Fuses

Fuses

Will this
work in theory?
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Fuses
The most basic overcurrent
protective element on the
system is a fuse.
Fuses are relatively
inexpensive and maintenancefree.
They are generally used in
large numbers on most utility
distribution systems to protect
individual transformers and
feeder branches (lateral
branches).

Typical overhead line fused cutout

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Fuses
Simple, reliable, economic protection device
Combines actions of relays and circuit breakers in one
A metallic element melts and physically opens a circuit if
currents are too high (an over-/excess current device)
Single action only
Has an inverse time characteristic (i.e. operates faster the
higher the current)
Operates very fast (sub-cycle) for high short circuit levels
(and thus can act as fault current limiters see next slides)
Usually used on local distributors

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 fuses 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
curve
Minimum
melting curve

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:

Fuses - types
Re-wireable Type - Fusible wire
The most commonly used fuse in 'house wiring' and small

current circuit is rewireable fuse. It consist of a porcelain

base carrying the fixed contacts to which the incoming and
out going live or phase wires are connected and a porcelain
fuse carrier holding the fuse element, consisting of one or
more strands of fuse wire, stretched between its terminals.
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.
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1-Rewireable type Fuses

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.
Though 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 but suffers
from following disadvantages:

Unreliable Operations
Advantage - Fail safe

Lack of Discrimination.
Small time lag
Low rupturing capacity.
No current limiting feature.
Slow speed of operations.
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2-Cartridges Type Fuse

Silver element enclosed in a barrel of insulating material

(sometimes filled with quartz sand) and is provided with
metal contacts on both sides. These fuses are further
classified as:
1.
2.

D- Type Cartridges Fuses .

Link type Cartridge or High Rupturing Capacity
(HRC)

2-Cartridges Type Fuse

2.1 D- Type Cartridges Fuses
It is a non interchangeable fuse comprising a fuse base,
adapter ring, cartridge and a fuse cap. The cartridge is
pushed in the fuse cap and the cap is screwed on the
fuse base. On complete screwing the cartridge tip
touches the conductor and circuit between the two
terminals is completed through the fuse link.
D-type cartridge fuse have none of the drawbacks of
the rewireable fuses. Their operation is reliable.
Coordination and discrimination to a reasonable extent
and achieved with them.
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2.1 D- Type Cartridges Fuses

Cartridges Type Fuse

Advantages:
Fault energy contained by insulating tube

Sealed hence does not deteriorate as fast as open type

Quartz sand absorbs energy and melts across ionized
metal path to quench arc
Faster and can handle very high currents up to 100 kA

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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 J & P Drop out fuses Expulsion Type

Used on rural O/H lines
Drops out when blown allowing easy identification of
blown circuit from ground level

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General Benefits & Limitations

Benefits:
Serves two purposes: fault detector and interrupter
Main virtue - SPEED
Limitations:
Can only detect overcurrent faults
Fixed current/time characteristic
Needs replacing after operating
Use for LV & MV applications (up to 66kV)

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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" mixedup 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 current that a fuse is
able to interrupt without being destroyed or causing an electric arc with
unacceptable duration
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Energy Let Through

Energy let through basically refers to the energy let
into the circuit till fusing and its value is proportional
to I2 t
Fuses can limit this energy by fusing very quickly usually under cycle
Circuit breakers can take up to 10 cycles (10 20ms
= 200 ms) to open i.e. 40 times more energy is
released into the fault !! (compared to a fuse which
breaks the current flow in cycle)

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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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