HRC Fuse or High Rupturing Capacity Fuse. HRC fuse or High Rupturing Capacity Fuse.
Typical high rupturing capacity cartridge fuse, It consist of heat resisting ceramic body having metal end caps to which is welded silver current carrying element.
The space within the body surrounding the element is completely packed with a ceiling powder. The filling material may be chalk plaster of paris, quartz or marble dust and acts as are quenching and cooling medium
Under normal load conditions, the fuse element is at a temperature below its melting point. Therefore, it carries the normal current without overheating. When a fault occurs, the current increases and the fuse element melts before the fault current reaches its first peak.
The heat produced in the process vapourises the melted silver element. The chemical reaction between the silver vapour and the filling powder results in the formation of high resistance substance which helps in quenching the arc.
Advantages :
High rupturing capacity fuses have high speed of operations, High rupturing capacity fuses require no maintenance high rupturing capacity fuses are cheaper than other circuit interrupting devices of equal breaking capacity.
High rupturing capacity fuses permit consistent operation.
Disadvantages:
They have to be replaced after each operation.
Heat produced by the arc may affect the associated switches.
