Techniques For Commissioning ARC-Flash Mitigation Systems

The power industry well understands the safety hazards and equipment destruction associated with arc-flash events. Several arc-flash mitigation techniques can minimize incident energies during arc-flash events by detecting the light-and-current signature of an arc flash in a fraction of a power system cycle. Like all protection schemes, arc-flash mitigation systems must be field-tested and proven to meet design specifications. This paper explains best-known practices and tools available for commissioning these systems. Topics discussed include how to select and configure test equipment, interpret device self-test diagnostics, and validate system performance with event reports and time-synchronized devices. It also introduces system trip matrices and explains their utility for commissioning personnel. Oscillographic event report data and lessons learned are shared. Best design practices such as fiber loss calculations and fiber terminations are also shared.