Method for predicting arc flash energy and PPE category within a real-time monitoring system

1. A computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, the method comprising:

synchronizing a virtual system model of the electrical power system with a real-time model of the electrical power system in real-time based on real-time data from the electrical power system when a difference between the real-time data and predicted data generated using the virtual system model exceeds a threshold;

modifying the virtual system model of the electrical power system to introduce a short circuiting feature to an uninterrupted power supply bypass circuit branch;

choosing a standard to supply equations used in the arc flash event calculations;

simulating the arc flash event utilizing the modified virtual system model;

calculating a quantity of arc energy released by the arc flash event using results from the simulation; and

communicating a report that forecasts an aspect of the arc flash event.

2. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc flash event is an alternating current arc flash event.

3. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the standard applied is IEEE 1584.

4. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 3 , wherein the calculation of the quantity of arc energy released includes:

determining bolted fault current values for the electrical system;

determining a system voltage level for the electrical system;

identifying an equipment classification for a protective device impacted by the arc flash event;

calculating a first arcing current value and a second arcing current value, wherein the second arcing current value is 15 percent (%) less than the first arcing current value;

performing a time-current curve analysis for the first arcing current value and the second arcing current value to respectively determine a first fault clearing time and a second fault clearing time for the protective device;

calculating a first arcing energy quantity using the first arc current value and the first fault clearing time;

calculating a second arcing energy quantity using the second arc current value and the second fault clearing time; and

selecting a larger of the first arcing energy quantity and the second arcing energy quantity as the quantity of arc energy released by the protective device.

5. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the standard applied is NFPA 70E.

6. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 5 , wherein the calculation of the quantity of arc energy released includes:

determining bolted fault current values for the electrical system;

determining a system voltage level for the electrical system;

identifying an equipment classification for a protective device impacted by the arc flash event; and

predicting the required PPE level as per Table 130.7(C)(9)(a) of NFPA 70E.

7. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the forecasted aspect is an arc flash protection boundary around a component within the electrical system.

8. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 7 , wherein the component is a protective device.

9. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 8 , wherein the protective device is a circuit breaker.

10. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 8 , wherein the protective device is a fuse.

11. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 8 , wherein the protective device is a relay.

12. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the forecasted aspect is a level of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by personnel operating around components of the electrical system.

13. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the level of PPE is based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E classification categories.

14. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 13 , wherein the NFPA 70E classification categories is selected from a group consisting of Category 0, Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, and Category 4.

15. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 14 , wherein Category 0 denotes that the PPE must withstand minimum incident energy of 1.2 Cal/cm 2 .

16. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 14 , wherein Category 1 denotes that the PPE must withstand minimum incident energy of 4 Cal/ cm 2 .

17. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 14 , wherein Category 2 denotes that the PPE must withstand minimum incident energy of 8 Cal/ cm 2 .

18. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 14 , wherein Category 3 denotes that the PPE must withstand minimum incident energy of 25 Cal/cm 2 .

19. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 14 , wherein Category 4 denotes that the PPE must withstand minimum incident energy of 40 Cal/cm 2 .

20. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the report is communicated using graphics rendered on a terminal display.

21. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the report is communicated using text rendered on a terminal display.

22. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the report is communicated by way of synthesized speech generated by a client terminal.

23. The computer-implemented method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system, as recited in claim 1 , further including:

creating arc flash labels displaying the forecasted aspect.