ABB Arc Flash Detection System (TVOC/XTD)

The ABB arc flash detection system uses a combination of optical light sensors and current measurement to detect internal arcing faults inside switchgear compartments in less than 1 millisecond, enabling ultra-fast breaker tripping that dramatically reduces arc flash incident energy compared to conventional overcurrent relay tripping alone. An internal arc flash inside MV or LV switchgear that is not cleared within 100–200 ms by conventional overcurrent protection can release 50–100 kJ of energy — enough to cause fatal burns to personnel within 1 metre and destroy the switchgear panel completely. By detecting the light flash of an arc in under 1 ms and tripping the upstream breaker within 3–5 ms total, the ABB arc flash detection system limits incident energy to levels below NFPA 70E Category 1 (1.2 cal/cm²) in most applications, making the switchgear safe to approach for operators even before the fault current is fully cleared.

The TVOC-2-IO central unit processes signals from up to nine independent protection zones, each monitored by a combination of point optical sensors (covering individual switchgear compartments) or loop optical fibre sensors (covering cable chamber and busbar zones). The current confirmation function, where a simultaneous current surge above a threshold confirms that the light event is a genuine arc fault and not an ambient light intrusion, eliminates nuisance tripping from flashlights, phone screens, or inspection lamps — a practical issue in Middle Eastern switchgear rooms where regular maintenance access is common. The central unit provides independent trip output relay contacts for each zone, allowing zone-selective arc flash clearing that trips only the breaker feeding the faulted compartment rather than the entire switchboard.

In Saudi Arabia, arc flash safety requirements are increasingly enforced through NFPA 70E, ARAMCO SAES-P-003 electrical safety program, and SABIC electrical safety standards, all of which require arc flash hazard analysis (per IEEE 1584) and risk mitigation measures on MV and LV switchgear accessible to personnel. Saudi Aramco's SAES-P-003 specifies arc flash energy limits and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for work on or near energised switchgear, and the most effective engineering control to reduce incident energy below PPE limits is an active arc flash detection system with sub-millisecond response. Hospitals, airports, and data centres across Riyadh and Jeddah specify arc flash detection systems in their new switchgear tenders following facility safety audits, and new Vision 2030 infrastructure including NEOM's primary substations includes arc flash protection as a mandatory specification item.

Razz Middle East supplies complete arc flash detection systems for new switchgear integration and retrofit onto existing LV and MV switchboards. We provide arc flash hazard analysis studies per IEEE 1584 to determine incident energy levels, sensor placement design, trip coordination with the upstream breaker, and full TVOC-2-IO commissioning and testing services across Saudi Arabia.