DC Arc Flash Measurement from Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries

Electrochemical energy storage has emerged as a viable DC prime power candidate at voltages as high as 1000 VDC. Interest in 1000 VDC energy storage systems extends from the laboratory to mobile naval platforms prompting the need to address personal protective equipment (PPE) for those who maintain these systems. Studies on DC arc flash have mostly been focused on producing models or using rectified AC sources. While these are useful in studying the arcing hazards, electrochemical energy sources exhibit non-ideal characteristics that can affect the ability to sustain the arc for extended periods of time. PPE recommendations derived from these models may prove to unnecessarily over-encumber the worker. Electrochemical energy sources such as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries are currently deployed and are actively used as a part of mobile energy storage systems. To inform recommendations for PPE in these systems, the work presented here shows experiments using VRLAs with potentials as high 480 VDC. Similar, but unique, work has been performed as a collaborative effort between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Future plans will extend this work to voltages as high as 930 VDC. The characterization of these arcs include the measured incident energy (IE), arc current, arc voltage, with some including light intensity and sound pressure.