Devices, systems, and methods for protection of switchgear against electrical arcs

A method of protecting an electrical component in an interior of an electrical enclosure from an arc event occurring at the electrical component, said method comprising:

• attracting, using at least one arc routing device, arc plasma generated during the arc event;
• transporting, using the at least one arc routing device, the arc plasma away from the electrical component towards an arc containment device, wherein the arc containment device is coupled to an exterior surface of the electrical enclosure;
• containing the arc plasma within the arc containment device;
• and
• transferring, using the arc containment device, electrical energy of the arc plasma to an exterior of the electrical enclosure.

A method of assembling an arc protection system for an electrical enclosure having an electrical component positioned in an interior of the electrical enclosure, said method comprising:

• positioning two busbars within the interior of the electrical enclosure;
• coupling an arc containment device to an exterior surface of the electrical enclosure, the arc containment device defining a cavity and including an electrode assembly positioned within the cavity;
• electrically coupling the electrode assembly to the two busbars;
• and
• positioning at least one arc routing device within the interior, the arc routing device having a first end proximate the electrical component and a second end proximate the arc containment device, wherein the at least one arc routing device is operative to i) attract arc plasma generated during an arc event at the electrical component, and ii) transport the arc plasma to the arc containment device.