Research on Vacuum Arc Commutation Characteristics of a Natural-Commutate Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker

Wang, Dequan; Liao, Minfu; Wang, Rufan; Li, Tenghui; Qiu, Jun; Li, Jinjin; Duan, Xiongying; Zou, Jiyan

doi:10.3390/en13184823

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Thus, the dissipated energy between each individual series cell in H-DCCB could be calculated separately by the presented formula [47,48].…”

Section: Circuit Breaker Topologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DC Circuit Breaker Evolution, Design, and Analysis

Moradian,

Lie,

Gunawardane

2023

Energies

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While traditional AC mechanical circuit breakers can protect AC circuits, many other DC power distribution technologies, such as DC microgrids (MGs), yield superior disruption performance, e.g., faster and more reliable switching speeds. However, novel DC circuit breaker (DCCB) designs are challenging due to the need to quickly break high currents within milliseconds, caused by the high fault current rise in DC grids compared to AC grids. In DC grids, the circuit breaker must not provide any current crossing and must absorb surges, since the arc is not naturally extinguished by the system. Additionally, the DC breaker must mitigate the magnetic energy stored in the system inductance and withstand residual overvoltages after current interruption. These challenges require a fundamentally different topology for DCCBs, which are typically made using solid-state semiconductor technology, metal oxide varistors (MOVs), and ultra-fast switches. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the development, design, and performance of DCCBs and an analysis of internal topology, the energy absorption path, and subcircuits in solid-state (SS)-based DCCBs. The research explores various novel designs that introduce different structures for an energy dissipation solution. The classification of these designs is based on the fundamental principles of surge mitigation and a detailed analysis of the techniques employed in DCCBs. In addition, our framework offers an advantageous reference point for the future evolution of SS circuit breakers in numerous developing power delivery systems.

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“…Thus, the dissipated energy between each individual series cell in H-DCCB could be calculated separately by the presented formula [47,48].…”

Section: Circuit Breaker Topologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DC Circuit Breaker Evolution, Design, and Analysis

Moradian,

Lie,

Gunawardane

2023

Energies

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“…Determining the values of the parameters of the arc model is considered to be the most difficult problem in the application of the black-box arc model. Furthermore, most of the existing arc model research has focused on arcs discharged in a vacuum or in open air [26][27][28]. The arc in the pyro-breaker presented here, however, is discharged in deionized water.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of an Improved Mayr-Type Arc Model in Pyro-Breakers Utilized in Superconducting Fusion Facilities

Wang

2021

Energies

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Pyro-breaker, a fast-responding, highly reliable and explosive-driven circuit breaker, is utilized in several Quench Protection Systems (QPS). The commutation process and its parameters are the main technical considerations in the process of designing a new pyro-breaker. The commutation parameters, such as the commutation time and the current change rate, are not only determined by the electrical parameters of the commutation circuit but also the arc behavior during the operation. The arc behavior is greatly affected by the structure and the driving mechanism of the Commutation Section (CS) in the pyro-breaker. The arc model was developed decades ago and the black-box arc model is considered a valid method to study arc behavior. In this paper, the Schavemaker black-box arc model, an improved Mayr-type arc model, is applied to study the commutation process of a newly designed pyro-breaker. Unlike normal circuit breakers, the arc discussed in this paper is discharged in deionized water. A parameter selection method is proposed. The practicability of the method is verified by numerical calculation in Power Systems Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) and experimentally.

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“…When the short-circuit current approaches or exceeds the existing breaker capacity, the current seriously endangers the safety of the power grid, which thus limits the further development of power grids. Limiting short-circuit currents has become a key challenge [1][2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel fault current limiter topology design based on liquid metal current limiter

Li¹,

Duan²,

Xie³

et al. 2022

Plasma Sci. Technol.

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Liquid metal current limiter (LMCL) is regarded as a viable solution for reducing the fault current in the power grid, but demonstrating the liquid metal arc plasma self-pinching process of the resistive wall and reducing the erosion of LMCL are challenging not only theoretically but also practically. In this work, a novel LMCL is designed with a resistive wall that can be connected to the current-limiting circuit inside the cavity. Specifically, a novel fault current limiter (FCL) topology is put forward that the novel LMCL is combined with fast switch and current-limiting reactor. Further, the liquid metal self-pinch effect is modeled mathematically in three dimensions and the gas-liquid two-phase dynamic diagrams under different short-circuit currents are obtained by simulation. The simulation results indicate that with the increase of current, the time for the liquid metal-free surface begins depressing is dropped, and the position of the depression also changes. Different kinds of bubbles formed by the depressions gradually extend, squeeze, and break. With the increase of current, liquid metal takes less time to break. But the breaks still occur at the edge of the channel, forming arc plasma. Finally, relevant experiments are conducted for the novel FCL topology. The arcing process and current transfer process are particularly analyzed. Comparisons of peak arc voltage, arcing time, current limiting efficiency, and electrodes erosion are presented. The results demonstrate that arc voltage of the novel FCL topology is reduced by more than 4.5 times and the arcing time is reduced by more than 12%. The erosions of liquid metal and electrodes are reduced. Moreover, the current limiting efficiency of the novel FCL topology is improved by 1%‒5%. This work lays a foundation for the topology and optimal design of LMCL.

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Research on Vacuum Arc Commutation Characteristics of a Natural-Commutate Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

DC Circuit Breaker Evolution, Design, and Analysis

DC Circuit Breaker Evolution, Design, and Analysis

Application of an Improved Mayr-Type Arc Model in Pyro-Breakers Utilized in Superconducting Fusion Facilities

A novel fault current limiter topology design based on liquid metal current limiter

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