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Fundamentals of Arcing Faults
Concept of Arc Detection Protection
Arcing Fault Detection in Codes
Arcing Fault Protective Devices
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Eectrical Fires%
40%
38%
34%
25%
Arcing Statistics
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Arcing Conditions represent 1/3 of
Electrical Fires.
A 1994 insurance company survey of
660 electrical fires concluded that over
33% of these fires resulted from arcing
Electric Arc
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Technically, an arc is defined as:
a continuous luminous discharge of
electricity across an insulating medium
OR
an electrical breakdown of a gas that
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Crushed cables
What is an Arc-Fault ?
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The UL Standard for AFCIs defines an arc-fault
as an unintentional arcing condition in a
circuit.
Arcing creates high intensity heat (may exceed
6,000 oC) resulting in burning particles that
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Carbonized
Damage in Wire + insulation Arc fault
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Arc Fault Protection
Parallel
Series Arc Arc
Figure-1.jpg
Features of Series
11 Arc Fault
Load current -> cannot be detected by MCB.
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No earth (ground) leakage -> cannot be detected by
RCD (GFCI).
voltage and current arcing signature is shown below.
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Arc Fault Protection
Methodologies
13 of Arc Fault
Detection
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Mathematical Methods (Auto-regressive
analysis)
Wavelet
Artificial Intelligence
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Mains voltage
Load current
(Interruptions at zero crossing and steep edges)
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Arc Fault Normal
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AFCI
Fire Impact Arc Fault Circuit
(NEC)
Interrupter
Concept o Zrc Detection Protecto
AFCI
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First Mention of AFCI in NEC
1999
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The AFCI circuitry continuously monitors current flow
through the AFCI.
AFCIs use detection circuitry to discriminate
between normal and unwanted arcing conditions.
Once an unwanted arcing condition is detected, the
control circuitry in the AFCI trips the internal
contacts,.
The circuit is de-energized reducing the potential for
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Operating
Characteristic
of an AFCI
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Arc Fault Protection
22
Products
Some AFCI
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IEC62606 applies to devices performing
simultaneously the detection and
discrimination of arcing current with regards
to fire hazards and defines operating criteria
under specified conditions for the opening of
the circuit when the arcing current exceeds
the limit values given in this standard.
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Arc Fault Protection
Standalone AFDD
Combined to MCB Combined to RCD (RCBO)
Operating
26 Characteristic
of an AFDD
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Arc Fault Protection
27 Parallel Arcing
Phase-Neutral
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Arc Fault Protection
AFDD/AFCI MCB RCD/GFCI
28 Parallel Arcing
Phase-Protective Earthing
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PE
LOAD
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PE
LOAD
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ANNEX B
(Informative)
Arc fault detection devices (AFDD)
NOTE 1
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a) mortal danger for persons (due to late detection) in
- bedrooms, children's rooms
- old people's homes
- kindergartens, schools, universities
- hospitals
- Recreation areas
b) In the vicinity there are readily flammable materials
- houses made of wood or ecological building materials
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The Electrical Technical Committee of the Saudi
Building Code National Committee (SBC 401) should
study the inclusion of AFDD in
CHAPTER 42
PROTECTION AGAINST THERMAL EFFECTS
As a start, this could be a recommendation.
The standard IEC 62606 should also be studied for