Optimization for EV Fuse Based on Thermal-electrical Coupled Simulation

Fuses play an important role in protection of the power and electrical components. This work is aimed at reducing the pre-arcing time of fuse by optimizing the fuse-element structure. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element simulation model of fuse was established, and the temperature variation of fuse was simulated with the thermal-electric coupling method. On this basis, the optimal structure of fuse-element was determined and analyzed. The results show that temperature change rate and maximum temperature threshold of the fuse-element can be regulated through altering the structure of fuse-element. With the improvement of the fuse-element, the pre-arcing time can be reduced by approximately 4 ms. The simulation results can be used to guide the actual fuse design.