Learn How ETAP AC Arc Flash Analysis determines the PPE for Workers in the Datacenter Network

The calculation utilized the latest standard, NFPA 70E—2021, and the IEEE 1584-2018 application guide, which is available in ETAP software. The arc flash calculation was customized by considering the accurate enclosure dimensions of MV and LV switchgear and panelboards. The study allowed us to highlight AFIE levels exceeding 40 cal/cm² at the main LV switchboards.
by Mr. Pierre Claudel, Power System Engineer and Expertise coordinator for Europe at Schneider Electric

Ensuring safety maintenance in Data Centers is a crucial topic that electrical designers must calculate and address. Over the past years, preventing arc flash hazards on industrial sites in Europe has received growing attention, unfortunately, motivated by the deadly occurrences of arc flash fatalities worldwide. In Europe, arc flash hazard analysis has become an essential safety factor in the industry's electrical safety policies, as fundamental as the prevention of electrical shock hazards, which has already been implemented in site electrical safety policies for decades.

Schneider Electric is a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation, and digitization to innovative industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored in deep domain expertise, they provide integrated, end-to-end AI-enabled Industrial IoT solutions, featuring connected products, automation, software, and services, which deliver digital twins to enable profitable growth for customers. A company with an ecosystem of 168,000 employees and over a million partners operating in more than 100 countries ensures proximity to its customers and stakeholders.

Location: Italy

Year: 2022

Ensure safety maintenance in new Data Center in Italy, powered by 132/15kV distribution network

Challenges

  • Modeling the distribution network based on equipment data collection, location, temperatures, etc.  
  • Flash Hazards Analysis on a new data center building using the latest NFPA and IEEE Standards.
  • Finding and setting recommendations for data center workers to ensure safety.
  • Conducting feasibility studies about scenarios using UPS, batteries, and distribution networks to mitigate arc flash incidents and ensure protection coordination.

Which solutions did they choose?

Selected applications

They chose the ETAP game of software with Load Flow, Short Circuit, Arc Flash, and ETAP Digital-Twin Modeling as a first solution to analyze, calculate and set recommendations. 

ETAP ensured compliance with all needed electrical standards for designing and calculating arc flash incidents in Data Centers.

Why do they use ETAP?

Main Customer Benefits

  • Easy data center digital modeling with the grid system, transformers, switchboards, switchgear, busbars, batteries, UPS, etc.
  • Easy management of different scenarios by adding or deleting electrical equipment symbols.
  • Highlighting of Arc Flash Incident Energy (AFIE) levels exceeding 40 cal/cm² at the main LV switchboards. Any work should be prohibited at this location.
  • Safety procedures for handling have been tightened. Setting the new working distance to greater than 1m and adjusting the protection settings to reduce AFIE. 
  • The installation of the additional equipment (Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch) will ensure that the risk is minimal when the operator performs field maintenance.

What do they think about ETAP?

Opinions

The network modeling is performed using ETAP software version 20.6. It is based on a comprehensive data collection phase, which gathers all the necessary input data to conduct the study accurately.
By Mr. Pierre Claudel, Power System Engineer at Schneider Electric

The study's use of ETAP recommends that maintenance operators use personal protective equipment (PPE) with minimum arc thermal performance values (ATPV) when performing activities involving arc flash risks at various working locations within the network. Knowledge of maintenance operation procedures is fundamental to better assessing the likelihood of occurrence.
By Mr. Pierre Claudel, Power System Engineer at Schneider Electric



Videos

AC Arc Flash Analysis for a Datacenter Network in Italy to determine the PPE for Workers using ETAP

Arc Flash Analysis was performed on a new datacenter building in Italy, calculating Incident Energy and Arc Flash Boundaries at several locations, from the main 15kV distribution switch gears down to the main LV distribution switchboard and diversionary panel boards in each segment. The studies were performed using ETAP Arc Flash software to identify the correct personal protection equipment (PPE) for engineering staff during maintenances operations. Standards applied include: NFPA 70E-2021, IEEE 1584-2018, IEC 60909 (2016).


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