Modeling of resettable fuses characteristics for protection of solar arrays from current overloads
Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures
ISSN: 1573-6105
Article publication date: 4 April 2022
Issue publication date: 19 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to substantiate optimization directions of resettable fuses parameters to protect solar arrays from overcurrent.
Design/methodology/approach
The method of modeling the electrophysical characteristics of resettable fuses is used.
Findings
Resettable fuses currently produced are of little use for protecting photovoltaic cells (PVC) in solar arrays from overcurrent. The volume fraction of the conductive filler should be about 0.15, near the percolation threshold. Thus, reducing the resistance by increasing the amount of filler is not possible. The matrix of the composite should consist of a material with a significant proportion of the crystalline phase to ensure a sharp increase in the composite's volume near the melting point. Using a polymer with a lower melting point instead of polyethylene can reduce the power required to switch a resettable fuses.
Originality/value
The possibility of using resettable fuses based on polymer composite materials with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance to protect photovoltaic solar cells from current overloads is considered. Modeling of the electrophysical characteristics of modern industrial fuses of this type based on polyethylene-nanocarbon composites has been carried out. The limits of their applicability for the protection of photovoltaic solar cells are analyzed. On the basis of the obtained results, the optimization directions of the resettable fuses parameters for use in the protection circuits of PVC of solar array are determined.
Keywords
Citation
Lyashkov, A.Y., Makarov, V.O. and Plakhtii, Y.G. (2022), "Modeling of resettable fuses characteristics for protection of solar arrays from current overloads", Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 328-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/MMMS-01-2022-0010
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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