A comparison of MOSFETs, IGBTs, and MCTs for solid state circuit breakers

Circuit breakers have traditionally employed mechanical methods to interrupt excessive currents. Semiconductor advances in power electronics have generated interest in replacing these mechanical circuit breakers with solid-state equivalents. Advantages of solid-state circuit breakers may include faster fault interrupting, fault current limiting, increased repeatability and reliability, no arc to contain or extinguish, and intelligent power control. This paper provides a comparison of three power electronic device families and their suitability to operate in solid-state circuit breaker applications up to 600 volts and 50 amperes.