Nenhuma / Chaves fusíveis são dispositivos elétricos de proteção contra descargas atmosféricas nas redes de distribuição de energia elétrica. O principal componente das chaves fusíveis são os elos fusíveis, os quais possuem um elemento fusível, uma liga metálica especial que se funde pelo calor gerado quando atingido por uma descarga elétrica. Quando o elemento fusível se funde, um arco elétrico é formado entre as duas extremidades resultantes. Este arco pode levar à deterioração de sistemas de transmissão de energia elétrica e equipamentos eletrônicos. Para extinguir o arco elétrico, envolvendo o elemento fusível, existe um tubo feito de material celulósico de alta densidade denominado fibra vulcanizada, que, ao sofrer ablação pelo alto calor gerado pela descarga elétrica, gera instantaneamente gases, em volume e composição química capazes de formar, em fração de segundos, e através de um processo endotérmico que resfria o meio, uma atmosfera não ionizável que impede a propagação do arco elétrico. Uma fibra vulcanizada importada é utilizada por todos os fabricantes de elos fusíveis no Brasil. Para se buscar um material celulósico nacional que substitua a fibra vulcanizada com a mesma eficácia na extinção do arco elétrico, foi realizada a caracterização físico-química tanto do material importado como de materiais celulósicos selecionados no mercado brasileiro, utilizando as técnicas de análise elementar, difração e fluorescência de raios X, FTIR, C CP/MAS RMN e MEV. Os resultados evidenciaram que materiais celulósicos nacionais com alto teor de celulose alfa apresentam grande similaridade com a fibra vulcanizada e que, em testes de desempenho de interrupção de arco elétrico, esses materiais se mostraram com grande potencial de substituição do material importado. / Switching cutout devices are electrical circuit breakers which protect electric power distribution webs against lightning discharges. Switching cutout devices main parts are the fuse links in which a fuse element, a special metallic alloy, melts due to the generated heat when struck by electric discharges. When such melting occurs, and the breaker opens, an intense electric arc is formed between the two end points. Such electric arc may cause a huge deterioration of power transmission systems as well as that of electronic equipment. In order to quench the electric arc, involving the fuse element, there is a tube made of a high density cellulose material denominated "vulcanized" fiber, which is ablated by the high heat generated by atmospheric discharges, and instantly generates gases, both in volume and chemical composition, capable of forming in a fraction of second and by means of an endothermic process that cools down the medium, a non-ionizable atmosphere that prevents the propagation of the electric arc. An imported "vulcanized" fiber is used by all manufacturers of fuse links in Brazil. In order to search for a national cellulose material to replace the "vulcanized" fiber showing the same effectiveness in arc quenching, a systematical physical-chemical characterization was carried out, involving both the imported material as well as a number of other cellulose materials selected in the Brazilian market, by means of elementary analysis techniques, XRD, FTIR, C CP/MAS NMR and SEM. The results evidenced that national cellulose materials with high percentage of alpha cellulose present a great similarity to that of the "vulcanized" fiber. Furthermore, in performance tests concerning the electric arc quenching, such materials proved to have great potential in replacing that imported material.

