Modeling and simulation of a 20kV ultra-fast DC circuit breaker for electric shipboard applications

Trevor Arvin, Jiangbiao He, Nathan Weise, Tiefu Zhao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel hybrid circuit breaker for medium voltage dc (MVDC) electric shipboard power systems is proposed. The breaker combines the benefits of the efficiency of a mechanical breaker and the interruption speed of a solid-state breaker. The proposed breaker utilizes a fast-ramping current source with a fast-actuating vacuum interrupter (VI) to provided ultra-fast response time and high on-state efficiency. During normal operation, nominal load current flows through the vacuum interrupter in the main conduction branch, providing a low-resistance path with negligible losses. During a fault, a current zero crossing is achieved by the use of a controllable resonant current source (RCS). By leveraging the high switching frequency capabilities of Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices, the current source achieves higher frequency of resonance than previously possible with the silicon counterparts. After interruption, the surge arrester in the energy absorption branch clamps overvoltages and dissipates all residual system energy. Simulation results from the PLECS software environment are presented to verify the functionality of this proposed breaker in a 20 kV MVDC system for electric shipboard applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2020 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo, ITEC 2020
Pages795-801
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781728146294
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020
Event2020 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo, ITEC 2020 - Chicago, United States
Duration: Jun 23 2020Jun 26 2020

Publication series

Name2020 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo, ITEC 2020

Conference

Conference2020 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo, ITEC 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago
Period6/23/206/26/20

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Circuit breaker
  • MVDC
  • SiC devices
  • fault protection
  • modeling
  • resonant current source

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Transportation

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