A High-Current High-Voltage Fuse for Protection of Pulsed Power Circuits

A high-current high-voltage fuse has been developed and tested for protection of some electric power system components at the International Experimental Thermonuclear Reactor (ITER) against short-circuit currents. The fuse has been designed in accordance with the ITER requirements for use in a pulsed operation mode to cut off the current with an amplitude as high as 30 kA in case of a short circuit, thus providing a long-term interruption of the electric circuit with a voltage of up to 9 kV. The design of the developed fuse is described. The main engineering solutions are considered that ensure its compliance with the requirements for the dielectric strength, switching currents, and switch-off time. The results of experimental investigations of the switching characteristics are presented. The range of switching currents and the dielectric strength in a pulsed operation mode with the application of a postswitching voltage are determined.