Arc Flash Exercise 2
Purpose & Description
The purpose of this exercise is to perform an arc flash calculation for a low voltage system protected with
power and molded case circuit breakers. This exercise also helps to illustrate the use of different
configurations, scenarios, and system grounding which should be considered in order to find the most
conservative solution.
Setup
Load the project file named “AF-Example2”. (The solution to this example is located in a
directory called “Solution2”. Open the solution project only to compare against your exercise
once completed.)
Utilize the Library from ETAP xxx\lib (xxx= ETAP version currently being used)
Please make sure to have the following Options (Preferences) selected prior to beginning this
exercise:
Procedure
Step1
Create the following configurations in addition to the existing “Normal OP”:
Configuration ID Element Status
CB15 = open
2SW1 = PosA
Gen1 = Swing Mode
EDG Online
Utility = Voltage Control Mode
All other PDs are normally closed
All remaining loads are in continuous status
CB15 = closed
2SW1 = PosA
Gen1 = Voltage Control Mode
Both Online
Utility = Swing Mode
All other PDs are normally closed
All remaining loads are in continuous status
ETAP Workshop Notes ©1996-2017 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. Page 1 of 4
Arc Flash Exercise 2
Step2
Open the arc flash study case named “AF LV” and make the following selections:
Bus Fault Current = Symm. ½ Cycle (Method page)
System Grounding = “One-Line Diagram” (Parameters page)
Fault Buses= “Bus11”, “Mtr5 Term”, “Mtr7 Term” and “Mtr8 Term” (Info page)
Step 3
Setup the following scenarios using the “Scenario Wizard” tool.
Step3
Setup the following scenarios using the “Scenario Wizard” tool.
Configuration ID Element Status
System = Network Analysis
Presentation OLV1
Revision Data = Base
Config. Status = Normal OP
Scenario1
Study Mode = Arc Flash
Study Type = ANSI Arc Flash
Study Case = AF LV
Output Report = “Normal OP” (Type in the report name)
System = Network Analysis
Presentation OLV1
Revision Data = Base
Config. Status = EDG Online
Scenario2
Study Mode = Arc Flash
Study Type = ANSI Arc Flash
Study Case = AF LV
Output Report = “EDG Online” (Type in the report name)
System = Network Analysis
Presentation OLV1
Revision Data = Base
Config. Status = Both Online
Scenario3
Study Mode = Arc Flash
Study Type = ANSI Arc Flash
Study Case = AF LV
Output Report = “Both Online” (Type in the report name)
ETAP Workshop Notes ©1996-2017 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. Page 2 of 4
Arc Flash Exercise 2
Step4
Run each of the previous three scenarios and answer the following questions:
4.1 Enter the fault clearing time, Source Protective Devices as shown on the Arc Flash page of “Bus11”
for every scenario. Record them in the following table.
Scenario ID Fault Clearing Source Incident
Time (FCT) Protective Energy
Device (cal/cm2)
Scenario1 (Normal)
Scenario2 (EDG)
Scenario3 (Both)
4.2 What scenario results in the highest amount of incident energy release in the event of an arc fault at
“Bus11” (not the line side of Source Protective Device feeding this bus) and why?
_____________________________________________________________________________
4.3 Scenarios 2 and 3 result in similar fault clearing times. Explain why Scenario 3 produces a much
higher incident energy value?
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4.4 What is the system-calculated grounding configuration determined by the program for scenarios 1 and
3?
_____________________________________________________________________________
4.5 Why is the system-calculated grounding configuration of scenario 2 different from that of scenario 1
and 3?
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4.6 If you change the grounding of the generator to Wye solidly grounded what is the percent change in
the calculated incident energy?
____________________________________________________________________________
4.7 If you do not know the details of the grounding configuration of the system, how can you configure
ETAP to produce conservative incident energy results?
ETAP Workshop Notes ©1996-2017 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. Page 3 of 4
Arc Flash Exercise 2
Step5
Go to the Options (Preferences) editor and make the following change:
The Incident energy subtraction method will enable the program to remove the energy from each source
as it operates to de-energize the fault.
Please note that you should return the grounding configuration of the EDG back to resistor grounded.
5.1 Re-run all scenarios using this new setting. Which scenarios show differences in the results?
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5.2 Which source provides most of the energy for a fault at Bus11?
____________________________________________________________________________
5.3 Repeat Scenario3 using the fault current decay method. Assume that the generator will contribute only
150% of Gen rated FLA for a sustained fault. Also assume a Maximum FCT of 2.0 sec. What is the
difference in the incident energy and fault clearing time?
____________________________________________________________________________
ETAP Workshop Notes ©1996-2017 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. Page 4 of 4
