ASANSOL INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT – POLYTECHNIC

ASANSOL

2.1 Basic fuse terminology: fuse element, rated current, fusing current, fusing factor, prospective current, cut-
off current, arcing time, rupturing capacity, total operating time. Fuse Characteristics

2.1.1 HRC fuses – construction, types, working, characteristics, selection and applications

2.2 Isolators- vertical break, horizontal break & pantograph type

Pre test

1. What is a fuse?

2. What is the Isolator and what is the role of Isolator in power system?

3. What is the full form of HRC fuse?

Introduction:The switchgear equipment is essentially concerned with switching and interrupting currents either
under normal or abnormal operating conditions. Fuse is invented in 1890 by Edison, it is the cheapest form of
protection against excessive currents. The tumbler switch with ordinary fuse is the simplest form of switchgear
and is used to control and protect lights and other equipment in homes, offices etc. For circuits of higher rating,
a high-rupturing capacity (H.R.C.) fuse in conjunction with a switch may serve the purpose of controlling and
protecting the circuit.
Main body:

A fuse is a short piece of metal wire, inserted series in the circuit, which melts when excessive current flows
through it and thus breaks the circuit and prevents the electrical devices from damage.

Fuse element:

The fuse element is generally made of materials having low melting point, high conductivity and least
deterioration due to oxidation e.g., silver, copper etc..

Rated current:

It is the current which the fuse element can normally carry without overheating or melting.

Fusing current:

It is the minimum current at which the fuse element melts and thus disconnects the circuit protected by it.
Obviously, its value will be more than the current rating of the fuse element. The approximate relationship
between fusing current I and diameter d of the wire is I = k d3/2 where k is a constant, called the fuse constant.

Fusing factor: It is the ratio of minimum fusing current to the current rating of the fuse element i.e.

Fusing factor = Minimum fusing current /Current rating of fuse .Its value is always more than one.
prospective current- It is the r.m.s. value of the first loop of the fault current obtained if the fuse is replaced by
an ordinary conductor of negligible resistance. Fig shows how a.c. current is cut off by a fuse. The fault current
would normally have a very large first loop, but it actually generates sufficient energy to melt the fuse able
element well before the peak of this first loop is reached. The r.m.s. value of the first loop of fault current is
known as prospective current.

Cut off current-

It is the maximum value of fault current actually reached before the fuse melts.

Pre-arcing time. It is the time between the commencement of fault and the instant when cut off occurs.

Arcing time-

This is the time between the end of pre-arcing time and the instant when the arc is extinguished.

Total operating time. It is the sum of pre-arcing and arcing times.

Braking capacity: It is the r.m.s. value of a.c. component of maximum prospective current that a fuse can deal
with at rated service voltage.

Fuse characteristics:
It is inserted in series with the circuit to be protected. Under normal operating conditions, the fuse element is at
a temperature below its melting point. Therefore, it carries the normal current without overheating. However,
when a short-circuit or overload occurs, the current through the fuse increases beyond its rated value. This
raises the temperature and fuse element melts (or blows out), disconnecting the circuit protected by it. In this
way, a fuse protects the machines and equipment from damage due to excessive current.

The time required to blow out the fuse depends upon the magnitude of excessive current. The greater the
current, the smaller is the time taken by the fuse to blow out. In other words, a fuse has inverse time-current
characteristics as shown in the above Fig. Such a characteristic permits its use for over current protection.

Desirable Characteristics of Fuse Element :

The function of a fuse is to carry the normal current without overheating but when the current exceeds its
normal value, it rapidly heats up to melting point and disconnects the circuit protected by it. In order that it may
perform this function satisfactorily, the fuse element should have the following desirable characteristics :

(i) low melting point e.g., tin, lead. (ii) high conductivity e.g., silver, copper. (iii) free from deterioration due to
oxidation e.g., silver. (iv) low cost e.g., lead, tin, copper.

