Electrical Power & Protection


Prioritising arc flash safety

February 2024 Electrical Power & Protection

Comtest has developed a range of thermal imaging and wireless testing tools from Fluke, designed to ensure safety is the top priority for engineers working in potentially dangerous arc flash zones. Every company’s electrical safety strategy should be based on limiting workers’ exposure to such electrical hazards as arc flash and electrocution. Fluke says the best way to keep operators out of harm’s way is to give them access to the right non-contact tools that not only protect them, but also dramatically reduce (by up to 50%) the amount of time they are required to work on live circuits in arc flash zones.

Arc flash is the light and heat created from an arc fault explosion; temperatures can reach up to 19 000°C, and are capable of igniting an operator’s clothing and burning the skin of anyone within a couple of metres. Arc flash can also melt metal, cause lung and eyesight damage, and lead to hospitalisation or even death.

Engineers and health and safety teams will be familiar with establishing arc flash boundaries and wearing arc-rated clothing and rubber-insulating gloves. However, using non-contact test and measurement tools means operators can minimise the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required and the amount of time they need to spend inside the boundary.

One such product is Fluke’s PQ400 electrical measurement window (EMW), permanently installed into cabinets with voltage and current connections inside the panel. The PQ400 gives workers access to critical power quality and energy data while decreasing testing time and maintaining a high level of safety. Users can plug their power quality tools directly into the EMW to collect all the needed data.

Together with the safety aspect, the advantages of using the PQ400 include lower maintenance costs and reduced downtime. This is attained by making critical power quality and energy measurements without opening the panel door. The EMW also enables logging and monitoring to be done at any time without disrupting operations, while increasing measurement efficiency.

A second product, Fluke’s CV400 ClirVu window, is a permanent infrared window that provides a view of what is on the other side of a panel, without workers being exposed to live voltage or needing full PPE. It offers the most visibility into a panel for a thermal camera, simplifying the inspection process by allowing measurements to be taken without having to open a cabinet. The widest Fluke window option available also helps to reduce the time and costs involved in preventive maintenance.

Likewise, Fluke’s TiS75+ thermal camera enables operators to capture and measure heat energy emanating from a source without having to make physical contact, meaning they can see instantly what’s running too hot or too cold before anything breaks down. Offering one-handed image capture, review and save facilities, the camera helps operators keep a safe distance from an arc flash boundary. Using the Fluke Connect app allows them to compare thermal scans over time.

A fourth product, the Fluke 376 FC clamp meter, makes it possible to set up measurements and transmit the data from inside the arc flash boundary, meaning someone within 20 metres of the equipment can open the Fluke Connect app and read the figures from outside the boundary. As well as reducing the time technicians spend in the arc flash boundary, the clamp meter helps them log, trend and monitor measurements remotely so they can pinpoint intermittent faults.

Finally, the Fluke 3000FC digital multimeter is a flexible DMM allowing users to read results through the Fluke Connect app outside the arc flash boundary. Using this equipment cuts technicians’ time inside the boundary, and offers them an easy-to-read display with large digits and a bright backlight.

In summary, there is no need for engineers to put themselves in an arc blast zone if they can avoid being there. Products such as wireless and non-contact tools and remote displays can help place them as far away as possible from risk and danger, while allowing them to take accurate, instant readings that can be analysed remotely. Arc flash safety is essential, and the latest thermal imaging and wireless testing tools are the best way to offer operators maximum protection.

Product: https://bit.ly/3GosRsB


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

ACTOM Power Transformers celebrates 60+ years of engineering
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM Power Transformers is marking a major milestone with a celebratory Open Day at its Wadeville factory.

Read more...
Why your next oscilloscope should
Comtest Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
The PC-based USB oscilloscope is a cutting-edge, adaptable alternative to traditional benchtop oscilloscopes that’s redefining test and measurement.

Read more...
Comtest calibration user group seminar
Comtest News
Comtest invites metrology and calibration professionals to a focused technical seminar series aimed at demystifying some of the most common hurdles in inter-laboratory comparisons.

Read more...
Power portfolio with enhanced static transfer switch for critical applications
Electrical Power & Protection
Vertiv has launched the Vertiv PowerSwitch 7000, a next-generation static transfer switch that strengthens the company’s position as a complete power solutions provider.

Read more...
Why utilities must prioritise maintenance of SA’s remote data
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The story of power generation is more than meets the eye. Beyond energy distribution and the infrastructure are invisible, point of presence data centres located the remotest parts of our country that play a fundamental role in keeping systems running

Read more...
The house that revolutionises substations
WEG Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Traditional substations have major drawbacks in terms of their construction and resilience. One solution is the E-house, a prefabricated, customised and transportable steel structure designed to house a range of electrical and automation equipment.

Read more...
Localised inverter-integrated transformer
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM, South Africa’s largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electromechanical equipment, is launching a breakthrough in renewable energy integration with its localised inverter-integrated transform

Read more...
Steinmüller Africa integrates advanced technologies at Mondi’s boiler project
Electrical Power & Protection
Steinmüller Africa is leading a boiler project at Mondi’s Richards Bay mill. The 18-month undertaking showcases the company’s blend of engineering excellence and cutting-edge technology.

Read more...
ABB innovation for energy efficiency and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
The application of sensor technology to reduce the operational and standby power losses of traditional current and voltage transformers can lead to energy savings of 181 MWh over a 30-year period, the lifetime of a typical switchboard in the African environment.

Read more...
UPS systems are key to keeping SA’s automotive industry up and running
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
During loadshedding, PLCs and OT systems often fail, not because they are directly tied to the factory’s core manufacturing process, but because they are now an integral part of IT infrastructure. When an IT system shuts down, the impact is far more complex than simply restarting machinery.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved