Systems and methods for providing fluid-affected fuses

A system comprising:

• an electric power system comprising at least one busbar;
• a fuse configured to provide circuit protection, the fuse comprising:
• a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the at least one busbar,
• a structural housing comprising an internal volume,
• a fuse element electrically coupled between the pair of terminals and arranged in the internal volume, wherein the fuse element is configured to uncouple the terminals at a predetermined condition, and
• a fluid arranged in the internal volume and configured to affect a temperature of the fuse element;
• a sensor arranged in a port of the structural housing, wherein:
• the port is configured to provide the fluid from the internal volume;
• and
• control circuitry configured to monitor at least one characteristic of the fuse during operation.

A method for managing a fluid-affected fuse, the method comprises:

• monitoring one or more sensor signals generated by a sensor element arranged in a port of a structural housing of the fluid-affected fuse, wherein the one or more sensor signals is indicative of fuse operation;
• applying current to one or more busbars of a battery system, wherein a fuse element is arranged within an internal volume of the structural housing and is electrically coupled to the one or more busbars;
• and
• generating a control signal for controlling a fluid stream configured to flow through the internal volume to affect a temperature of the pair of fuse elements based on the one or more sensor signals.