Development of topology and power electronic devices for solid-state circuit breakers

Abstract

With the development of power electronic devices, solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) are likely to replace traditional mechanical breakers and applied to the power system. This paper firstly points out the disadvantages of traditional mechanical breakers. Then, the history of SSCBs has been introduced. The classification, characteristics and working principles of the SSCBs are summarized and shortcomings of different SSCBs are pointed out. This paper introduces the domestic and foreign researches on solid-state circuit breakers, which indicates that studies tend to focus on hybrid solid-state DC circuit breakers in recent years. Based on the applications of SSCBs, different power electronic devices have been compared and the result shows the IGBT-based SSCBs are suitable for a low-current branch while the IGCT-based SSCBs are a good choice for a medium-current branch. Finally, this paper points out SSCBs will develop along a high-power direction and accordingly series-parallel problems of power electronic devices must be overcome.