Introduction

In today's complex electrical environments, ensuring personnel safety and optimizing system performance are paramount. Arc flash incidents pose severe risks, causing devastating injuries and significant equipment damage, necessitating accurate hazard assessment and mitigation. Simultaneously, maintaining a reliable and efficient power system requires precise load flow analysis to prevent overloading, voltage drops, and power quality issues. SKM PowerTools is an industry-leading software suite specifically designed to address these critical needs. It provides comprehensive capabilities for modeling electrical systems, performing detailed arc flash calculations, and conducting robust load flow studies, among other analyses. Its intuitive interface and powerful algorithms enable engineers to identify potential hazards, optimize system designs, and ensure compliance with relevant safety standards (e.g., NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584). Without proficiency in SKM PowerTools for Arc Flash and Load Studies, electrical professionals face significant challenges in accurately assessing risks, making informed design decisions, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of their electrical infrastructure, highlighting the indispensable need for specialized training in this powerful software. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master SKM PowerTools for Arc Flash and Load Studies.

This training course is meticulously designed to empower electrical engineers, safety professionals, design consultants, facility managers, and technical staff with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to effectively utilize SKM PowerTools for Arc Flash and Load Studies. Participants will gain hands-on experience in building and managing electrical system models, performing various types of analyses, interpreting simulation results, and generating comprehensive reports for both safety and operational optimization. The course will delve into topics such as creating one-line diagrams, performing short-circuit analysis as a prerequisite for arc flash, calculating incident energy and arc flash boundaries, designing protective device coordination schemes, conducting detailed load flow studies for voltage drop and losses, and utilizing advanced modules for motor starting and transient stability analysis. By mastering the principles and practical application of SKM PowerTools for Arc Flash and Load Studies, participants will be prepared to enhance workplace safety, improve system reliability and efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and contribute significantly to the proactive management of electrical risks.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Electrical Engineers
• Power System Designers and Consultants
• Safety Professionals (Electrical Focus)
• Plant Electrical Engineers
• Maintenance Engineers and Supervisors
• Consulting Engineers
• Design Engineers
• Utility Engineers (Distribution/Industrial)
• Electrical Technicians (with design/analysis responsibilities)
• Anyone involved in electrical safety, design, and analysis.

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of arc flash hazards and mitigation.
• Learn to navigate the SKM PowerTools interface and manage projects effectively.
• Acquire skills in building detailed electrical system models in SKM PowerTools.
• Comprehend techniques for performing comprehensive short-circuit analysis for fault calculations.
• Explore strategies for calculating arc flash incident energy and boundaries according to IEEE 1584.
• Understand the process of generating arc flash warning labels and reports.
• Gain insights into protective device coordination as it impacts arc flash.
• Develop a practical understanding of Load Flow Analysis for voltage, current, and losses.
• Learn to perform motor starting analysis and its impact on voltage.
• Master demand load analysis and sizing for efficient system design.
• Acquire skills in utilizing the comprehensive library of SKM PowerTools.
• Understand the application of ground grid analysis for safety.
• Explore transient stability studies for dynamic system behavior.
• Develop proficiency in generating and interpreting professional reports from SKM studies.
• Prepare to apply SKM PowerTools for optimizing electrical safety, design, and performance.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to SKM PowerTools and Electrical Safety Fundamentals

• Overview of SKM PowerTools suite and its various modules.
• Importance of electrical safety: arc flash, shock, electrocution.
• Introduction to NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 standards.
• Navigating the SKM PowerTools environment: project manager, one-line diagrams.
• Setting up new projects and basic data entry.

Module 2: Building the Electrical System Model in SKM PowerTools

• Creating a one-line diagram: buses, circuit breakers, switches, transformers, motors.
• Utilizing the comprehensive device library and customizing equipment data.
• Connecting components and defining system topology.
• Data input for utility source, generators, and loads.
• Verification and validation of the electrical model.

Module 3: Short-Circuit Analysis Fundamentals

• Principles of short-circuit calculations (symmetrical and asymmetrical faults).
• Understanding X/R ratios and their impact.
• Setting up and running short-circuit studies in SKM PowerTools.
• Analyzing fault current magnitudes at various locations.
• Interpreting results for equipment withstand ratings.

