ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING BASIC'S: December 2014

This type of fuse contains a fuse wire in it, which carries the short circuit current safely for a given time period. During this period, if fault is removed, then it does not blow off otherwise it will melt and remove the circuit from electrical supply hence, the circuit remains safe.

The common material, which is used to make an HRC fuse is glass, but this is not always the case. Other chemical compounds are also used in HRC fuse manufacturing and construction based on different factors. Its external enclosure is made fully airtight in order to avoid the effect of atmosphere on the fuse materials. The major objection on HRC fuse is low and uncertain breaking capacity of semi-enclosed fuse.

HRC Fuse (High Rupturing Capacity Fuse) and its Types

Construction and Operations of HRC fuse:

HRC Fuse consists of highly heat resistant material (such as ceramic) body having metal-end caps, which is welded by silver current carrying element. The fuse body internal space is completely packed with a filling powder. The material, which has filled the insider space, may be plaster of Paris, quartz, chalk, marble, dust and cooling mediums etc. That’s why it carries normal current without overheating. The heat being produced vaporizes the silver melted element. Chemical reaction taking place between silver vapor and filling powder results in high resistance substance, which helps in quenching the arc in fuse.

HRC Fuse Construction and Operation

Advantages of HRC Fuse:

It clears high as well as low fault currents.
Do not deteriorate with age.
Having high-speed operation.
Provides reliable discrimination.
Require no maintenance.
Cheaper than other circuit interrupting devices with same rating.
Permit consistent performance
Fusing operation is fast without Noise and Smoke

H.R.C Fuse:

After each operation, they have to be replaced.
Heat being produced by the arc may affect the associated switches.

HRC Fuse with Tripping Device:

When a fuse blows out the tripping device during the fault condition, it will cause the circuit breaker to operate. The body of fuse is made of ceramic material with a metallic cap fixed at each end. They are connected by series of silver fuse elements. There is a plunger at one end, which hits the tripping mechanism of circuit breaker under fault conditions, which leads it to operate the circuit. The plunger is connected through a fusible link and a tungsten wire to the other end of the cap.

HRC Fuse with tripping device

As fault occurs, the first element to be blown out is silver fuse and current is transferred to tungsten wire. The travel of the plunger is set such a way that is not ejected from the fuse body during fault conditions.

Advantages of HRC Fuse with Tripping Device:

During single-phase fault on a three-phase system, the plunger trips the circuit breaker, which opens all the three phases, i.e. it prevents single-phase supply as well.
The effects of the short circuit need to be considered in circuit breaker, which allow the use of an inexpensive circuit breaker.
The fuse-tripped breaker is capable of dealing with small currents, which avoids the necessity of replacing the fuse (except high current).

Low voltage H.R.C fuses are also available in a capacity of 16000A to 30,000A at 400V (Also available in range of 80kA to 120kA) . HRC Fuses are also used for protection on low voltage distribution systems against overload and short circuit conditions.

Types of HRC fuse:

NH Fuse
Din type
Blade contact

Types of HRC fuse

NH Type H.R.C Fuse:

NH fuse provides overload and short circuit protection for low and medium voltage. They provide backup protection to motor starters and other equipment against short circuit and overload. They are light in weight with compact dimension.

Din Type HRC Fuse:

Din type fuses are available in wide range of rated currents. DIN fuse are used for different purposes with their characteristic at different temperature condition. They types of fuses are available for different voltages level and can be used in transformer protection even where there is no LV (Low-Voltage) Secondary or backup protection. They have excellent clearing capability of ideal low over current with short-circuit performance. Other uses and application of DIN fuses are in air and gas insulated switchgear, mining, transformers and Feeder sectionalizing.

Blade Type HRC fuse:

This type of fuses (also known as spade or plug-in fuses) comes in plastic body and two metal caps to fit in the socket. Mostly, they used in automobiles for wiring and short circuit protection. They are light in weight. It contains low cutoff current. They are also used for short circuit and backup protection of motors. They are available in different sizes and shapes with different current rating capacity, which print on the top.

Application of H.R.C fuses:

Used for protection of Transformers, Motors and automobile, etc.
It is also used in motor stators
Backup protection

Few words:
After reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of H.R.C fuses for low voltage installation, which can be easily replaced. They provide high-speed operation in short circuit and over current protection. They also provide stability in industrial power distribution and semiconductor protection. Both fuse and circuit breaker complement each other in a low voltage system. They can be used to provide backup protection to the circuit breaker with high breaking capacity.

What is Inductor?

Before knowing what is inductor we should first know the definition of inductance.

