Introduction
Electrification in construction, marine, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and other industries, in addition to transportation, is a critical trend in cleaner energy. Selecting a fuse for direct current (DC) applications is more complex than for alternating current (AC) circuits due to the limited knowledge on DC operation of electrical components. While AC data can be adapted for DC use with a clear understanding, DC circuit parameters vary widely, impacting fuse performance significantly.
To choose a suitable fuse, one must know the DC capabilities of the fuse, critical circuit parameters, and expected overcurrent conditions.
Mersen is committed to providing the application know-how and different level of products available for DC applications trending today.
Show lessHow To Select a DC Fuse
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DC Applications
In the realm of electricity, two significant players, Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), have been in a longstanding duel since the inception of electrical power.
As power density increases, the need to improve power efficiency is trending more toward DC systems.
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2040, 60% of the world's electricity will come from renewable energy sources. This shift towards sustainability highlights the importance of leveraging DC power to maximize energy efficiency and reliability.
Mersen is committed to providing the level of protection needed for many of these systems, such as UPS system, EV Charging Stations, ESS Battery System, Protection of Power inverters, converters and rectifiers, AC and DC drives, DC common bus, Reduced voltage motor starters, UPS systems, Protection of Capacitor banks, Switchboard and control panels, DC grid.
Here are some examples of how Mersen can provide solutions to protect your DC system:
Overcurrent DC Distribution Cable Protection
In the diagram below, you can see how DC Distribution appears in how we distribute Energy.
Mersen DC distributions protect where these green lines are distributed. Applications include DC auxiliary circuits, electrical energy storage (EES), battery module protection, EV charging, critical power, and UPS systems powering Datacenters.
DC Distribution fuses are full-range fuses capable of safely interrupting currents ranging from 2In (200% current rating) up to their maximum interrupting rating.
These fuses can be used to protect the branch which includes the DC cabling and bus, along with any specific pieces of equipment.
The Energy Storage System (EES)
EES spans the entire grid, from major power generation sources like PV or wind farms to industrial and residential installations with PV capabilities.
In some cases, EV/HEV batteries serve as EES components to buffer power fluctuations. Large-scale electrical energy storage (EES) systems are crucial for compensating constant fluctuations in energy utilization, playing a key role in the future smart grid network.
As the demand for efficient electrical protection of these systems rises, Mersen, a specialist in electrical energy safety, is consistently developing solutions to meet the extreme demands on protection systems, given the substantial capacities and wide range of fault currents encountered by EES systems.
DC Fast Charging Systems
DC fast chargers convert AC power to DC, delivering it directly to the battery for quick charging.
High-power DC charging station need large current fuses with fast response to prevent overload. Ensure the fuse's current interrupt rating exceeds the AC line current.
Use high-speed, high-current, and high-rated voltage fuses to protect DC output circuits from load current shorts.
Resources
Customized Fuse process.
General Video Training links
DC Application questionnaire