. Typical damage
includes overheating copper wiring and melting aluminum rods, as well
as toxic gasification. Overheating also causes dangerous increases in
pressure that can cause switchgear to explode.
Switchgear uses several protection methods including fast bus
protection, backup over current protection and arc flash protection.
Fast bus protection is available only for high-voltage switchgear, and
the backup over current protection method requires significant time to
switch the circuit breaker. Therefore, low- and medium-voltage
switchgear needs a faster detection system.
Response Time Is Key
An arc develops and becomes destructive within milliseconds. Failure
to open a circuit breaker in time can result in enormous losses (Fig. 1).
The damage resulting from an arcing accident relates directly to the
amount of current flowing through the short and the time duration.
However, of the two parameters, time duration is the more critical.
Thus, to maximize protection, both the arc flash detector and the entire
switchgear system must have a quick response time.

Figure 1: The graph shows the possible damage that can occur with
longer arcing times.
Arc Flash Detection Methods
An arcing fault instantaneously releases large amounts of radiant
energy, including both light and thermal energy. The light intensity
resulting from an arc can be thousands of times higher than normal
ambient light. An arc flash detection relay takes advantage of this
phenomenon to achieve significantly faster response timesthereby
affording significantly greater protection from damagethan the
conventional relay. Thus, arc flash detection has become a critical
requirement for all switchgear installations. However, light is only one
of many indications that an arc flash has occurred.

Figure 2: This system diagram of a generic arc guard includes both


optical and current detectors.
An arc flash dramatically increases light, pressure, heat, current and
even sound, all of which a switchgear system can be designed to
monitor and detect. Although detecting light is perhaps the easiest and
fastest detection method, many systems detect two and sometimes a
combination of three or more parameters (i.e., light, current and
sound). Though the latter is more thorough, the additional cost and
complexity of this method can be prohibitive. The most efficient, cost
effective, and therefore the most commonly used method combines the
detection of light and current. This method has quickly become the
solution of choice for the realization of a reliable arc flash detection
system.
Arc Flash Detection System
The primary components of an arc flash detection system (light and
current detector) are the arc monitor unit, control unit, optical
detector, current detector and current transformer. The control unit
receives signals from both a high-sensitivity light detector and the
upstream current transformer, enabling it to determine whether to
trigger the circuit breaker. Clearly, this signaling process must be both
fast and reliable to minimize danger and damage. Fiber optics, with its

inherent speed and EMI immunity, make it a perfect medium for an arc
flash detection system.
The optical detector unit includes an optical emitter and receiver, an
optical sensor in the form of a bare fiber loop, and fiber optic cable. The
optical sensor collects the flash light and transfers it via fiber optic
cable to the fiber optic receiver, which converts the optical signal to an
electrical signal that informs the control system when an arc flash is
occurring. There are two types of optical sensors commonly used in
such systems: the point sensor and the loop sensor. The point sensor
approach uses a light sensor and an optical receiver to detect light in a
given area, while the loop sensor ( Fig. 3) uses a loop of bare fiber
positioned strategically throughout the equipment.

Figure 3. A loop sensor employs a loop of bare fiber positioned strategically


throughout the equipment.

Loop sensor technology offers several advantages when compared to


the point sensor. First, it dramatically reduces the cost of installation. A
single optical fiber sensor can be as long as 200 feet, typically covering
the same protection zone associated with conventional bus-differential
protection but at a much lower cost than point sensors. Second, the
loop approach eliminates any concerns about shadows from internal
structures that might block the direct exposure to an arc flash. Third, if
the fiber sensor is configured in a loop, it can provide regular selfchecking of the sensors integrity and continuity, producing an alarm if
a problem is detected.

Wavelength And Illumination


Generally, the wavelength range of an arc flash is 300-1500 nm
compound light. Therefore, a 650-nm or 820-nm fiber optic receiver
can be used to detect the arc flash light. Two types of fiber optic cables
can be used within this wavelength rangeplastic optical fiber (POF) or
multimode glass fiber cable.
POF cable is best suited for 650 nm since it has the lowest attenuation
at this wavelength. POF is also lower cost and easier to install than
other types of fiber optic cables. Multimode glass fiber cable has lower
attenuation at 820 nm than the POF cable has at 650 nm.
Light Source

Distance

Illuminationlux)

Moon light

0.2

Cinema screen

20-80

Sun (summer, in room)

100-1000

General light

1m

750-1000

Operating room light

1m

1500-3000

Arc flash

6-7m

9000

Table 1 shows the typical illumination of various light sources. Arc


flash illumination is usually from 5K to 50K lux, so it is easy to
differentiate the arc flash light from ambient light.
Conclusion
Short circuits are one of the most common faults that occur in
switchgear. If the switchgear is not equipped with detection and
protection capability, the cost may extend beyond monetary losses to
personal injuries. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure each system can
detect a fault as soon as it happens to prevent a disaster. The arc flash
detection system presented here is one of the most effective detection
methods, both in terms of cost and performance.

Alek Indra ([email protected]) is Asia Pacific Marketing Manager in Avago


Technologies. His experience and expertise has been in fiber optic products for various
applications, like smart grid, drive, transportation and industrial automation. Over the last
few years, he has dedicated his work in the areas of renewable energy (e.g Solar and Wind
Energy) and train that use fiber optic solution to ensure reliable and safe system.

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