Analysis of high-rupturing-capacity fuselink prearcing phenomena by a finite-difference method

The complex nature of heat flow within a modern current-limiting fuselink precludes direct analysis using classical techniques. This paper describes a method which has been developed for determining the prearcing and steady-state behaviour of such devices. It uses a finite difference technique and is numerical, the calculations being performed by a digital computer. Examples of current and temperature distributions found for some fuse-links are given, and comparisons of calculated and test results for fuselink-clearance times are shown.