HRC(High rupturing capacity) fuses

Construction:

Fig. below shows the essential parts of a typical H.R.C. cartridge fuse. It consists of a heat resisting ceramic
body having metal end-caps to which is welded silver current-carrying element. The space within the body
surrounding the element is completely packed with a filling powder. The filling material may be chalk, plaster
of paris, quartz or marble dust and acts as an arc quenching and cooling medium.

Under normal load conditions, the fuse element is at a temperature below its melting point. Therefore, it carries
the normal current without overheating. When a fault occurs, the current increases and the fuse element melts
before the fault current reaches its first peak. The heat produced in the process vapourizes the melted silver
element. The chemical reaction between the silver vapour and the filling powder results in the formation of a
high resistance substance which helps in quenching the arc.

Advantages (i) They are capable of clearing high as well as low fault currents. (ii) They do not deteriorate with
age. (iii) They have high speed of operation. (iv) They provide reliable discrimination. (v) They require no
maintenance. (vi) They are cheaper than other circuit interrupting devices of equal breaking capacity. (vii) They
 permit consistent performance. Disadvantages (i) They have to be replaced after each operation. (ii) Heat
produced by the arc may affect the associated switches.

Types of HRC fuse:

• NH Fuse
• Din type
• Blade contact

Types of HRC fuse

NH Type H.R.C Fuse:
NH fuse provides overload and short circuit protection for low and medium voltage. They provide backup
protection to motor starters and other equipment against short circuit and overload. They are light in weight
with compact dimension.
Din Type HRC Fuse:
These types of fuses are available for different voltages level and can be used in transformer protection even
where there is no backup protection. They have excellent clearing capability of ideal low over current with
short-circuit performance. Other uses and application of DIN fuses are in air and gas insulated switchgear,
mining, transformers and Feeder sectionalizing.
Blade Type HRC fuse:
This type of fuses comes in plastic body and two metal caps to fit in the socket. Mostly, they used in
automobiles for wiring and short circuit protection. They are light in weight. It contains low cutoff current.
They are also used for short circuit and backup protection of motors. They are available in different sizes and
shapes with different current rating capacity, which print on the top.
Application of H.R.C fuses:
• Used for protection of Transformers, Motors and automobile, etc.
• It is also used in motor stators
• Backup protection
Characteristics of HRC fuse-

Characteristics of HRC is fuse is same as above as shown in the figure.

HRC fuse has inverse time characteristics. This type of characteristics is useful for over current protection.
Under normal operating conditions the current flowing through the Fuse element does not provide enough
energy to melt the element. The heat produced is absorbed by the surrounding filling powder. If a large current
flows the energy produced melts and vaporizes the fuse element before the fault current reaches the peak. The
chemical reaction between the fuse element vapour and filling powder results into high resistance material
which helps in extinguishing the arc.

Isolators: Isolator is a mechanical switch which isolates a part of circuit from system as when
required. Electrical isolators separate a part of the system from rest for safe maintenance works. Here one can
see open condition of the section of the circuit before touching the electrical circuit. Isolators are used to open a
circuit under no load. Its main purpose is to isolate one portion of the circuit from the other and is not intended
to be opened while current is flowing in the line. Isolators are generally used on both ends of the breaker in
order that repair or replacement of circuit breaker can be done without and danger.

Types of Electrical Isolators

There are different types of isolators available depending upon system requirement such as

1. Double Break Isolator

2. Single Break Isolator-
3. Pantograph type Isolator.
Single and double break isolators refers to the number of places in which the switch opens or breaks the
circuit. A double-break switch means the switch breaks the circuit in two places (at both terminals).
Vertical break type isolator:

The vertical break disconnector consists of three poles. Each pole consists of a frame, one rotating insulator and
two support insulators on which the main blade is mounted. The frame is made of a square tube on which the
insulators are mounted. The bearing housing for the rotating insulator is also mounted in this frame. The bearing
housing is sealed and filled up with grease, to ensure a long lifetime. All steel parts of the disconnector are hot-
dip galvanized. The disconnectors can be equipped with insulators in accordance with IEC, ANSI or DIN
specifications.
The main blade is made of an aluminum tube, which has silver-plated copper contacts at both the hinge end and
the jaw end. During closing of the disconnector, the main blade makes a double movement: First, the blade is
lowered so that it reaches full horizontal position and then the main blade rotates so that contact pressure is
applied to both the hinge end and the jaw end of the disconnector.
 Horizontal type isolator:

