The Specifics of PTC Thermistor Applications for Limiting Surge Currents

Evgeniy Safonov (), Vladimir Frolov, Ruslan Zhiligotov and Yuri Petrenya
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Evgeniy Safonov: Higher School of Electric Power Systems, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Vladimir Frolov: Higher School of Electric Power Systems, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Ruslan Zhiligotov: Higher School of Electric Power Systems, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Yuri Petrenya: Higher School of Electric Power Systems, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: This paper investigates the possibilities of limiting emergency short current pulses by using materials with a positive temperature coefficient. A computational model and method for simulating this process were proposed. Barium titanate was considered a promising material for current-limiting devices due to its low cost, ease of manufacturing and autonomy. The current-limiting properties of a PTC thermistor device were estimated in relation to a significant pulse current overload (10 ms). The value of taking into account the varistor effect when modeling energy dissipation by a PTC thermistor is experimentally demonstrated. The results of the experiment were used in the development of computer models of the current-limiting properties of PTC thermistors. A method for taking into account the varistor effect in the developed models is proposed. It is noted that in order to increase the accuracy of the calculation, it is important to take into account the heat transfer between the PTC thermistor and its contact system. It is also shown that this heat transfer is capable of creating a significant longitudinal temperature gradient inside the PTC thermistor, which creates a high level of thermal stress and leads to mechanical failure. Destruction of this type has been observed during experiments. This research was carried out within the state assignment FSEG-2023-0012.

Keywords: PTC thermistor; current limiting; barium titanate; destruction mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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