Comparison of damping techniques for the soft-stop of ultra-fast linear actuators for HVDC breaker applications

Abstract

This paper assesses the advantages, drawbacks, and overall suitability of different soft-stop techniques to provide smooth deceleration of ultra-fast linear actuators used in hybrid HVDC breaker designs, with the help of FEA simulations. The paper compares active and passive damping techniques in terms of efficacy, energy consumption, and interference with the ultra-fast operation needed from the actuator. The possibility of combining active and passive damping techniques is discussed.

Keywords

• finite element analysis
• circuit breakers
• HVDC power transmission
• energy consumption
• electric actuators
• interference
• energy consumption
• FEA simulations
• active damping techniques
• hybrid HVDC breaker designs
• soft-stop techniques
• HVDC breaker applications
• ultra-fast linear actuators
• passive damping techniques