Ce travail s’inscrit dans le projet Fusible Ecologiquement et Economiquement Efficace destiné à la protection des onduleurs à commutation en tension (FE2E) porté par la société Mersen. Les fusibles étudiés sont constitués de lames d’argent noyées dans du sable de silice aggloméré. Lors d’un court-circuit, un arc électrique apparaît au niveau de rétrécissements dans les lames d’argent (« sections réduites »). Les coupures ultrarapides (moins de 100 microsecondes) ont été très peu étudiées. La structure formée après coupure (fulgurite) est constituée d’un canal d’arc entouré de silice fondue. C’est sur ces structures que cette étude a été réalisée.Après une étude bibliographique, un travail expérimental a été mené pour comprendre comment l’énergie de l’arc est absorbée par la matière. Des observations de coupures par radiographie in situ réalisées à l’ESRF ont permis d’établir des liens entre les phénomènes de création de fulgurite et les mesures électriques. Des observations et des mesures ont été réalisées. Elles ont conduit à établir des corrélations entre le volume, la nature et la structure de la masse isolante générée lors de la coupure et les caractéristiques électriques de l’arc. Les mesures ont en particulier permis d’obtenir des dimensions et des formes caractéristiques des zones affectées thermiquement lors des coupures aux grands di/dt.Grâce à ces informations, des modèles numériques ont été développés, avec pour objectifs de décrire la formation du canal d’arc et d’estimer l’effet du confinement de l’arc par le sable de silice. Des géométries 1D axisymétriques puis 2D ont été utilisées. L’arc électrique était considéré comme une densité de puissance et le sable comme un milieu continu équivalent. Deux cas extrêmes ont été testés, l’un dans lequel la matière vaporisée est confinée dans un canal d’arc fermé, l’autre dans lequel elle s’échappe instantanément. Cela a permis d’identifier les conséquences du confinement sur les phénomènes lors de la coupure.La corrélation entre modélisation et expérience a conduit à un modèle simple dont les résultats sont conformes aux mesures expérimentales et qui permettent de donner des éléments pour le dimensionnement des nouveaux fusibles. Les phénomènes à prendre en compte dans le futur ont été identifiés, comme la propagation de la silice liquide et l’écoulement du gaz dans le milieu granulaire et la formation de l’arc. / This work is part of a project called Environmentally and Economically Effective Fuses (FE2E) driven by the Mersen company. The studied fuses are silver blades embedded in agglomerated silica sand. In case of short circuit, an electric arc appears in shrinked parts (“notches”) of silver blades. The structure formed after the cut (fulgurite) consists in an arc channel surrounded by amorphous silica. Extremely fast cuts (less than 100 microseconds) have been poorly studied.After a bibliographical review, an experimental work was performed to understand how the arc power is absorbed by the surrounding material. Power cuts observations using in situ radiography performed at the ESRF allowed to establish links between fulgurite formation phenomena and electric measurements. Observations and measurements led to correlations between volume, nature and structure of the insulating mass generated during the power cut and electrical characteristics of the arc. In particular, these measurements provided characteristic sizes and shapes for heat affected zones during power cuts at high di/dtNumerical models were developed on this basis for describing the arc channel formation and determining the role of silica sand containment. 1D then 2D axisymmetric geometries were used. The electric arc was considered as a power source and the sand as an equivalent continuous medium. Two extreme cases were tested: when the vaporized material was confined to a closed arc channel and when it escapeed immediately from the arc channel. The results helped identify the consequences of gas containment in the arc channel during power cut.Modeling vs experience correlations led to a simple model which gives information for optimizing new fuses. Some phenomena to be taken into account in future works have been identified, such as the liquid silica penetration and gas flow in the granular packing and the early stages of arc formation.

Le mécanisme de la transition préarc-arc dans les éléments de coupure du type fusible est encore mal connu à ce jour. La compréhension du phénomène requiert encore de nombreuses données fondamentales tels que la température ou la densité des vapeurs métalliques créées. Des hypothèses sont avancées pour expliquer la différence du temps de préarc prévue par les modélisations effectuées au sein du LAEPT avec celui constaté lors des expérimentations menées dans ce même laboratoire. Cet ouvrage tente de les vérifier par une approche expérimentale menées sur des fils explosés et des rubans fusibles. L’étude expérimentale est complétée par une recherche bibliographique sur les fils explosés. Ce complément propose de nouvelles pistes d’investigation pour la compréhension de l’amorçage de l’arc électrique sur les rubans fusibles. Enfin, toutes les méthodes de diagnostic et les grandeurs obtenues dans les tests les plus représentatifs sont données en fin d’ouvrage. / Transition between prearcing and arcing stage remains not well known. Several fundamental data are needed as temperature or density of metalic vapour created to better understand the phenomenon. Hypothesis are mentioned to explain the difference of prearc time between modelisations and experiences that have been made in LAEPT. This study try to verificate them among experiences made on exploding wire and fuses ribbon. Experimental study is completed by a bibliographic review on exploding wires. This review permits to show other lines of investigation to understand the transition between prearcing and arcing stage on fuses ribbon. Finally, all the methods of diagnostic and the results obtained with the most representative tests are given at the end of the thesis.

