A Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker Combining a Multilevel Converter and Mechanical Contactors: Verification of the Principles of Operation by Experiment and Simulation

Abstract

SUMMARYThis paper presents a new hybrid dc circuit breaker producing no conducting power loss under normal operating conditions and having the capability to interrupt a large amount of short-circuiting current within several milliseconds. It consists of two reactors for current limiting and current control, two mechanical contactors, and a multilevel converter based on the cascade connection of multiple fullbridge dc/dc converter cells. It is characterized by achieving current commutation from the main mechanical contactor to the multilevel converter with fast current control. This results in eliminating auxiliary power semiconductor switches that produce a nonnegligible conducting power loss under normal operating conditions. This paper discusses both principles of operation and control method of the new hybrid dc circuit breaker. Experimental verification is performed by a downscaled system rated at 300 V and 150 A, along with verification by computer simulation.

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“…As a result, there may have some possibility that the current force is incapable to open the MCCBs contacts. On the other hand, in Reference 143, the authors have proposed a hybrid DC circuit breaker that contains the mechanical reactor and contactor for the converter and current limiting, respectively. In LVDC, this scheme is used for the higher voltages as its steady‐state losses are zero and it operates faster.…”

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“…For example, control equipment of the highvoltage (HV) system needs high insulation and it is not easy to supply power to such a system. In particular, in the HV-DC system which is expected to be introduced widely, 1,2) WPT becomes more important because it is not easy to acquire power from the main wiring.…”

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“…The WPT distance for such a high-voltage system depends on the isolation characteristics based on the system voltage. Up to about 10 W power and 2 m distance are required for various controllers of high-voltage DC system applications such as circuit breakers [1,4,5]. The WPT equipment in such a system will be configured as a fixed system.…”

“…For example, the power supply to a controller of a high-voltage system is a significant application. In particular, in highvoltage DC systems, which will be used widely in the near future, [1][2][3] WPT is more important because it is not easy to acquire power from the main wiring. The WPT distance for such a high-voltage system depends on the isolation characteristics based on the system voltage.…”

“…Up to about 10 W power and 2 m distance are required for various controllers of high-voltage DC system applications such as circuit breakers. 1,4,5) The WPT equipment in such a system will be configured as a fixed system.…”