Definition of Inductance

If a changing flux is linked with a coil of a conductor there would be an emf induced in it. The property of the coil of inducing emf due to the changing flux linked with it is known as inductance of the coil. Due to this property all electrical coil can be referred as inductor. In other way, aninductor can be defined as an energy storage device which stores energy in form of magnetic field.

Theory of Inductor

A current through a conductor produces amagnetic field surround it. The strength of this field depends upon the value ofcurrent passing through the conductor. The direction of the magnetic field is found using the right hand grip rule, which shown. The flux pattern for this magnetic field would be number of concentric circle perpendicular to the detection of current.

Now if we wound the conductor in form of a coil or solenoid, it can be assumed that there will be concentric circular flux lines for each individual turn of the coil as shown. But it is not possible practically, as if concentric circular flux lines for each individual turn exist, they will intersect each other. However, since lines of flux cannot intersect, the flux lines for individual turn will distort to form complete flux loops around the whole coil as shown. This flux pattern of a current carrying coil is similar to a flux pattern of a bar magnet as shown.

Now if the current through the coil is changed, the magnetic flux produced by it will also be changed at same rate. As the flux is already surrounds the coil, this changing flux obviously links the coil. Now according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, if changing flux links with a coil, there would be an induced emf in it. Again as per Lenz’s law this induced emf opposes every cause of producing it. Hence, the induced emf is in opposite of the applied voltage across the coil.

Definition of Self Inductance

Whenever current flows through a circuit or coil, flux is produced surround it and this flux also links with the coil itself. Self induced emf in a coil is produced due to its own changing flux and changing flux is caused by changing current in the coil. So, it can be concluded that self-induced emf is ultimately due to changing current in the coil itself. And self inductance is the property of a coil or solenoid, which causes a self-induced emf to be produced, when the current through it changes.

Explanation of Self Inductance of a Coil

Whenever changing flux, links with a circuit, an emf is induced in the circuit. This is Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction. According to this law,

$e\;=\;-\;N\frac{d\phi }{dt}\;\cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots \;(\;1\;)$

Where, e is the induced emf. N is the number of turns. (dφ/dt) is the rate of change of flux linkage with respect to time. The negative sign of the equation indicates that the induced emf opposes the change flux linkage. This is according to Len’z law of induction. The flux is changing due to change in current of the circuit itself. The produced flux due to a current, in a circuit, always proportional to that current. That means,

$\phi \;=\;Ki$

Where, i is the current in the circuit and K is the proportional constant.

$Now,\;\frac{d\phi }{dt}\;=\;K\frac{di}{dt}\;\cdots\cdots\cdots\cdots\cdots\;(\;2\;)$

Now, from equation (1) and (2) we get,

$e\;=\;-\;NK\frac{di}{dt}$

The above equation can also be rewritten as

$- e\;=\;L\frac{di}{dt}\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot(3)$

Where, L (= NK) is the constant of proportionality and this L is defined as the self inductance of the coil or solenoid. This L determines how much emf will be induced in a coil for a specific rate of change of current through it.

Now, from equation (1) and (3), we get,

$L\frac{di}{dt}\;=\;N\frac{d\phi}{dt}\;\Rightarrow\;Ldi \;=\;Nd\phi$

Integrating, both sides we get,

$\int Ldi \;=\;\int Nd\phi \Rightarrow Li = N\phi\;\Rightarrow L\;=\;\frac{N\phi}{i}\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot(4)$

From the above expression, inductancecan be also be defined as,

“If the current I through an N turn coil produces a flux of Ø Weber, then its self-inductance would be L”.

A coil can be designed to have a specific value of self-inductance (L). In the view of self-inductance, a coil or solenoid is referred as an inductor. Now, if cross – sectional area of the core of the inductor(coil) is A and flux density in the core is B, then total flux inside the core ofinductor is AB.

Therefore, equation (4) can be written as

$L\;=\;\frac{NAB}{i}$

Now, B = μoμrH Where, H is magnetic fieldstrength, µo and μr are permeability of free space and relative permeability of the core respectively. Now, H = mmf/unit length = Ni/l Where l is the length of the coil. Therefore,

$L\; =\;\frac{NA\mu_o\mu_rNi}{li}\; =\;\frac{A\mu_o\mu_rN^2}{l}$

Self Inductance Formula

$L\; =\;\frac{A\mu_o\mu_rN^2}{l}$

Unit of Inductance

$e\;=\;-\;L\frac{di}{dt}$

Which we derived at equation (3). Where, L is known is self induction of the circuit. In the above equation of inductance, if e = 1 Volt and (di / dt) is one ampere per second, then L = 1 and its unit is Henry. That means, if a circuit, produces emf of 1 Volt, due to rate of change of current through it, one ampere per second then the circuit is said to have one henry self inductance. This henry is unit of inductance.

Mutual Inductance

Inductance due to the current, through the circuit itself is called self inductance. But when a current flows through a circuit nearer to another circuit, then flux due to first circuit links to secondary circuit. If this flux linkage changes with respect to time, there will be an induced emf in the second circuit. Similarly, if current flows through second circuit, it will produced flux, and if this current changes, the flux will also change. This changing flux will link with first coil. Due to this phenomenon emf will be induced in the first coil. This phenomenon is known as mutual inductance. If current i1 flows through circuit 1 then emf e2 is induced in the nearby circuit is given by,

$e_2\;=\;-\;M\frac{di_1}{dt}\;Volt$

Where, M is the mutual inductance.

If current i2 flows through circuit 2, then emf e1 is induced in the nearby circuit 1 is given by,

$e_1\;=\;-\;M\frac{di_2}{dt}\;Volt$

Defination of Mutual Inductance

Mutual inductance may be defined as the ability of one circuit to produce an emf in a nearby circuit by induction when current in the first circuit changes. In reverse way second circuit can also induce emf in the first circuit if current in the second circuit changes.

Coefficient of Mutual Inductance

Let’s consider two nearby coils of turns N1& N2 respectively. Let us again consider, current i1 flowing through first coil produces φ1. If this whole of the flux links with second coil, the weber-turn in the second coil would be N2φ1 due to current i1in the first coil. From this, it can be said, (N2φ1)/i1 is the weber-turn of the second coil due to unit current in the first coil. This term is defined as co-efficient of mutual inductance. That means, mutualinductance between two coils or circuits is defined as the weber-turns in one coil or circuit due to 1 A current in the other coil or circuit.

Formula or Equation of Mutual Inductance

Now we have already found that, mutualinductance due to current in first coil is,

$M\;=\;\frac{N_2\phi _1}{i_1}$

Again, if self inductance of first coil or circuit is L1, then,

$L_1i_1\;=\;N_1\phi _1\;\Rightarrow \;\frac{L_1}{N_1}\;=\;\frac{\phi _1}{i_1}$

$M\;=\;\frac{N_2L_1}{N_1}\;\cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots\;(\;5\;)$

Similarly, coefficient of mutual inductancedue to current i2 in the second coil is,

$M\;=\;\frac{N_1\phi _2}{i_2}$

Now, if self inductance of the second coil or circuit is, L2,

$L_2i_2\;=\;N_2\phi _2$

$\Rightarrow \;\frac{L_2}{N_2}\;=\;\frac{\phi _2}{i_2}$

$Therefore,\;M\;=\;\frac{N_1L_2}{N_2}\;\cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots \;(\;6\;)$

Now, multiplying (5) and (6), we get,

$M\;\times \;M\;=\;\frac{N_2L_1}{N_1}\;\times \frac{N_1L_2}{N_2}$

$\Rightarrow \;M^2\;=\;L_1L_2\;\Rightarrow \;M\;=\;\sqrt{L_1L_2}$

This is an ideal case, when whole changing flux of one coil, links to other coil. The value of M practically not equal to √(L1L2) as because whole flux of one coil does not link with other , rather, a part of flux of one coil, links with other coil. Hence practically,

$M\;\neq \;\sqrt {L_1L_2}$

$and\;\frac{M}{\sqrt{L_1L_2}}\;=\;K\;(\;\neq 1\;)$

This k is known as coefficient of coupling and this is the ratio of actual coefficient of mutual inductance to ideal (maximum) coefficient of mutual inductance. If flux of one coil is entirely links with other, then value of K will be one. This is an ideal case. This is not possible, but when K nearly equal to unity, that means, maximum flux of one coil links to other, the coils are said to be tightly coupled or closely coupled. But when no flux of one coil links with other, the value of K becomes zero (K = 0), then the coils are said to be very loosely coupled or isolated.

Mutual Inductance of two Solenoids or Coils

Let us assume two solenoids or coils A and B respectively.

Coil A is connected with an alternatingvoltage source , V. Due to alternating source connected to coil A, it will produce an alternating flux as shown. Now, if we connect on sensitive voltmeter across coil B, we will find a non zero reading on it. That means, some emf is induced in the coil B. This is because, apportion of flux produced by coil A, links with coil B and as the flux changes in respect of time, there will be an induced emf in the coil B according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. This phenomenon is called mutual induction. That means, induction of emf in one coil due to flux of other coil is mutual induction.

