In 1823, Samuel Brown patented the first internal combustion engine to be applied industrially. Father Eugenio Barsanti, was an Italian engineer, who together with Felice Matteucci of Florence invented the first real internal combustion engine in 1853.
Arc flash hazard as defined by the NFPA 70E: âa dangerous condition associated with the release of energy by an electric arcâ. Broken down to its components, we get: Arc: current flowing through air, caused either by human error or faulty equipment. Flash: release of energy including a bright flash of light. Hazard: the danger posed to personnel in the vicinity of the arc. Equipment and work methods are designed and used to separate personnel from live conducting parts by barriers and well-maintained equipment has a very low chance of spontaneously causing electric arcs. As such, arc flash incidents are rare.
When they do occur most often changes are made to the system through switching or work in the vicinity of live conducting parts. These are moments when personnel are likely to be in the electrical room or even working at the switchgear where an arc flash occurs. Arc flash therefore poses a hazard to personnel due to the nature of the causes. Air has very poor electrical conductance, so it is not easy to establish a current through it.