Fuse Element With Alternating Narrow Sections For Fast Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage fuses used in protecting cables and transformers often have slow response times, particularly for intermediate fault currents, which can lead to inadequate breaking times between 10 milliseconds and 1 second, failing to effectively manage overcurrent situations.
Innovation Solution
A fuse element with zones of reduced sections of different types and minimum widths alternately arranged along its length, enhancing the fuse's response speed by optimizing heat dissipation and melting characteristics for various current intensities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fuse element with uniform reduced sections is used, then the fuse structure is simple, but the response time is too slow for intermediate fault currents
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse element is divided into multiple zones along its length, with each zone containing reduced sections of different types. This segmentation allows different portions of the fuse element to respond to different current intensities, achieving fast response for intermediate faults while maintaining structural organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the fuse element have locally different properties - specifically, reduced sections with different minimum widths (w1, w2, w3) in different zones. This local variation in geometry creates different melting characteristics in different regions, enabling the fuse to respond rapidly to intermediate fault currents while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Speed
If reduced sections with small minimum width are used, then the fuse responds faster to high currents, but the response to intermediate currents remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the reduced sections along the length of the fuse element. Specifically, the minimum width parameter varies from zone to zone (w1 < w2 < w3), creating a gradient that allows the fuse to respond to a broad range of current intensities. This parameter variation enables both fast response to high currents and adequate response to intermediate currents.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse element is designed with dynamic response characteristics through its zoned structure. Different zones become active at different current levels, creating a dynamic response system that adapts to the fault conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the fuse to optimize its breaking time based on the actual fault current intensity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The improved fuse design achieves faster response times for intermediate fault currents, reducing breaking times and ensuring effective current interruption across a broader range of intensities, including those previously managed inadequately by existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The fuse element undergoes a rise in temperature proportional to the intensity of the current passing through it
Implementation Method 2
the temperature of the fuse element exceeds the melting temperature at one or more points of the fuse element, which melts at least partially
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The fuse (1) comprises a tubular body (2), at least one insulating bar (4) based in the tubular body along a longitudinal axis (?-?') of the tubular body, at least one fuse strip, (110) of constant thickness, spiralling wound onto at least one bar (4) and extending between the longitudinal ends (1a, 1b) of the fuse (1), the strip (110) comprising segments (111) of maximum width and a plurality of narrow sections (112, 113) placed along its longitudinal direction, each narrow section having a geometry defined by its minimum width and its length in which the narrow sections (112, 113) are at least of two different types and comprise at least one narrow section of a first type (112) which has a first minimum width and at least one narrow section of a second type (113) that has a second minimum width different from the first minimum width. This fuse is characterized in that the narrow sections (112, 113) are regularly spaced apart along the fuse strip (110) with an alternation of narrow sections of the first type (112) and narrow sections of the second type (113).