PADERNILLA, RHOMEL JOHN

RESEARCH WORK
EE 322

FUSES

Definition:

A Fuse is a self-sacrificial and cheap device that interrupts the circuit under short or
excess overload conditions. It is defined as a safety device that protects against the
overflow of current in an electrical circuit.

Characteristic:

The fuse comprises a highly selected metal conductor, and the cartridge holds the
fuse. The fuse’s primary purpose is to allow the normal current flow and break the
circuit when there is a high-magnitude current.

A. Current Rating
A nominal current rating which a fuse can continuously carry without overheating
of melting. It is based on the temperature rise of the fuse element and its environment.
It is recommended to operate the fuse at not more than the 75% of the nominal current
rating.

B. Voltage Rating
The voltage rating of a fuse must be greater or equal to that of the circuit
voltage. It is because the fuse can safely interrupt an abnormal current. It relates to the
ability of the fuse to function and extinguish arcs when it opens.

C. Breaking Capacity
The breaking capacity is the maximum current that the fuse can safely break at
rated voltage. It is also known as the interrupting rating or short circuit rating.

D. Ambient Temperature
It is the temperature of the surroundings components such as fuse element,fuse
holders,etc where the fuse is installed. The time-current characteristics of fuses are
affected by ambient temperature. Higher the ambient temperature, the hotter the fuse
will operate and it shorter its life.

E. Melting Integral l2t Rating

It is the amount of energy required to melt the fuse element to interrupt the
current. It is the function of current squared and time. It is expressed as ampere
squared seconds (A2 Sec).

F. Fusing Current
It is the minimum amount of current at which the fusing element melts.
G. Temperature Derating
In order to prolong device life, a device is operated less than its rated maximum
power rating is called derating. It is recommended that when a fuse is operated in an
ambient temperature for 25°C, the fuse current rating should be derated.

H. Normal Operating Current

The current rating of a fuse is typically derated 25% for operation at 25°C to avoid
nuisance blowing. For example, a fuse with a current rating of 10A is not usually
recommended for operation at more than 7.5A in a 25°C temperature.

I. Time-Current Characteristics
The time required to blow out the fuse depends upon the magnitude of excessive
current. So the greater the current, the melting time taken by the fuse reduces (the fuse
will melt faster the more overcurrent is). Hence, the blow time of fuse is inversely
proportional to the current flowing through the fuse element.

Principle of Operation:

A fuse’s working principle is based on the heating effect of the current. In normal
conditions, the current passes through the fuse. The heat developed in the fuse gets
dissipated, and the temperature becomes below the melting point.

The thickness of the fuse wire varies depending on the amount of current flowing
through it. Fuse wire is made up of alloy of tin and lead. When an electric short circuit
occurs, the current passes through the fuse. Hence, the fuse melts and breaks. In
electrical wiring, fuse should be attached to the live wire.

Application:

Fuses are widely used for protection of electric motor circuits, electronic devices
and electrical appliances. Some applications of fuses that we usually used are:
A. Power Transformers
B. Air Conditioners, TV, and Music Systems
C. Mobile Phones, Laptops,and Chargers
D. Automobiles
E. Printers, Scanners and Photocopiers
F. Electrical cabling in home

BREAKERS

Definition:

Circuit Breakers are essentially resettable fuses that are automatically operated
electrical switches that cut off the circuit whenever the current jumps above a safe
level, avoiding overheating, melting, and potential fires.
Characteristics:

A. Rated Voltage Ue
This is the voltage at which the circuit-breaker has been designed to
operate, in normal (undisturbed) conditions.

B. Rated Current In
This is the maximum value of current that a circuit-breaker, fitted with aspecified
overcurrent tripping relay, can carry indefinitely at an ambient temperature stated by
the manufacturer, without exceeding the specified temperature limits of the current
carrying parts.

