A unique product conceptualized and
designed by scientists at GE Global
Research is earning high praise from industry
leaders for its ability to shield industrial -
workers from explosive and deadly arcing
current. Recently, Plant Engineering
magazine named GE's Arc Vault its 'Product
of the Year."
Conceptualized at the company's India
Technology Center by Asokan T, a Chief
Scientist at the Center, the Arc Vault
represents a breakthrough in the area of
electrical safety. It can stop and contain a
lethal arcing fault in less than eight
milliseconds that is as much as 10 times
faster than conventional methods. This has
resulted in lives saved and equipment being
spared significant damage. Statistics show
arcing current is not only a dangerous
problem, but a costly one for
manufacturers. According to engineering
services company, ESA, there are as many
as 10 incidents daily at plants in the US
resulting in losses of $1
billion annually.
"Arcing fault in
electric systems is a
major electrical hazard
in the world. The critical
factors for arc fault
protection are speed and
reliability," says Chief
Scientist, T. Asokan, who
was recently made an
IEEE fellow for his
contributions to the
development of
innovative technologies
for electrical safety and
protection. "GE's arc vault
technology deviates from
conventional methods to achieve even
faster responses to stop and contain
dangerous arcing current. I am delighted
to see GE's technology recognized so
highly by the end users."
The Arc Vault works by isolating
the open or exposed arc and
containing it. The system consists
of an activation switch, a protective
trip unit and a containment dome,
all working together to provide fast
protection from arc flash hazards.
With the activation switch
enabled, the trip unit will
look for a current spike,
and if necessary, trigger
the containment dome and
call for the main breaker to
trip - stopping the deadly
current before it can result in
widespread explosion or fire. A
secondary arc fault is created
within the containment dome,
which can extinguish the arc flash almost
instantly. The secondary arc flash continues,
protected in the containment dome, until the
main breaker clears and de-energizes the
entire system.