Arc Flash Remediation
Completion Date
2009
Services
Electrical
Industry
Refining & Chemical
Location
North-East
This project’s goal was to improve safety for personnel through compliance with OSHA and NFPA 70E guidelines for electrical safety. The potential arc flash incident energy levels at substations throughout the refinery were reduced to values that allow operation and maintenance of the medium-voltage switchgear when using the appropriate personnel protective equipment (PPE).
Prior to the implementation of this project arc flash incident energy levels in excess of 40 cal/cm2 were possible in many substations. Bus differential relaying schemes were implemented using new micro-processor based protective relays. In several substations new switchgear doors were designed, fabricated and installed to minimize turn-around related construction effort. Potential arc flash incident energy levels were lowered significantly by decreasing fault clearing times within these substations.
C&I conducted the FEED and Implementation for the project, including ETAP electrical modeling and analysis.