Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Feilat
Electrical Engineering Department
School of Engineering
The University of Jordan
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Fuses
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Fuse Characteristics -TCC (Time-Current Curves)
Each fuse is usually defined by the two characteristic curves shown. These
curves are called:
Minimum melting curve (pre-arcing): The lowest current that will melt the
fuse’s fusible element at a specified time and under specified conditions.
Total clearing curve: The time that elapses from the initiation of a current
that will melt the element to the final interruption of the circuit.
Total Clearing
Time Curve
Total clearing
Minimum curve
melting curve
Minimum Melting
Time Curve
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Fuses
The fundamental purpose of fuses is to operate on
permanent faults and isolate (sectionalize) the faulted
section from the sound portion of the feeder
Fuses detect overcurrent by melting the fuse element,
which generally is made of a metal such as tin or silver.
This initiates some sort of arcing action that will lead to
the interruption of the current. There are two basic kinds
of fuse technologies used in power systems:
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Types of Fuses
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1-Rewireable Type Fuses
The fuse carrier is a separate part and can be taken out or
inserted in the base without risk, even without opening the
main switch. If fuse holder or carrier gets damaged during
use, it may be replaced without replacing the complete
unit
On occurrence of a fault, the fuse element blows off and
the circuit is interrupted. The fuse carrier is pulled out, the
blown out fuse element is replaced by new one and the
supply can is resorted by re-inserting the fuse carrier in
the base.
Such fuses have the advantage of easy removal or
replacement without any danger of coming into the
contact with a live part and negligible replacement cost.
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2-Cartridges Type Fuse
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2-Cartridges Type Fuse
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2.2 Link type Cartridge Fuse
High Rupturing Capacity (HRC)
♦ Where large number of concentrations of powers are
concerned, as in the modern distribution system, it is
essential that fuses should have a definite known breaking
capacity and also this breaking capacity should have a
high value.
♦ High rupturing capacity cartridge fuse, commonly called
HRC cartridge fuses , have been designed and developed
with fusing factor of 1.45.
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2.2 -Link-Type HRC Fuse
(High Rupturing Capacity)
Encapsulated fuse with multiple elements to contain and
cool explosion. Allows higher ratings and voltages.
Used at low voltage and up to about 22kV
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Special Fuse Types
2.3 Striker pin fuses
Used on MV and LV circuits
Ensures single phasing does not occur on motor circuits
When fuse blows a pin ejects out of the cartridge end and strikes a tripping
mechanism - tripping all three phases.
2.4 Drop out fuses –Expulsion Type
Used on rural O/H lines (LV & MV applications up to 66kV)
Drops out when blown allowing easy identification of blown circuit from
ground level
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BS 88:1952
•The BS88 HRC fuse consists of a specially shaped silver element totally
enclosed in a heat proof body which is filled with very fine grains of quartz.
•The quartz holds the element in place - even while melting - ensures rapid
arc extinction. The element is connected to two tinned brass end caps
incorporating fixing lugs as shown above
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BS 88:1952
This British Standard lays down:
Limits for Temperature rise
Fusing factor = Minimum fusing current = 1.4
Rated cont. current
Breaking capacity
Fusing Current: The current at which the fuse melts and opens the circuit in
the time stipulated by the wiring rules. Do not get "fusing current" mixed-up
with "rated current" which is the current that the fuse can carry indefinitely.
The ratio between the two is usually called the "fusing factor".
The breaking capacity or interrupting capacity is the maximum short
circuit current a fuse can safely blow without a catastrophic failure such as a
fire, breakage or explosion
For a round wire, the approximate relationship between
fusing current I and diameter d of the wire is I k d 3
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Fuse Applications
Types of circuits to be protected:
Those with non varying loads - Normally protect against over load as well
as short circuit.
Those with widely varying loads e.g. motors with high inrush compared to
normal rating, cranes, etc - Here fuses generally protect against short circuit
only.
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Details Required for Fuse selection
2. Voltage of circuit
- These details will help in deciding the prospective current under fault
conditions.
3. Full load current
- Required to coordinate under normal and short circuit conditions.
4. Degree of overcurrent protection needed
- Same as Fusing Factor and can vary from 1.25 to 1.6.
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General rules for Fuse selection
Capacitors
- choose 1.25 pu of full load current
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General rules for Fuse selection
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Motor Fuse Selection
Inrush period= 10 S
IFL= 83 A
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Fuse Location
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