ASSIGNMENT

Elements of Technology

Department of Fashion Technology, National Institute of Fashion Technology

GANDHINAGAR

SUBMITTED BY,
SUBMITTED TO, KUSHAGR SINGH
Mr. Umang Modi (BFT/20/190)
TOPIC:- FUSE

2
 ELECTRIC FIRE:
A failure or malfunction within the electrical components of equipment
or machinery can cause electrical fires. Electrical fires are common in
both commercial and residential settings, therefore, to prevent this from
happening we use devices like, fuse and circuit breakers.

3
FUSE
A fuse is a device that protects a circuit
from an over current condition or prevents
from an electric fire to occur. It has a
fusible link directly heated and destroyed
when a huge amount of current pass
through it.

It’sa sacrificial device, i.e., if once a fuse

has operated, it becomes an open circuit.
Therefore, it must be replaced or rewired,
depending on the type.

4
Fuse is often abbreviated to ADS (Automatic
disconnection of supply), because it plays as an
automatic means of removing power from a faulty
system.

The volts passing through the fuse should match the

volts the fuse can take. If we have a fuse that is too
small for the volts that are running through it, there is a
possibility of arcing. If the fuse is too large, it may not
blow when a fault occurs.

Fuse can be classified (with respect to their response

speed) into three general categories: very fast-acting,
fast-acting, or Slo-Blo Fuse.

5
 CONSTRUCTION & parts:
The typical fuse consists of an element which is surrounded by
filler and enclosed by the fuse body. They are semi enclosed in
few cases. The fuse element is welded or soldered to the fuse
contacts (blades or ferrules).

The fuse element is a calibrated conductor. Its

configuration, mass and the materials employed are selected
to achieve the desired electrical and thermal characteristics.
The fuse element provides the current path through the
fuse. It generates heat at a rate dependent on its resistance
and the load current.
The heat generated by the element is absorbed by the filler
A diagram of a Cartridge type fuse.
and passed through the fuse body to the surrounding air. The
filler material, such as quartz sand, provides effective heat
transfer.

6
 WORKING OF A TYPICAL FUSE:
The primary job of a fuse is to break the circuit if a current higher
than desired is drawn by the circuit, thus preventing damage due to short
circuits.
A simple fuse consists of a resistive element (fuse element),
selected carefully for its melting point. When a current passes through
this element, a small voltage drop is created across the element, and
some power is dissipated as heat. The temperature of the element thus
increases. For normal currents, this temperature increase is not enough to
melt the filament. However, if the current draw exceeds than the rated
current of the fuse, the melting point is quickly reached. The resistive
element melts and the circuit is interrupted. The thickness and length of
the resistive element determine the rated current. The fuse can be
replaced or changed with the new one with suitable ratings.
7
SYMBOLS used for FUSE:

IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

ANSI: American National Standards Institute.
IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission.
8
 Characteristics of FUSE:
Current Rating: The continuous, maximum amount of current which can flow
through the fuse without melting it, is called current rating. It is measured in 
Amperes. This is a thermal characteristic.
I2t (ampere square sec.) Rating: This is the amount of energy which is carried by
fuse element when there is an electrical fault or some short circuit happened. It
measures the heat energy (due to current flow) of fuse & it is generated when fuse has
blown.
Interrupting or Breaking Capacity: It is the maximum rating of current without
harm interrupt by the fuse is known as breaking or interrupting capacity of the fuse.
Voltage Drop: When excessive current flows, the fuse element melts and opens the
circuit. Due to this resistance change, the voltage drop will become less.
Temperature: When the current will be higher than the current rating, the fuse will
break due to increase in temperature of element.

9
 Few Important Terms used in Fuse:
Ampere Rating of fuse element: Fusing Current:
The current which the fuse element can The minimum current at which the fuse element melts and
normally carry without overheating or disconnects the circuit protected by it. It’s value is greater
getting melted. The ampere rating is than the ampere rating. I=kd^(3/2). I=current, d=Diameter
marked on each fuse. of wire, k= fuse constant.

Fault current:
Short-circuit current that flows partially
or entirely outside the intended normal
load current path of a circuit component.

Cut-off current:
The maximum value of fault current,
reached before the fuse melts.

10
Pre arching time: The time between the commencement of fault and the intant when cut off happens,
is called pre arching time.

Arching time: The time between the end of pre arching time and the instant when the extinguish.

Total operation time: The sum of pre-arching and Arching time. It is the time from where the fault
begins to occur, till the time whole fuse breaks and arching stops.

Prospective current: It is defined as the r.m.s. of the first loop of the fault current is obtained if the
fuse is replaced by an ordinary conductor of neglegible resistance.

Fusing Fator: It is the ratio between the fusing current and the current rating of the fuse.
Fusing Factor= Minimum fusing current
Current rating of fuse
The value of fusing factor is always equal to 1 but for a semi enclosed fuse, the fusing factor is equal
to 2.