Construction:

The rotating isolator has triple pole construction and shall be suitable for Horizontal upright mounting. Each
pole consist of galvanized steel base, post type insulators of reputed make, EC grade copper fixed and moving
contacts. G.I. coupling pipe of adequate length for rotating operation, required length of G.I. pipe for operation
from ground level and operating handle is specially design for smooth operation. Adjustable pins are provided
to limit over travel of moving post. Ferrous parts are hot dip galvanized and non-ferrous parts are heavily tinned
to withstand weather.

Application:

The isolator is designed to suit overhead systems used in high density urban situations or high load centers,
where the load is much higher and the need of improved and steady quality power supply is much greater. Main
function of this product is to isolate the Transformer, Overhead lines, System or Cables from distribution
network.

Pentograph type isolator:

he pantograph disconnector consists of three poles. Each pole consists of one support insulator, one rotating
insulator, the pantograph mechanism and a counter contact.The disconnectors can be equipped with insulators
in accordance with IEC, ANSI or DIN specifications.
The pantograph mechanism is installed on the support insulator and transfers the movement of the rotating
insulator to the arms of the pantograph disconnector. The mechanism is housed in an aluminium enclosure,
protecting it against pollution and ice. The springs that compensate the weight of the pantograph arms are also
installed in this housing. Each pantograph is equipped with four aluminium arms to ensure a rigid construction
with a very high short circuit rating.
The main contacts are made of copper, with a silver plated surface. The counter contact is a horizontal copper
bar, silver-plated, which has to be connected to the busbar system.
Summmary:
1. Fuse isinvented in 1890 by Edison, it is the cheapest form of protection against excessive currents.
2. The tumbler switch with ordinary fuse is thesimplest form of switchgear and is used to control and
protect lights and other equipment in homes,offices etc.
3. A fuse is a short piece of metal, inserted series in the circuit, which melts when excessive current flows
through it and thus breaks the circuit.
4. The fuse element is generally made of materials having low melting point, high conductivity and least
deterioration due to oxidation e.g., silver, copper etc..
5. rated current: It is the current which the fuse element can normally carry without overheating or
melting.
6. Fusing current: It is the minimum current at which the fuse element melts and thus disconnects the
circuit protected by it. Obviously, its value will be more than the current rating of the fuse element.
7. The approximate relationship between fusing current I and diameter d of the wire is I = k d 3/2 where k is
a constant, called the fuse constant.
8. Fusing factor: It is the ratio of minimum fusing current to the current rating of the fuse element i.e.
Fusing factor = Minimum fusing current /Current rating of fuse .Its value is always more than one.
9. prospective current- It is the r.m.s. value of the first loop of the fault current obtained if the fuse is
replaced by an ordinary conductor of negligible resistance.
10. Cut off current-It is the maximum value of fault current actually reached before the fuse melts.
11. Arcing time- This is the time between the end of pre-arcing time and the instant when the arc is
extinguished.
12. Pre-arcing time. It is the time between the commencement of fault and the instant when cut off occurs.
13. Total operating time. It is the sum of pre-arcing and arcing times.
14. Braking capacity: It is the r.m.s. value of a.c. component of maximum prospective current that a fuse
can deal with at rated service voltage.
15. A fuse has inverse time-current characteristics.
16. Isolator is a mechanical switch which isolates a part of circuit from system as when required.
17. HRC fuse means High rupturing capacity fuse.

Post-test:

1. Why isolators are not used in live circuit to open or close it?

2. Draw and explain the the fuse characteristics.

3. Name the different types of isolators.

Home assignment:

1. Define the basic fuse terminologies.

2. Write about the construction, working, advantages and application of HRC fuse.