Imagine an explosion forceful enough to gut a building and hot enough to vaporize metal. It sounds like a super-weapon from a science fiction movie. But it is a real thing, a real phenomenon called arc flash, and it is something that power providers need to be aware of at all times and guard against constantly. Vigilance, stringent safety measures and the installation of arc flash analysis software are all part of the constant effort made by electrical power technicians to prevent the occurrence of an arc flash.
Arc flash is one of the number one dangers faced by electrical technicians. It occurs when the electrical power within a system “sees” another path it could take and jumps out of its wires, trying to take that path. Once free, it creates more pathways of ionized air, like an invisible network of chaotic wires allowing more electricity to escape and cause destruction. This all occurs so quickly that the overflow of power explodes with tremendous force and, according to arc flash analysis software, reaches temperatures in excess of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Needless to say, arc flash is incredibly destructive. Because it moves so quickly, there is no chance to halt it midway. Arc flash can destroy millions of dollars worth of technology in mere seconds, leaving behind nothing salvageable. The heat of the blast can burn down whole buildings. It has also been the cause of terrible injuries and tragic death in the workplace on more than one occasion. Installing arc flash analysis software is about more than protecting property, it is a life-saving measure that all responsible power providers should take.
Fortunately, the signs that arc flash could be a possibility are fairly easy for a computer to spot. Arc flash analysis software is programmed to monitor the way power flows through a system and to alert technicians any time an anomaly occurs. This allows them to examine the problem and prevent disaster before it happens.
Although arc flash is a deadly and dangerous phenomenon, it really does not ever need to happen. New methods are constantly being developed to catch arch flash hazards and nip them in the bud. Computers are becoming more and more integrated into safety processes, sparing humans from dangerous situations. Arc flash analysis software provides the basis for advanced safety measures that can save hundreds of lives before they are even in any real danger.
