Abstract
The purpose of this article is to evaluate techniques used in modern power systems to reduce arc flash incident energy on station service with voltage level of 480 volt, main and feeder Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers. The paper will analyze the current state of arc flash incident energy that is available located at Station Service and propose arc flash reduction technique utilizing the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) 751 relay. This paper will compare the proposed method with three different techniques that are also used in power systems and analyze reasons why the proposed technique was chosen. The SEL 751 protective relay is used to reduce the incident energy, fiber optics will be used to detect Arc Flash incidents. The relay overcurrent protective element will be enabled in conjunction with the fiber optics to detect arc flash event. The other three techniques that will be covered include; electromechanical relay, low voltage circuit breakers, and current limiting fuse. These techniques are used to reduce incident in the past, however, with the help of new advancement in technology to detect arc flash incident like microprocessor relay as proposed in this paper.