11
CURRENT VS TIME GRAPH:
We can see the entrance of fault
current, as current is increasing with
time.
There comes a time, when the current
magnitude reaches upto a point where
the fuse element melts and break due to
generation of heat. That value of current
is called ‘cut off current’. The time
between the beginning of fault till the
time fuse element breaks is called ‘pre-
arching time.’
As the fuse break, the value of
flowing current becomes zero and the
arch in the fuse element, which was
produced due to the heat generation,
extinguishes. The time from the point of
cut off current to zero current is called
‘Arching time.’
The total time from the beginning of
the fault current till the time the current
becomes zero, is called ‘Total Operation
Time.’
12
 FUSE LAW:
The current carrying capacity of a
fuse depends on the material used,
the cross sectional area, length of
the element, the state of the surface
and the surrounding of the fuse.

13
 TYPES OF FUSE:
The fuse can be classified as:
1. Low voltage fuse.
2. High voltage fuse.

High Voltage Fuses are used for voltages above 1000V and Low Voltage
Fuse are used for voltages less than 1000V. 
Low Voltage Fuses are divided into: Cartridge Fuses, rewirable fuses,
switch fuses, drop out fuses and striker fuses.
High Voltage Fuses are divided into: Cartridge Type HRC (High
Rupturing Capacity) Fuses, Liquid Type HRC Fuses and Expulsion type
Fuses. They are typically rated between 1500V to 138000V. The fuse
elements are mostly of Silver or Copper.

14
LOW VOLTAGE FUSE:

1. Cartridge Fuse:
Cartridge fuse are totally enclosed type fuse.
These fuse consists of a metal stripe which is
connected to metal ends. The fuse element is
enveloped in a glass covering. The fuse breaks
the circuit when even small current fault occurs
in it. These fuses if once break, need to be
replaced. They are cylindrical in shape. They are
basically rated for circuits with 30A and 240V.
Also used as high voltage fuse.
APPLICATIONS:
Motors, Air conditioners, Refrigerators, pumps,
etc.
These are further divided into two types:
D type cartridge fuses.
Link type cartridge fuses.
15
D-TYPE CARTRIDGE FUSES:
Comprise of fuse base, adapter ring, cartridge and
a fuse cap
The cartridge is pushed in the fuse cap and the cap
is screwed on the fuse base, which is On complete
screwing the cartridge tip touches the conductor and
circuit between the two terminals is completed
through the fuse link.

LINK TYPE CARTRIDGE FUSE:

These is also used as high voltage fuse.
It consists of a heat resisting ceramic body having
metal end caps and a silver current carrying element.
The space within the body, which surrounds the
element is completely packed with a filling powder
which may be silica, quartz or marble dust.
The powder in the space acts as an arc quenching
and cooling medium.

16
ADVANTAGES:
Capable of clearing high as well as low fault currents.
Does not deteriorate with age.
High speed of operation.
Require no maintenance.
Cheaper than other circuit interrupting devices of equal breaking capacity.
DISADVANTAGES:
Must be replaced after operation.
Heat produced by the arc may affect the associated switches.

APPLICATIONS:
Motors.
Air Conditioners.
Refrigerators.
Pumps.

17
2. Rewirable Fuse: (Semi
enclosed)
They are also known as Kit-Kat fuse. It consists of a
porcelain base and a fuse carrier which is also made
up of porcelain and holds the fused element (mostly
made up of tinned copper) between it’s terminals.
The base has the IN and OUT terminals which is
used to be in series with the circuit to protect. The
main wire of the circuit are connected to these ends.
Itcan be rewired easily in case it is blown due to
short circuit or over current which melts the fuse
elements.
The fuse wire may be of lead, tinned copper,
aluminum or an alloy of tin lead.
Standard ratings are 6, 16, 32, 63, and 100A.

18
Advantage of kit kat/ rewirable fuse:
It require minimum time to replace.
It has current limiting effect.
It is the cheapest form of fuse.
It requires no maintenance

Disadvantages of kit/kat fuse:

Oxidation of fuse wire and consequent thinning of wire section occurs with lapse time.
Unreliable Operations.
Lack of Discrimination.
Small time lag is one of the biggest disadvantage.
Slow speed of operation.
Low rupturing capacity.

Application:
It is mostly used for domestic purposes and house
circuits.

