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.
Factors that can cause an arc flash include equipment failure, dust, dropped tools and corrosion. Injuries can be devastating, as arc flash temperatures can reach 35,000Â° F â which is 3 times hotter than the surface of the sun. An arc flash also can produce noise reaching 140 decibels â about as loud as a gunshot â and molten metal shrapnel. âArc flash is a very, very dangerous phenomenon.