On-chip impedance tuning is used to overcome IC perturbations caused by packaging stress. Tuning is more important for matching networks of radio frequency (RF) systems. Possible package resonance and fabrication process variations may cause instability, which is a major problem in RF systems. Thus, precautions need to be taken in order to maintain the overall stability of components and the final system itself. Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory switches (EEPROMs) occupy less die area compared to e-fuses and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches, thus EEPROMs are proposed to be used as tuning switches in millimetre-wave (mm-wave) applications. It is anticipated that EEPROM switches will also enable multi-time programming because of the smaller area and the fact that more switches can be used for fine-tuning. The problem addressed in this research is how suitable EEPROMs are for switching applications in the mm-wave region. The main focus of this dissertation is to characterise the suitability of EEPROM switches qualitatively for tuning with systems operating in the mm-wave spectrum. 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS IBM 8HP process technology was used for simulation and the fabricated prototypes. The Dickson charge pump (CP), two voltage doubler CPs and four floating gate (FG) devices were investigated. Literature and theoretical verification was done using computer aided design (CAD) Cadence software through circuit analysis and the layouts were also designed for integrated circuit (IC) prototype fabrication. The qualitative evaluation of the hypothesis was based on investigating reliability issues, switching characteristics, CP output drive capability and mm-wave characterisation. The maximum measured drain current for FGs was 1.4 mA, 2.7 mA and 3 mA for devices 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The ratio between ON state switching current (after tunnelling) and OFF state switching current (after injection) was 1.5, 1.35 and 6 for devices 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The ratios correlated with the expected results in terms of FG transistor area: a high area results in a higher ratio. Despite the correlation, devices 2 and 3 may be unsuitable because the ratio is less than 2: a smaller ratio between the ON and OFF states could also result in higher losses. The Dickson CP achieved an output voltage of 2.96 V from an input of 1.2 V compared to 3.08 V as computed from the theoretical analysis and 4.5 V from the simulation results. The prototypes of the voltage doubler CP did not perform as expected: a maximum of 1 V was achieved compared to 4.1 – 5 V as in the simulation results. The suitability of FG devices for switching applications depends on the ratio of the ON and OFF states (associated to insertion and isolation losses): the larger the FG transistor area, the higher the ratio. The reliability issues are dominated by the oxide thickness of the transistor, which contributes to charge leakages and charge trapping: smaller transistor length causes more uncertainties. Charge trapping in the oxide increases the probability of leakages and substrate conduction, thus introduces more losses. Based on the findings of this research work, the FG devices promise to be suitable for mm-wave switching applications and there is a need for further research investigation to characterise the devices in the mm-wave region fully. AFRIKAANS : Impedansie-instelling op skyf word gebruik om steurings in geïntegreerde stroombane wat deur verpakkingstres veroorsaak word, te oorkom. Instelling is meer belangrik om netwerke van radiofrekwensiesisteme te paar. Moontlike verpakkingresonansie en variasies in die vervaardigingsproses kan onstabiliteit veroorsaak, wat ‟n groot probleem is in radiofrekwensiesisteme. Voorsorg moet dus getref word om die oorhoofse stabiliteit van komponente en die finale sisteem self te handhaaf. Elektries uitveebare programmeerbare slegs-lees-geheueskakelaars (EEPROMs) neem minder matrysarea op as e-sekerings en die sekerings van mikro-elektromeganiese sisteme en word dus voorgestel vir gebruik as instellingskakelaars in millimetergolfaanwendings. Daar word verwag dat EEPROM-skakelaars ook multi-tydprogrammering sal moontlik maak as gevolg van die kleiner area en die feit dat meer skakelaars gebruik kan word vir fyn instellings. Die probleem wat in hierdie navorsing aandag geniet, is die geskiktheid van EEPROMS vir skakelaanwendings in die millimetergolfstreek. The hooffokus van die verhandeling is om die geskiktheid van EEPROM-skakelaars kwalitatief te karakteriseer vir instelling met sisteme wat in die millimetergolfspektrum funksioneer. Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering v University of Pretoria 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS IBM 8HP-prosestegnologie is gebruik vir simulasie en die vervaardigde prototipes. Die Dickson-laaipomp is gebruik vir simulasie en die vervaardigde prototipes. Die Dickson-laaipomp, twee spanningverdubbelinglaaipompe en vier swewendehektoestelle is ondersoek. Literatuur- en teoretiese verifikasie is gedoen met behulp van rekenaarondersteunde-ontwerp (CAD) Cadence-sagteware deur stroombaananalise en die uitleg is ook ontwerp vir die vervaardiging van geïntegreerdestroombaanprototipes. Die kwalitatiewe evaluasie van die hipotese is gebaseer op die ondersoek van betroubaarheidkwessies, skakelingeienskappe, laaipompuitsetdryfvermoë en millimetergolfkarakterisering. Die maksimum gemete dreineerstroom vir swewende hekke was 1.4 mA, 2.7 mA en 3 mA vir onderskeidelik toestelle 2, 3 en 4. Die verhouding tussen die AAN-toestand van die skakelstroom (na tonnelling) en die AF-toestand van die skakelstroom (na inspuiting) was 1.5, 1.35 en 6 vir toestelle 2, 3 en 4, onderskeidelik. Die verhoudings het ooreengestem met die verwagte resultate rakende die swewendehek-transistorareas: ‟n groot area het ‟n hoër verhouding tot gevolg. Nieteenstaande die ooreenstemming, mag toestelle 2 en 3 moontlik nie geskik wees nie, omdat die verhouding kleiner as 2 is: ‟n kleiner verhouding tussen die AAN- en AF-toestande mag ook hoër verliese tot gevolg hê. Die Dickson-laaipomp het ‟n uitsetspanning van 2.96 V vanaf ‟n inset van 1.2 V vergeleke met 3.08 V soos bereken volgens die teoretiese analise en 4.5 V volgens die simulasieresultate. Die prototipes van die spanningverdubbelinglaaipomp het nie gefunksioneer soos verwag is nie: ‟n maksimum van 1 V is bereik vergeleke met 4.1 – 5 V soos in die simulasieresultate. Die geskiktheid van swewendehektoestelle vir skakelingtoepassings hang af van die verhouding van die AAN- en AF-toestande (wat met invoer-en isolasieverlies geassosieer word): hoe groter die swewendehektransistorarea, hoe hoër die verhouding. Die betroubaarheidkwessies word oorheers deur die oksieddikte van die transistor, wat bydra tot ladinglekkasies en ladingvasvangs: korter transistorlengte veroorsaak meer onsekerheid. Ladingvasvangs in die oksied verhoog die moontlikheid van lekkasies en substraatgeleiding en veroorsaak dus groter verlies. Die bevindings van hierdie navorsing toon dat swewendehektoestelle waarskynlik geskik is vir millimetergolfaanwendings en verdere navorsing is nodig om die toestelle volledig in die millimetergolfstreek te karakteriseer. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

This thesis uses the lens of building technology to examine cultural exchange and its relationship to the building crafts. By focusing on masonry vaulting in India, my research brings together two worlds – one that shines light on the variety of innovative masonry shell construction techniques that exist in the county and another that seeks to evaluate the scope of tile vaulting, an over 600-year old Mediterranean building technique, within India’s evolving building crafts culture. This thesis is organized in three parts: PART ONE Tile Vaulting and Relevance Today | A Brief History of Masonry Shells in India Part one introduces tile vaulting’s unique principles compared to other vaulting traditions while contextualizing its relevance to present day India. A survey of varied masonry vaulting techniques and modules, endemic and imported, practiced across India is presented against the backdrop of what is a predominantly reinforced concrete-based construction industry. PART TWO Modules, Methods and Motivations The second part of this research comprises case studies that include some of India’s most iconic buildings such as the Villa Sarabhai by Le Corbusier, the National Institute of Design by Gautam Sarabhai and Sangath by B.V. Doshi, each of which employed innovative construction techniques for its vaults. The production and use of the enigmatic ceramic fuses in India is examined for the first time alongside their indigenous cousins: burnt clay tubes. Together with Muzaffarnagar vaulting, the case studies reveal cultural motivations for architectural expression and production in postcolonial India. PART THREE Prototypes | Comparatives | Limitations & Extension of Research Part three presents five tile vaulting prototypes in India constructed with local artisans to gain understanding of its cultural reception, assess effective transfer of skills and potential internalisation. Recommendations for tile vaulting’s potential uptake into mainstream architectural production is evaluated by comparing findings against prevalent building methods and by contextualizing current architectural trends and social policy. Limitations and scope for extension of research are also discussed.