Interruption characteristics of self-powered hybrid DC circuit breaker with synergistic effect of step-down and divided current

Abstract

The DC voltage level of photovoltaic and PEDF applications have continuously advanced, reaching up to DC3000V. This presents new requirements for DC circuit breakers operating at higher voltages (>DC1500V) to ensure effective fault protection in the DC side. Based on this, a self-powered hybrid DC circuit breaker with synergistic effect of step-down and divided current is proposed. This innovative design utilizes the voltage of main branch to trigger IGBT conduction, eliminating the need for an additional trigger circuit. The interruption characteristics is analyzed by simulation. The reactor and shunt resistance effectively reduce the peak currents of both main and transfer branches. This approach significantly mitigates the voltage stress on the mechanical switch, reduces the risk of post-arc reignition, and shortens the interruption time. The circuit breaker topology proposed enables the DC arc interruption at larger current and higher voltage, serving as the valuable guide for the implementation of hybrid DC circuit breakers in renewable energy power systems.

Keywords

• Step-down
• Divided current
• Self-powered
• DC breaking
• Hybrid DC circuit breaker