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HRC Fuse Links

HRC fuse links are important and system for motor protection. Yet,
indispensable part of an electrical co-ordination is not the only Selection of HRC
circuit. Proper selection of a fuse consideration in fuse selection. use-links for Motor
and its co-ordination with other Starting Applications
protective devices in the circuit is During the earlier days, emphasis
very vital for foolproof protection of was given only to the ability of the HRC fuse-links offer one of the
the circuit and its uninterrupted fuse to interrupt the current on fault. best forms of protection for motor
performance. The power losses resulting in the starting applications in view of very
fuse were not given due low short circuit stresses
The basic functioning of a fuse importance. Even the standards generated in case of a fault as
calls for: devised for fuses in earlier days compared to other protective
(1952) did not cover this aspect. devices. However, the best
- continuously carrying the rated But, in reality, the power loss possible rating of a HFIC fuse-link
current without getting incurred in the fuse itself affected selected/recommended for such
overheated application depends on following
its performance very badly. It not
basic requirements:
only contributed to the overall loss
- instantaneously interrupting the in the system, but it also raised the (a) Ability to withstand motor
circuit in case of a fault. temperature in the cubicles. starting currents
Operating at higher temperature
These functions make fuse promoted deterioration of the fuse The fuse-link selected should not
element design very critical. thereby reducing reliability of its blow during motor starting. Also
operation. Higher temperatures the fuse-link should withstand
The selection of a fuse link requires accelerated deterioration of repeated starting currents without
its proper co-ordination with other insulating materials exponentially. any deterioration. The rating of
protective devices in the circuit to In addition, the overall rise in fuse-link is decided by:
provide protection to a given temperature added a burden to the
motor. It necessitates study and ventilation system of the plant. (i) The motor starting current and
plotting of characteristics of all its starting time. This will
protective devices like fuse, Thus, realising the importance of depend on two factors:
overload relay with respect to the limiting power losses in fuse links, - Type of starter (e.g. DOL or
motor. the next revision of standards for Star-Delta)
fuses in 1972 specified the - Motor characteristics
With various manufacturers permissible watt loss values for
offering different types of fuses and various types of fuses which have (ii) The time current characteristic
overioad relays, it becomes been further reduced in the latest of the fuse-link.
difficult for the ultimate user to revision of standards (1986).
match the actual characteristics of (b) SCPD co-ordination
these equipments and ensure that The feature article here details the
they offer proper co-ordination. important aspects that need to be The fuse-link should meet the
criteria for co-ordination as
Hence, the best solution lies in considered while selecting proper
specified in the relevent National/
getting a perfectly co-ordinated fuse links for the protection of
International Standards. For
combination from a single various motors running in the plant. example, as per the Standards IEC
manufacturer with an established
947-4-1/IS 13947, part 4 section Here the fuse-link is selected fuse-links and have started
1, for the Short Circuit Protective based on its time-current achieving power-loss values much
Device co-ordination, two types of characteristics and the time lower than the values specified in
co-ordination are permissible current-characteristics of the the Standards.
Type 1 or 2. Type 1 co-ordination overload relay.
requires that under short circuit Guidelines for selecting a
(d) Low Power-loss suitable fuse for a given motor
conditions, the contactor or starter
shall cause no danger to persons One of the most important factors
Since various manufacturers offer
or installation and may not be while selecting a HFIC fuse-link is
different characteristics, they
suitable for further service without its Power-loss. The rated
specify different fuses for the
repair and replacement of parts. power-loss of the fuse-link is the
same rating of motor. It leaves the
Type 2 co-ordination requires that power-loss value as stated by the
choice to the user. In the
under short-circuit conditions, the manufacturer when the fuse-link is
forthcoming discussion, we bring
contactor or starter shall cause no carrying its current under specified
you the guidelines to be followed
danger to persons or installation conditions. The fuse-link selected
while selecting a fuse suitable for
and shall be suitable for further use. should preferably have low
a given rating of motor.
The risk of contact welding is power-loss.
recognised, in which case the Let us consider DOL starting of a
The advantages of having a
manufacturer shall indicate the 3 phase Induction Motor rated
fuse-link with low power loss are:
measures to be taken as regards 50HP/37kW, 415V AC. Here two
the maintenance of the (i) Saving in power/energy typical cases are considered
equipment.
(ii) Lower temperature rise at where two different ratings of
It is very evident from the above that fuse-switch terminals and fuse-links are recommended for
it is advantageous to have type 2 fuse-knives. the same application. Our
co-ordination with SCPD. The objective is to determine the
Table 1 gives the power-loss value appropriate rating of fuse-link
fuse-link selected should be able
limits as recommended in the suitable for this application
to provide type 2 co-ordination.
relevent National/International meeting the requirements
Thus the fuse-link selection will standards. It is evident that over a mentioned above. In both the
also depend on its short-circuit period of time the Standards cases, fuse-links recommended
characteristics i.e. the Cut-off recognised the importance of are DIN type, commercially
current and 12t characteristics. power-loss and revised to reduce available in the market (see fig. 2).
the limiting values. More and more
(c) Discrimination
manufacturers in the country and In Case A, a 125A fuse-link is
There should exist discrimination abroad have reduced the recommended whereas in case B,
between the overload relay and the power-loss values of their 100A fuse-link is recommended.
SCPD i.e. the fuse-link. This
means that for overload currents
less than Ic (lc=the current TABLE 1
corresponding to the intersection Permissible Watt-Loss Values in W
point of overload relay and the
fuse-link characteristics), the relay Standard 100A 160A 250A 400A 630A
should operate and protect the Size 00 Size 0 Size 1 Size 2 Size 3
device and not the fuse-link. Also
there should be no damage to the IEC 269, 1973/
starter. For overload currents more IS 9224, 1979 12 25 32 45 60
than Ic, the fuse-link should
operate before the starter and
protect the circuit. IEC 269, 1986/87
IS13703, 1993 7.5 16 23 34 48
However, it is found that the
knee like region on fuse-link
characteristic occurs at much
larger current (at about 9 x In)
than the motor starting current
(6 x In).

