SCHURTER has introduced a new fuse technology, the Pyrofuse-APO Series, designed to meet the increasing demand for reliable protection in high-voltage systems driven by electrification in industries like EVs, aerospace, and energy storage.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Active Operation: Unlike conventional fuses, the APO operates actively. Upon detecting a short circuit or accident, a control unit triggers a micro gas generator.
- Rapid Response: The gas generator creates high pressure to mechanically sever a copper busbar, achieving complete galvanic isolation in less than 2 milliseconds (with measured speeds as fast as 0.9 ms).
- High Performance:
- Rated for operating voltages up to 1000 V.
- Supports continuous currents up to 400 A.
- Ultra-low internal resistance (micro-Ohms range) minimizes power loss and heat.
- Safety & Design:
- High breaking capacity for extreme short-circuit conditions.
- Fully encapsulated design prevents the release of particles or gases.
- Compact design allows for easy integration and reduces stress on downstream components like contactors.
This technology aims to set a new safety benchmark for e-mobility and energy transition applications.
Overview: A New Benchmark in High-Voltage Protection
As global industries—from automotive to aerospace—rapidly transition toward electrification, the safety requirements for high-voltage systems have intensified. Schurter’s new Pyrofuse-APO Series represents a paradigm shift from traditional passive circuit protection to active safety. Designed specifically for the rigorous demands of electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure, energy storage, and fuel cells, this technology offers a level of speed and reliability that conventional fuses cannot match.
Operational Mechanism: Pyrotechnic Precision
The core innovation of the APO series lies in its “active” triggering mechanism. Unlike standard fuses that rely on melting a detailed element over time due to thermal buildup, the APO reacts instantaneously to a digital trigger:
- Trigger Event: In the event of a crash or short circuit, the system’s control unit sends a signal to the fuse.
- Gas Generation: This signal activates an integrated micro-gas generator.
- Mechanical Separation: Within milliseconds, the generator builds high pressure that drives a piston. This piston mechanically severs a solid copper busbar.
- Arc Extinguishing: The electrical arc resulting from the cut is immediately contained and suppressed within a dedicated extinguishing chamber.
- Result: The system achieves complete galvanic isolation in less than 2 milliseconds, with real-world performance measured as fast as 0.9 ms.
Technical Specifications & Efficiency
The APO Series is engineered to handle the high power density of modern electric architectures without compromising efficiency:
- Voltage & Current: Rated for operating voltages up to 1000 V and continuous currents of 400 A.
- Ultra-Low Resistance: The unit boasts an internal resistance in the range of only a few dozen micro-Ohms (µOhms).
- Thermal Management: This exceptionally low resistance ensures that power losses are negligible and temperature rise remains minimal, addressing one of the common pain points in high-power management.
Safety, Robustness, and Design
Schurter has designed the APO to function safely even under extreme conditions:
- Encapsulation: The unit features a fully encapsulated design, ensuring that no gases or particles are released into the surrounding environment during operation.
- High Breaking Capacity: It is capable of safely interrupting extreme short-circuit currents that would overwhelm standard components.
- Downstream Protection: Its rapid reaction time relieves stress on downstream components, such as contactors, potentially extending the lifespan and reducing the cost of the overall system architecture.
Applications
This technology positions Schurter as a key partner in the energy transition, offering critical protection for:
- E-Mobility: Electric vehicles and commercial fleets.
- Energy Storage: Stationary battery systems and renewable energy grids.
- Aerospace: High-reliability power systems for aircraft.
