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Short Circuit Current Duties of Circuit Breakers and Fuses - Part 1
Short Circuit Current Duties of Circuit Breakers and Fuses - Part 1
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This discussion is limited to applications of medium-voltage power fuses for industrial and
commercial power systems. The reader is directed to Chapter 6 of the IEEE Buff Book (IEEE
Std 242-2001) for broader coverage of high-voltage power and distribution fuses.
E-rated power fuses are available as both expulsion and current-limiting types, while R-
rated power fuses are available only as current-limiting type. E-rated current-limiting power
fuses afford protection of power transformers, voltage (or potential) transformers, and
capacitor banks; while R-rated power fuses afford short circuit protection in medium-
voltage motor controllers. For symmetrical-current-rated power fuses, the first-cycle
symmetrical rms current can be directly compared to the rated symmetrical interrupting
capabilities in a manufacturer’s table only if the first-cycle short circuit X/R ratio at the fault
point (i.e., source side of the power fuse) is 15 or less. In this context, “symmetrical-current-
rated” implies that an MF to account for the DC component is unnecessary to adjust the
first-cycle symmetrical rms current whenever the first-cycle short circuit X/R ratio is less
than or equal to 15, because a certain degree of asymmetry is built into the rating structure.
If the first-cycle short circuit X/R ratio exceeds 15, the manufacturer should be consulted for
derating (reduction) of the published rated symmetrical interrupting capabilities. For the
example at hand, the last statement applies, since the first-cycle short circuit X/R ratio for a
3-phase fault at Bus 4 is 16.4.
Mercede, P.E., is principal of Mercede Engineering LLC, based in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He can
be reached at fmercede@mercedeengineering.com.