Operation Characteristics for the Superconducting Arc-Induction Type DC Circuit Breaker

Abstract

The multi-terminal direct current network is expected to commercialize while carrying out projects related to DC power systems worldwide. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a DC circuit breaker required for the DC power system. A DC circuit breaker should be developed to protect the DC power system and the consumer from the transient state on the line in any case. Currently, the use of power semiconductors increases the performance of DC circuit breakers. However, power semiconductors are expensive and suffer series of losses from frequent failures. Therefore, the DC circuit breaker must have a reliable, stable, and inexpensive structure. We proposed a new type of arc-induction type DC circuit breaker. It consists of a mechanical blocking contact, an induction needle and a superconducting magnet. It blows the arc with an induction needle using the Lorentz force according to the high magnetic field of the superconducting magnet. The arc-induction needle absorbs the arc and flows through the ground wire to the ground to extinguish the arc. We established this principle of arc induction as a mathematical model. In addition, the Maxwell program was used to secure data of electric and magnetic fields and apply them to mathematical models. The results obtained through numerical analysis were analyzed and compared. As a result, we confirmed that the magnitude of the force exerted on the electrons between the mechanical contacts with the superconducting magnets increased about 1.41 times and reasoned the arc-induction phenomenon out numerically.