Similarly, if the alternating voltage sourcewas connected to coil B and inducedvoltage is measured by connecting voltmeter across coil A, the voltmeter gives a non-zero reading. That means, in this case the emf will be induced in coil A due to flux linkage from coil B. Let us consider coil A and B have turns N1 & N2. If the entire flux of coil A links with coil B, then weber-turns of the coil B due to unit currentof coil A, would be (N2φ1)/i1, where, φ1 & i1is flux and current of coil A. As per definition this is nothing but mutualinductance of coil A & B, M. That is,

$M\;=\;\frac{N_2\phi _1}{i_1}$

Similarly, if the current and flux of the coil B are i2 and φ2.

$Then,\;M\;=\;\frac{N_1\phi _2}{i_2}$

Inductances in Series

Let’s coil or inductance A and B are connected in series. The self inductance of coil A , is LA and that of coil B is LB. Now again consider, M is the mutual inductancebetween them. There may be two conditions.

The direction of flux produced by both coil will be in same direction. In that case, the flux of coil B links will be coil A, will be in same direction with the flux produced by coil A, itself. Hence, the effective inductanceof coil A will be LA + M.

At the same time, the flux of coil A, links with coil B will be in same direction with self flux of coil B. Hence, the effective inductance of coil B will be LB + M.

Hence total effective inductance of the series connected inductors A and B will be nothing but,

$L_A\;+\;M\;+\;L_B\;+\;M\;=\;L_A\;+\;L_B\;+\;2M$
Now, if direction of instantaneous flux at coil A and B are in opposite, then flux of coil B linking with coil A, will be in opposite direction of flux produced by coil A itself. So, effectiveinductance of coil A will be LA – M.

In the same way, the flux of coil A which links with coil B, will be in opposite direction of self flux of coil B.

Hence, effective inductance of coil B will be, LB – M.

So, total inductance in series in this case will be,

$L_A\;-\;M\;+\;L_B\;-\;M\;=\;L_A\;+\;L_B\;-\;2M$

So, general form of equivalentinductance of two inductors in series in,

$L_A\;+\;L_B\;\pm\;2M$

Types of Inductor

There are many types of inductors ; all differ in size, core material, type of windings, etc. so they are used in wide range of applications. The maximum capacity of the inductorgets specified by the type of core material and the number of turns on coil.

Depending on the value, inductorstypically exist in two forms, fixed and variable. .The number of turns of the fixed coil remains the same. This type is like resistors in shape and they can be distinguished by the fact that the first color band in fixed inductor is always silver. They are usually used in electronic equipment as in radios, communication apparatus, electronic testing instruments, etc.

The number of turns of the coil in variable inductors , changes depending on the design of the inductor. Some of them are designed to have taps to change the number of turns. The other design is fabricated to have a many fixed inductors for which, it can be switched into parallel or series combinations. They often get used in modern electronic equipment.

Core or heart of inductor is the main part of the inductor. Some types ofinductor depending on the material of the core will be discussed.

Ferromagnetic Core Inductor or Iron-core Inductors

This type uses ferromagnetic materials such as ferrite or iron in manufacturing the inductor for increasing the inductance. Due to the high magnetic permeability of these materials, inductance can be increased in response of increasing the magnetic field.

At high frequencies it suffers from core loses, energy loses, that happens in ferromagnetic cores.

Air Core Inductor

Air cored inductor is the type where no solid core exists inside the coils. In addition, the coils that wound on nonmagnetic materials such as ceramic and plastic, are also considered as air cored. This type does not use magnetic materials in its construction.

The main advantage of this form ofinductors is that, at high magnetic field strength, they have a minimal signal loss. On the other hand, they need a bigger number of turns to get the same inductance that the solid cored inductors would produce. They are free of core losses because they are not depending on a solid core.

Toroidal Core Inductor

Toridal Inductor

Toroidal Inductor constructs of a circular ring-formed magnetic core that characterized by it is magnetic with high permeability material like iron powder, for which the wire wounded to get inductor. It works pretty well in AC electronic circuits’ application.

The advantage of this type is that, due to its symmetry, it has a minimum loss in magnetic flux; therefore it radiates less electromagnetic interference near circuits or devices. Electromagnetic interference is very important in electronics that require high frequency and low power.

Laminated Core Inductor

This form gets typified by its stacks made with thin steel sheets, on top of each other designed to be parallel to the magnetic field covered with insulating paint on the surface; commonly on oxide finish. It aims to block the eddy currents between steel sheets of stacks so the currentkeeps flowing through its sheet and minimizing loop area for which it leads to great decrease in the loss of energy. Laminated core inductor is also a low frequency inductor. It is more suitable and used in transformer applications.

Powdered Iron Core

Its core gets constructed by using magnetic materials that get characterized by its distributed air gaps. This gives the advantage to the core to store a high level of energy comparing to other types. In addition, very good inductance stability is gained with low losses in eddy current and hysteresis. Moreover, it has the lowest cost alternative.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING BASIC'S

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