Circuit Breakers in Low- and Medium-Voltage DC Microgrids for Protection against Short-Circuit Electrical Faults: Evolution and Future Challenges

Abstract

This paper deals with circuit breakers (CBs) used in direct current microgrids (DCMGs) for protection against electrical faults, focusing on their evolution and future challenges in low voltage (<1.5 kV) and medium voltage (between 1.5 kV and 20 kV). In recent years, proposals for new circuit-breaker features have grown. Therefore, a review on the evolution of circuit breakers for DCMGs is of utmost importance. In general terms, this paper presents a review concerning the evolution of circuit breakers used in DCMGs, focusing on fuses, mechanical circuit breakers (MCBs), solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), and hybrid circuit breakers (HCBs). Their evolution is presented highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each device. It was found that although modern circuit breakers have begun to be commercially available, many of them are still under development; consequently, some traditional fuses and MCBs are still common in DCMGs, but under certain restrictions or limitations. Future challenges that would allow a successful and adequate implementation of circuit breakers in DCMGs are also presented.

A Review on Hybrid Circuit Breakers for DC Applications

“…As an alternative to silicon-based semiconductors, the use of WBG semiconductors brings great advantages in terms of volume and response time. WBG semiconductors also attain superior performance metrics when compared to silicon peers in terms of power density, switching frequency, and losses [107]. WBG materials are framed in the third generation of power semiconductors and include materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN).…”

Investigation of Impulse Aging of Energy-Absorption Elements for Hybrid DC Circuit Breakers

“…MAT-LAB/Simulink was used to build this model [19]. The schematic diagram of the dynamic simulation model for the hybrid DCCB is shown in Figure 1, the construction of which is based on the topology of a diode full-bridge circuit [1,13]. The simulation model mainly consists of three branches connected in parallel, namely, a main branch with a fast mechanical switch (FMS) and an auxiliary sub-module (ASM), a transfer branch mainly composed of a sub-module (SM), and an energy-absorption branch mainly consisting of a connected metal oxide varistor (MOV).…”

“…In recent years, with the rapid development of renewable energy technology and the requirements for long-distance transmission, DC transmission technology, which is based on high-power electronics with low losses, has gained broad prospects in transport and distribution of electric power. Hybrid DC circuit breakers (DCCBs) with fast fault current cut-off functions play an important role in the DC systems as the foundation for the operation, control, and protection of DC networks [1][2][3][4].…”