Module 4: Arc Flash Analysis (IEEE 1584)

• Detailed understanding of arc flash phenomena, incident energy, and arc flash boundary.
• Review of IEEE 1584 methodology for calculating incident energy.
• Setting up and running arc flash studies in SKM PowerTools.
• Analyzing results: incident energy levels, PPE categories, flash protection boundary.
• Considerations for bolted vs. arcing fault calculations.

Module 5: Arc Flash Hazard Mitigation and Labeling

• Strategies for arc flash hazard reduction: protective device adjustments, current limiting devices.
• Implementing engineering and administrative controls.
• Generating arc flash warning labels directly from SKM PowerTools.
• Understanding label content requirements (e.g., voltage, incident energy, PPE, boundaries).
• Compliance with NFPA 70E labeling requirements.

Module 6: Protective Device Coordination

• Principles of protective device coordination: selectivity, speed, reliability.
• Setting up and plotting Time Current Characteristic (TCC) curves for relays, fuses, and circuit breakers.
• Analyzing coordination plots to identify miscoordination.
• Optimizing protective device settings for proper coordination and arc flash reduction.
• Impact of arc duration on incident energy.

Module 7: Load Flow Analysis (Voltage Drop & Power Factor)

• Principles of load flow analysis: determining voltage profiles, power flows, losses, and power factor.
• Setting up and running load flow studies in SKM PowerTools.
• Analyzing voltage drops, current loading on equipment, and system losses.
• Identifying overloaded components and low voltage buses.
• Remedial actions for voltage and loading issues.

Module 8: Demand Load Analysis and Sizing

• Understanding various load types and diversity factors.
• Performing demand load calculations for electrical systems.
• Sizing transformers, feeders, and main protective devices based on demand loads.
• Utilizing SKM's demand load modules for code compliance.
• Optimizing equipment sizing for efficiency and cost.

Module 9: Motor Starting Analysis

• Impact of large motor starting on system voltage and other connected loads.
• Setting up and running static and dynamic motor starting studies.
• Analyzing voltage dip, motor acceleration time, and starting current.
• Mitigation techniques for excessive voltage dip (e.g., soft starters, VFDs).
• Ensuring proper motor protection during starting.

Module 10: Ground Grid Analysis (Optional Module/Overview)

• Importance of grounding for safety and system protection.
• Principles of ground grid design according to IEEE Std. 80.
• Introduction to SKM's Ground Grid Analysis module.
• Calculating step and touch potentials.
• Optimizing ground grid design for safety and cost effectiveness.

Module 11: Reliability Analysis (Optional Module/Overview)

• Introduction to power system reliability concepts and metrics (SAIDI, SAIFI).
• Basic principles of reliability analysis in SKM PowerTools.
• Identifying critical components and single points of failure.
• Analyzing the impact of component failures on system reliability.
• Strategies for improving system reliability.

Module 12: Harmonic Analysis (Optional Module/Overview)

• Understanding harmonics in power systems: sources, effects, standards (IEEE 519).
• Introduction to harmonic analysis studies in SKM PowerTools.
• Identifying harmonic sources and propagation.
• Analyzing harmonic distortion levels (THD, TDD).
• Mitigation of harmonics: filters, active power conditioners.

Module 13: Transient Stability Analysis (Optional Module/Overview)

• Principles of power system transient stability.
• Modeling generators, exciters, and governors for dynamic studies.
• Simulating fault conditions and system disturbances.
• Analyzing generator rotor angle, voltage, and frequency response.
• Overview of SKM's Transient Stability module capabilities.

Module 14: Data Management, Reporting, and Customization

• Importing and exporting data in SKM PowerTools.
• Creating custom libraries and templates.
• Generating comprehensive study reports: one-line diagrams, result summaries, plots.
• Customizing report templates and output formats.
• Presenting study results effectively for various stakeholders.

Module 15: Advanced Case Studies and Troubleshooting

• Real-world case studies demonstrating SKM PowerTools application in various industries.
• Troubleshooting common power system problems using SKM analysis.
• Best practices for model validation and accuracy.
• Integrating SKM with other engineering tools.
• Future trends in power system analysis and electrical safety.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.