C. Tripping-current-level adjustment ranges for overload protection (Ir[1] or Irth[1]) and

for short-circuit protection (Im)
Apart from small circuit-breakers which are very easily replaced, industrial circuit-
breakers are equipped with removable, i.e. exchangeable, overcurrent-trip relays.
Moreover, in order to adapt a circuit-breaker to the requirements of the circuit it
controls, and to avoid the need to install oversized cables, the trip relays are generally
adjustable. The trip-current setting Ir or Irth (both designations are in common use) is
the current above which the circuit-breaker will trip. It also represents the maximum
current that the circuitbreaker can carry without tripping. That value must be greater
than the maximum load current IB, but less than the maximum current permitted in the
circuit Iz
Short-circuit tripping relays (instantaneous or slightly time-delayed) are intended to
trip the circuit-breaker rapidly on the occurrence of high values of fault current. Their
tripping threshold Im is:
 Either fixed by standards for domestic type CBs, e.g., IEC 60898, or,
 Indicated by the manufacturer for industrial type CBs according to related
standards, notably IEC 60947-2.

D. Short-circuit current breaking rating (Icu for industrial CBs; Icn for domestic-type
CBs) (Icu (rated ultimate s.c. breaking capacity) and Ics (rated service s.c. breaking
capacity)

The short-circuit current-breaking rating of a CB is the highest (prospective) value

of current that the CB is capable of breaking without being damaged. The value of
current quoted in the standards is the rms value of the AC component of the fault
current, i.e., the DC transient component (which is
always present in the worst possible case of short-circuit) is assumed to be zero for
calculating the standardized value. This rated value (Icu) for industrial CBs and (Icn) for
domestic-type CBs is normally given in kA rms.

Principle of Operation:

Circuit breaker essentially consists of fixed and moving contacts. These contacts are
touching each other and carrying the current under normal conditions when the circuit
is closed. When the circuit breaker is closed, the current carrying contacts, called the
electrodes, engaged each other under the
pressure of a spring.

During the normal operating condition, the arms of the circuit breaker can be
opened or closed for a switching and maintenance of the system. To open the circuit
breaker, only a pressure is required to be applied to a trigger.

Whenever a fault occurs on any part of the system, the trip coil of the breaker gets
energized and the moving contacts are getting apart from each other by some
mechanism, thus opening the circuit.

Application:

A. They are used for switching of loads in Industries, Buildings, Commercial

complexes, Hotels etc.

B. Air C/B is used for the protection of plants, electrical machines, transformers,
capacitors and generators.

C. Air Blast C/B is used in Indian Railways for electrification.

LIGHTNING ARRESTERS

Definition:

A protective device used to protect the circuit from lightning strokes having high
transient voltage surges, surge currents due to lightning, spark and isolation arcs etc. A
device used to protect the electric circuit and connected devices from the lightning
strikes having high voltage transient surges. Lightning arresters are installed outside to
ground the harmful effects of lightning spikes.

Characteristics:

An ideal lightning arrester should have the following characteristics:

A. It should not draw any current during normal operating condition, i.e., it sparks-
over voltage must be above the normal or abnormal power frequency that may occur in
the system.
B. Any transient abnormal voltage above the breakdown value must cause it to
break down as quickly as possible so that it may provide a conducting path to ground.
C. When the breakdown has taken place, it should be capable of carrying the
resulting discharge current without getting damaged itself and without the voltage
across it exceeding the breakdown value.
D. The power frequency current following the breakdown must be interrupted as
soon as the transient voltage has fallen below the breakdown value.

Principle of Operation:

Once the voltage surge travels throughout the conductor then it reaches the
location of the arrestor where it is installed. So, it will break down the insulation of the
lightning arrestor for a moment, so voltage surge can be discharged toward the ground.
Once the voltage of the system falls under the fixed value, then the insulation will be
restored among the ground & conductor. Further, the current flow toward the ground
will be stopped.

Application:

A. Tall buildings to prevent lightning from causing physical damage to infrastructure.

B. Power lines to protect the cables from lightning.
C. Power outlets to protect electronic devices from surges of electricity