Fuses

Rewireable fuse ( kit kat fuse)

connectors
 HRC Fuses
(High Rupture Capacity)
 HRC Fuse
 The high rupturing capacity or (HRC) fuse
consists of a heat resistant ceramic body.
 Then silver or bimetallic fuse element is welded to
the end brass caps.
 Filling powder - chalk, plaster of paris, quartz or
marble dust >>>> Acts as a arc quenching and
cooling medium
Working :
• carries normal current without heating
• When fault occurs, current increases, heat
produces and fuse element melts.
• Chemical reaction between silver vapour and
filling powder results in formation of high arc
resistance – arc gets quenched easily
Advantages :
 Clears high as well low fault current
 Doesn't deteriorate with age
 high speed of operation
 no maintenance
 consistent performance
 provide reliable discrimination
Disadvantages
 To be replaced with new one after each
operation
 Heat Produced by arc affects associated switches
HRC fuse links
 HRC fuse with tripping device
• Body is made up of ceramic material with
metallic cap at each end
• No of silver elements are connected to this
• At one end plunger is connected thru a weak
link , chemical charge and tungsten wire
Working:
• Fault occurs silver fuse elements first blow off
• Current is transferred to the tungsten wire
HRC fuse with tripping device
• Weak link blows off
• chemical charge get detonated ( cause to
explode)
• causes plunger outward to operate the circuit
breaker
Advantages :
Single phasing
Less expensive breaker

Low voltage fuses are built with breaking capacity

of 16 kA to 30 KA at 440V, used in distribution
systems for over load and short circuit protection
 High Voltage Fuses
Cartridge type:
 Fuse element is totally
enclosed in an insulating
container.
 The insulating container is a
cylindrical shaped sealed
from both ends with
metallic caps.
 Fuse element is connected
from one end cap to other
end cap internally and the
space around the fuse
element is filled up with
filling powder
Similar in construction as low voltage cartridge fuse
 special design features are incorporated
 avoid corona effects at higher voltage
 two fuse elements in parallel ( one of low resistance i.e.
silver and other of high resistance i.e. tungsten)

• Under normal conditions low resistance element carries

current
• during fault condition, low resistance element blows off
• abnormal current is limited by high resistance element
and finally breaks the circuit
 Used upto 33 kV & Breaking capacity is 8700A , Rated
current 200A
 Liquid Type
• consists of glass tube
filled with carbon
tetrachloride and sealed
at both ends with brass
caps
• One end of the fuse wire
is sealed to one end of
the tube
• Other end of fuse wire is
connected with strong
phosphor bronze spiral
spring and fitted to other
end of glass tube
Working:
• Under abnormal condition, fuse element melts
• Spring retracts (withdraw or draw back) part of it
thru a baffle ( liquid director) (regulates liquid)
• The gas generated during melting of fuse
element forces the liquid into the passage thru
baffle
• The arc is effectively extinguished
Rated current 100 A at 132 kV systems. Breaking
capacity 6100A
Metal clad fuses Drop out fuse:
• Metal clad oil immersed Fuse drops when
fuses were developed abnormal current flows
as a substitute for oil
circuit breakers.
• They operate
satisfactorily under fault
conditions in high
voltage circuits.
 Discrimination between fuses

 If a fault occurs at point Z, the 100 A fuse will operate and

whole system is disconnected
 If the fault is at X, the 10 A fuse should operate and not the
30 A or 100 A fuses
 A fault at Y should operate the 30 A, and not the 100 A
fuse.
If it happens as mentioned above implies, the system has
discriminated properly.
 Discrimination between fuse & fuse

 If fault ‘F’ occurs beyond B then fuse B should

operate and A should be inoperative

 To achieve this the Pre-arcing time of fuse A should

be more than total operating time of fuse B

 This is called proper discrimination

Fuse Circuit Breaker
Detects & interrupts the fault Only interrupts , detection is
current done using relay circuit
Operation is inherently Not automatic, needs relay
automatic circuit
Breaking capacity is less More
Operating time is less and Operating time is more and
operating speed is high operating speed is
comparatively less
Arc interruption is simple Complicated
After every operation needs No need
replacement
Simple design & cheap Complicated & expensive
 Isolators
• A switch intended for isolating /de-energizing
an electric circuit for service or maintenance
• Isolators are connected on either side of CB
• Isolators are always operated on no-load
During maintenance
first CB is opened later Isolator is opened
After maintenance work
first isolator is closed and CB is closed
Vertical Horizontal

Horizontal
Isolator with earthing switch
Single line diagram
Load Breaking switch
 Load Breaking switch
• It combines the functions of Isolator and switch
• capable of making and breaking the circuits at
normal load current
• Also called as Load interrupting switch or load
disconnecting switch
• Load breaking switch along with HRC fuse can
tackle high fault currents
• Modern switches provide compact, instant
opening /closing with rolling or friction contact