2.

1 Medium Voltage Fuses

Protective Devices Hydro Circcuit Protection

MEDIUM VOLTAGE FUSES

Fuses are the oldest and most simple protective devices. When the current flowing through the fuse exceeds a
predetermined value, the heat produced by the current in the fusible link melts the link and interrupts the current. Since the
current must last long enough for the link to melt, fuses have inherently a time delay. Typical time-current curve is shown
in figure 5. Fuses are relatively economical devices, they do not need any auxiliary devices such as instrument
transformers and relays, they are reliable, and available in a large range of sizes. Their one disadvantage is that they are
destroyed in the process of opening the circuit, and then they must be replaced.

Figure 5 shows a typical time vs current characteristic for a fuse. The melting time is the time required for the fusible
element to heat up to the point when it starts to melt. The clearing time is time from the moment the fault current starts
flowing to the moment the circuit is interrupted. The time between the clearing time and the melting time is referred as the
arcing time. No two fuses are exactly alike. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) allows a tolerance of plus
or minus 10% in the melting current for any given time. Manufacturers provide two sets of curves for all types of fuses -
one set is for the minimum melting time, the other set is for the total clearing time. Each individual fuse must operate
within the band between the two characteristics.

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Figure 5 Time-current characteristic for a power fuse.

There are four quantities that are important for a particular fuse application:

1. Maximum Rated Voltage is the highest nominal system voltage at which the fuse can be used. The voltage is given as
an rms and line to line value. The idea is that a blown fuse should be able to withstand the system voltage.

2. Maximum Continuous Current is the maximum rms current the fuse should be able to carry indefinitely. This current
is given by an allowable temperature rise for the fuse, and therefore it also depends on the ambient temperature.

3. Maximum Interrupting Current is the largest current the fuse is capable of interrupting . This value should be higher
than the maximum possible fault current on this circuit.

4. Time Response. This is given by the time-current characteristic.

Medium voltage fuses are available up to voltages of 36 kV for indoor use, and up to 161 kV for outdoor use.

There are two categories of the medium voltage fuses:

1. distribution fuse cutouts developed for overhead distribution lines

2. power fuses developed for substations applications. Power fuses are available at higher voltage and current ratings than
the distribution fuse cutouts. They come in two types:

a) current limiting fuses

b) solid material fuses

Medium Voltage Current Limiting Fuses

These fuses operate on the same principle as the current limiting low voltage fuses. The fusing element must be much
longer than for low voltage fuses since it must dissipate much larger amounts of energy. It is usually wound helically on a

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porcelain support and placed in a ceramic container filled with silica sand. A typical fuse rated 11 kV, 85 A, 250 MVA
breaking capacity will have a container about 6 cm in diameter and 35 cm long. Because of their fast action, they are most
often used as the last overcurrent device in the circuit.

Medium Voltage Solid Material Fuses

These fuses operate by melting the fusible element and at the same time a spring pulls the element and elongates the arc
inside the interrupting chamber. The arc heats the solid material and creates gas that helps to extinguish the arc. The hot
gas is expelled down into the exhaust control device.

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Figure 7 Mounting of Power Fuses

(a) open type
(b) enclosed type
(c) spring type

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Loadbreak Cutout, A.B. Chance Co., Chance TiPS, vol.51, No. 1, p. 10

Manufactured for rated voltages 15/27 kV (125 kV BIL) and 22/36.4 kV (150 kV BIL)

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15 kV loadbreak Chance "C" cutouts, A.B. Chance Co., Chance TiPS, vol.51, No. 1, p. 11

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