Texas A&M University

65th Annual Conference for Protective Relay Engineers

Optical Arc Flash Protection: Real World Experience

Authors:
James

Cramond P.E., Yale University

Angel

Carreras, ABB Inc.

One line diagram of the Yales existing electrical system

Arc flash relays

Yale University Optical Arc Flash fiber optic runs and relay
layout

Arc Flash System

Three master units and one extension unit were used for each bus.
Each master unit has one fiber optic sensor port, a three Phase
current input and 2 high speed output that will send a trip signal
within 2.5 ms when both a current and light signal are detected
simultaneously.
The extension unit has one fiber optic sensor port, 2 high speed
output and one RJ45 input and one RJ45 output ports that are used
to connect to the master unit.
The three fiber optic sensors, one from each master unit, were
routed through the breaker, bus and cable compartments of the
switchgear. The extension units fiber optic sensor was routed
through the tie breaker compartment.

Arc Flash System Cont.

Each master unit monitored the three phase currents from one
of the incoming source; and its high speed output contact was
wired to the incoming source breaker. The extension units
high speed output contact was wired to the tie breaker.
When the arc flash occurred in cubicle 19 the overcurrent and
light signals were activated and the master and extension units
open their prospective breaker thereby isolating and
extinguishing the arc flash immediately (2.5 ms + 3 cycle
breaker speed approx. 48 ms) resulting in minimal damage to
the switchgear and no injuries to personnel.

Main-tie-main lay-out with event as bolt

U.I.
1525

U.I.
1528

1536

Tie

11
13.8 kV Bus A

13.8 kV Bus B

13.8 kV Bus C

13.8 kV Bus D

GT-1

GT-2

19

1527

21 22

Yale Medical Campus Power Outage

First

Fault occurred on August 9, 2010

30 cycle UI Fault

Contributed to Bus Bar insulation degradation

Second

Fault occurred on August 16, 2010

UI Fault during a Line splice

Concluded with Arc Flash between Bus Bar and CT

shielded cable.

Sequence of Events on August 16, 2010

At 10:42 am on 8/16/10 UI feeder breakers 1527(position22) and

1536(position 21) on SPP 13.8K B-Bus as well as both GT
Breakers tripped, causing a campus wide power outage.

SPP was in low load configuration at the time of the fault, with
B-Bus UI feeders in service and the Tie breaker closed.

Representatives from Engineering, High Voltage Maintenance,

Physical Plant personnel were immediately dispatched to SSP.
Upon examination, instrumentation indicated a very large
electrical fault but not in the Yale Substation.

Sequence of Events on August 16, 2010 Cont

Yale called UI Dispatch to see if an event had occurred on their

system. According to UI a feeder fault had occurred on feeder
1529, which is a feeder serving another customer out on the Water
St. Substation and is the same bus as feeder 1527 and 1536.

It was noted by UI that a contractor working on a line splice

caused the fault. At this time UI had not cleared the fault and Yale
requested that UI notify us when fault was cleared.

Sequence of Events on August 16, 2010 Cont

Based on the information provided to us by UI on what cause the

event, the A-B Bus Tie breaker was opened and then the A-Bus UI
feeder(numbers 1525(position 1) and 1528(position 2)) were closed
in and placed into service around 11 AM, Thus restoring partial
power to some to the campus buildings(those that were fed from the
A-Bus at the time.

Our HV group was immediately dispatched to begin transferring all

campus buildings from B-Bus to A-Bus to restore power.

All building emergency generators were started and remained

operational through the day. They were turned off one by one until
the last one was turned off line at 3 PM.

Sequence of Events on August 16, 2010 Cont..

At approximately 11 AM Yale received a call from UI stating that

they had isolated feeder 1527 and 1536. During the entire event
feeders 1527 1nd 1536 (those serving B-Bus) remained live and did
not trip at the Water St. substation.

At around 11:30 AM Yale reset the lockout and protection relays on

the two UI feeder breakers(1527 &1536) along with the two GT
breakers. With breakers reset, an attempt was made to close in on
the tie breaker to fully restore the campus.

When the tie was closed an arc flash was immediately detected by
the newly installed arc flash system which opened the Tie breaker
and did not allow the arc flash to evolve into a catastrophic event.
(Bus Differential protection never detected the fault due to fast
response of the Arc Flash protection system.)

Sequence of Events on August 16, 2010 Cont..

In conclusion, it appears that the utility fault caused the

Yale system to back feed significant current on two phases
which compromised components within our switchgear
and generators. When Yale attempted to close the13.8 kV
A and B bus tie breaker, the compromised components
failed causing an arc and subsequent damage to sections of
the switchgear and internal devices.

Recorded event of the first fault caused by utility that

initiated the events on 8/16/2011

Graph of the actual Arc Flash event

Yale Sterling Substation ARC Flash

Arc

flash occurred in Cubicle 19 of the B-Bus

Detected

by Master units-1B,2B,3B and a trip signal was

sent from Master unit to extension unit via RJ45 extension
cable to open Tie Breaker.

Fault

clearing time(breaker open) approximately 50.5ms

Current

and light detection time was < 2.5ms

Breaker

speed was 3 Cycles- approximately 48ms

Results of the Arc Flash system installation

No personnel were injured.

Minimal damage to switchgear and equipment

More than 6 Yale and UI personnel were within close proximity

of the Sterling Switchgear when the Arc flash Occurred.

Bus section, CT shielded cable, 2 CT and fiberglass barrier

replaced

Minimal down time < 12 hours

Section of Bus was fabricated and installed, new CTs and

shielded cables installed, and fiberglass barriers fabricated;
switchgear commissioned and put back in service with 12
hours.

Sterling Switchgear Cubicle 19 Arc Flash Damage

Sterling Switchgear Cubicle 19 Arc Flash Damage

Sterling Switchgear Cubicle 19 Arc Flash Damage

Sterling Switchgear Cubicle 19 Arc Flash Damage

Benefits to Using Light and Current Arc Flash Mitigation

System

Fastest Arc Flash detection system.

Can mitigate Level 4 PPE down to Level 2 & 1

Detects Arc (light) and Overcurrent and initiates trip to breaker

in less than 2.5 ms.

Can be retrofitted easily into existing switchgear

Is secure, and reliable.

Will trip only if an over current and light are detected

simultaneously

Has internal diagnostics and alarming to detect fiber loop

failure, optolink fiber failure or RJ45 extension cable failure.

Benefits to Using ABB REA Arc Flash Mitigation System Cont.

Provides
High

Arc Flash Protection 24/7- Always On

ROI

In Summary

Highly recommend the current and light sensing arc flash

protection system for arc flash mitigation.

Yale personnel including myself who were in close proximity of

the Sterling switchgear during the arc flash incident were not
injured as a direct result of the arc flash protection system
being installed.

Yale Switchgear equipment sustained minimal damage and

down time.

Yale has installed the same Arc Flash protection system in its
Sterling and the Central substations 13.8 KV switchgear.