19
HIGH VOLTAGE FUSE:
1. Liquid type fuse:
Liquid type fuse consists of a glass tube which is filled
with carbon tetrachloride solution.
The fuse is sealed with brass caps at both ends.
One end of the fuse wire is sealed, whereas, the other end
of the fuse wire is held by a strong phosphor bronze spiral
which is fixed at the other end of the glass tube.
As the current exceeds the prescribed limit, as usual,
the fuse wire is blown out, therefore, after this melting of
fuse wire, the spring retracts part of it through the liquid
director and draws it well into the liquid. The small quantity
of the gas generated at the fusion, forces some part of liquid
into the passage through liquid director and so it effectively
extinguishes the arc.
APPLICATION:
It is used for the protection of transformers and also in the
circuit having a rating higher than 400A.
20
 2. Expulsion Fuse:
In expulsion fuse, the fuse link chamber is filled with boric
acid. Such type of fuses comprises a hollow open-ended tube
made of synthetic resin-bonded paper. When fault condition
occurs, the arc heat decomposes the boric acid into water
vapour. This water vapour blast will deionize the arc path
preventing the arc to re-ignite after a natural current zero. It is
developed for 11kV, and their rupturing capacity is up to 250
MVA.
Boric acid expulsion power fuses are divided into two parts:
Refillable:Constructed such that the consumable refill unit
can be replaced after a fuse operation.
Replaceable fuses: They offer faster reconnection but also
with higher replacement cost, whereas, lower interrupting
ratings.
They are used in power applications up to an operational
voltage of 34 kV.
21
FEW OTHER Types of FUSES ARE:
Automotive fuses:
Automotive fuses are mostly designed for
automotive systems. It also limits the current.
They run upto 32V and in few cases 42V. They
are in blade forms with a transparent platic
covering. They are colour coded according to
the rated current.

Types:
Standard blade fuse: Range from 1A to 40A.
Mini Blade fuse: Range from 2A to 30A.
Maxi blade fuse: Range from 20A to 100A.
Glass tube or Bosch type.

22
 Resettable fuses:
Resettable fuses contain black carbon
particle(which makes the mixture conductive)
which is embedded in organic polymer. When
a large current flows, heat is generated which
expands the organic polymer. The carbon black
particles are forced apart, and conductivity
decreases to the point where no current flows.
As the temperature decrease, they restore their
conductivity, therefore, these fuses are self-
resetting.
They are mostly used in computer power
supplies and phone chargers.

APPLICATIONS:
Computer power supplies.
Audio loudspeakers. etc

23
 THERMAL FUSE:
They are single operation devices that work mainly
as temperature sensitive protective device.
The thermal fuse consists of a contact spring which
is enclosed into a wax pellet. The pellet is constructed
to melt at a set temperature. When the wax get heated
it melts and the spring get stretched till it open the
circuit. Another type of thermal fuse uses a specially
composed solder that melts at a predetermined
temperature.
Their reduced size and cost effectiveness make them
useful as a protective device in systems where thermal
variations are experienced during ordinary working
conditions.
APPLICATIONS:
Water heaters, hair dryers, small transformer powered
electronics equipments, etc.
24
 Fuse Element’s material and
desirable Characteristics
Preferred CHARACTERISTICS:
Low cost, e.g., lead, Tin, copper.
High conductivity, e.g., Silver, copper.
Low melting point, e.g., Tin, Lead.
Less deterioration from oxidation, e.g., Silver.

FUSE ELEMENT MATERIALS:

Most commonly used materials:- Lead, tin, copper, zinc and silver.
For small current (upto 10A): Tin or alloy of lead and tin (37% and 63% respectively).
Large current: Silver or Copper.
For fuse with considerable time lag: Stripped Zinc.

Silver is used mostly as fuse element, despite of it being so costly, because:

High conductivity.
It does not deteriorate when used in dry air, also is free from oxidation.
Silver vapourises at a temperature much lower than the one at which its vapour will rapidly ionise. So when an arc
is formed through the vaporised portion of the element, the arc path has high resistance so that the short circuit
current is quickly interrupted. 25
 ADVANTAGES of fuse:
Fuse is the cheapest type of protection in an electric circuit.
Its operation is completely automatic and requires less time as compared to
circuit breakers. The operation time of fuse can be made much smaller than
operation of circuit breaker.
Fuse needs no/very less maintenance.
Fuse has the ability to interrupt enormous short circuit current without
producing noise, flame, gas or smoke.
Its inverse time-current characteristic (the fuse will open faster the more
severe the overcurrent problem is) enables its use for overload protection.
The smaller sizes of fuse element impose a current limiting effect under short-
circuit conditions.
Fuse are easy to remove for replacement without any damage to coming into
contact with a live part.

26
 DISADVANTAGES of fuse:
The fusing elements of the fuse are exposed to air in many types, hence it is
oxidized. Therefore the resistance of the element is increased and produced heat
when the current passing through it.
During short circuit or overloading, when fuse blows off, it’s replacement takes
time, during which the circuit lost power.
The current time characteristics of a fuse is not always correlated with that of
the protective device.
Accurate calibration of fuse wire is impossible.
Fuse can't bear a surge current in the case of motor starting.
On heavy short circuits, distinctions between similar sized fuses in series
cannot be obtained, until and unless there is sufficient difference in the size of the
fuses.

27
 FEW APPLICATIONS OF FUSE:

In Transformers. In Smartphones. In Electric Vehicles.

In Motors. In Laptops. Many other electronic

devices, like printer,
camera, scanner, etc. 28
THANK YOU

29