This means that knee like


region occurring on the fuse
characteristic is in no way
helping in selection of a lower
rated fuse-link for the
application.

In case A, the fuse-link


recommended is 125A, size 00.
The fuse-link characteristic lies
much above the motor starting
characteristic which means that
100A, 00 (CASE B) 125 A, 00 (CASE A) the fuse-link can withstand better
Figure1

In both the cases the switch


recommended is 125A and
contactor 70A, which means that
there is no significant saving in
panel area.

To study the suitability of fuses for


the application, it is required to
study the (I) Time current
characteristics of the fuse and, (ii)
Motor starting characteristics (see
fig.1).

It is observed that 100A fuse-link


(recommended in Case-B)
characteristic curve lie very close
to the starting characteristics of the
Motor. This will result in
deterioration of the fuse-link over
a period of time and may result in
premature blowing of the fuse.

In some makes of fuses, knee like


characteristics are claimed. Such
fuses are claimed to give
necessary relief between motor
starting characteristics and fuse
time current characteristics. Figure 2
motor starting currents without any that, in Case B, the power loss in ensuring that the selected
deterioration. fuse is 10.3 watts at 100A i.e. 4.48 fuse-link meets all the following
watts at 66A. Thus, in Case B, the requirements:
Also, in case of both fuses, it is power loss is almost 64% more as
expected that Type 2 co-ordination compared to that in Case A. - ability to withstand motor
and discrimination is achieved, this starting currents
means that in both cases, Since, the power loss in fuses
letthrough energy is well within the results in higher temperature in - ability to offer Type 2
withstand capacity of contactor cubicle and thereby affects the life coordination and ability to offer
and overload relays, and there is of the equipment, it is discrimination with the
no damage to the cables and recommended that the user should overload relay.
motor. To ensure this co-ordination verify power loss figures indicated
and discrimination, it is always by the manufacturer before It is also preferable to select all the
recommended to use starter and finalizing a particular fuse rating. equipment (starter, fuse-link/
fuse combination from the same Reduction in power loss in fuses fuseswitch) offered by the same
manufacturer. also results in direct saving of manufacturer as the manufacturer
energy consumption. is likely to propose optimum
Power-loss in fuse-links combination considering all these
Conclusion requirements. While doing this,
It can be seen that in Case A, the one should keep an eye on the
power loss in fuse is 9.8 watts at The selection of a HRC fuse-link losses in fuses and try to minimize
125A i.e. 2.73 watts at 66A (full for a Motor application should them by using low power loss fuse
load current of motor). As against be done very carefully links.

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