Short-circuit protection for low-voltage DC microgrids based on solid-state circuit breakers

Proper short-circuit protection in dc microgrids has provided a sturdy challenge to researchers as the development of commercially-viable equipment providing fast operation, coordination and reliability still continues. In this paper, issues associated with short-circuit protection of low-voltage dc (LVDC) microgrids are analyzed, a short-circuit protection methodology based on solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) that provides fault-current limiting (FCL) is evaluated, several fault-detection techniques are considered, and certain topics related to the SSCB design are addressed. Simulation results for a simple 1kV dc microgrid system illustrate that SSCB solutions based on integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCT) are feasible for low-voltage microgrids but requires connecting several devices in parallel to open fast-rising fault currents.

[1]  G. G. Karady.  Principles of fault current limitation by a resonant LC circuit , 1992 .

[2]  Munaf Rahimo,et al.  1MW bi-directional DC solid state circuit breaker based on air cooled reverse blocking-IGCT , 2015, 2015 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS).

[3]  Paul Crolla,et al.  Optimizing the roles of unit and non-unit protection methods within DC microgrids , 2012, 2013 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting.

[4]  Munaf Rahimo,et al.  Recent advancements in IGCT technologies for high power electronics applications , 2015, 2015 17th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'15 ECCE-Europe).

[5]  Kang G. Shin,et al.  Computing time delay and its effects on real-time control systems , 1995, IEEE Trans. Control. Syst. Technol..

[6]  Roger A. Dougal,et al.  Primary and backup protection for fault current limited MVDC shipboard power systems , 2015, 2015 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS).

[7]  Rolando Burgos,et al.  Review of Solid-State Transformer Technologies and Their Application in Power Distribution Systems , 2013, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[8]  R.W. De Doncker,et al.  Solid-state circuit breakers and current limiters for medium-voltage systems having distributed power systems , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[9]  D. J. Becker,et al.  DC microgrids in buildings and data centers , 2011, 2011 IEEE 33rd International Telecommunications Energy Conference (INTELEC).

[10]  A. Mantooth,et al.  A 4 kV Silicon Carbide solid-state fault current limiter , 2012, 2012 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).

[11]  Roger A. Dougal,et al.  Solid-state Over-current Protection for Industrial DC Distribution Systems , 2006 .

[12]  Drazen Dujic,et al.  Power Electronic Traction Transformer: Efficiency Improvements Under Light-Load Conditions , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[13]  S. Yanabu,et al.  A Solid-State Current Limiting Switch for Application of Large-scale Space Power Systems , 2007, 2007 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[14]  Jun Wang,et al.  A self-powered ultra-fast DC solid state circuit breaker using a normally-on SiC JFET , 2015, 2015 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).

[15]  A.R. Bendre,et al.  IGCTs vs. IGBTs for circuit breakers in advanced ship electrical systems , 2009, 2009 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium.

[16]  J. C. Balda,et al.  Impact of solid-state fault current limiters on protection equipment in transmission and distribution systems , 2010, IEEE PES T&D 2010.

[17]  Lars Liljestrand,et al.  Separation of the Energy Absorption and Overvoltage Protection in Solid-State Breakers by the Use of Parallel Varistors , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[18]  Robert M. Cuzner,et al.  The Status of DC Micro-Grid Protection , 2008, 2008 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting.

[19]  Juan Carlos Balda,et al.  A methodology to coordinate solid-state fault current limiters with conventional protective devices , 2011, 2011 IEEE/PES Power Systems Conference and Exposition.

[20]  C. Spalvieri,et al.  A New High-Speed Digital Relay Protection of the 3-kVdc Electric Railway Lines , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[21]  Bill Rose,et al.  Microgrids , 2018, Smart Grids.

[22]  J. C. Balda,et al.  A solid state fault current limiter control algorithm , 2010, 2010 Conference Proceedings IPEC.

[23]  Adel Nasiri,et al.  Converter topological and solid state protective device trade-offs for future shipboard MVDC systems , 2015, 2015 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS).

[24]  A.B. Lostetter,et al.  Solid-state fault current limiters: Silicon versus silicon carbide , 2008, 2008 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery of Electrical Energy in the 21st Century.

[25]  R.W. De Doncker,et al.  Novel solid-state circuit breaker based on active thyristor topologies , 2004, 2004 IEEE 35th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37551).

[26]  A. Sannino,et al.  Protection of Low-Voltage DC Microgrids , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[27]  Jae-Do Park,et al.  Fault Detection and Isolation in Low-Voltage DC-Bus Microgrid System , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[28]  Rob Cuzner,et al.  Shipboard Solid-State Protection: Overview and Applications , 2013, IEEE Electrification Magazine.

[29]  Graeme Burt,et al.  Solid state circuit breakers enabling optimised protection of DC aircraft power systems , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[30]  R. Cuzner,et al.  Circuit breaker protection considerations in power converter-fed DC Systems , 2009, 2009 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium.

[31]  K. Lentijo,et al.  Coordination between supply power converters and contactors for fault protection in multi-terminal MVDC distribution systems , 2013, 2013 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS).

[32]  M Kempkes,et al.  Solid-state circuit breakers for Medium Voltage DC power , 2011, 2011 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium.