Short-Circuit Fault Protection of a Low Voltage DC Distribution System using Superimposed Current Components

Abstract

Low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution systems are gaining attention as customer loads are shifting towards power electronics-based equipment. The DC distribution system has the advantage of supplying power to these power electronic-based loads with high efficiency and without undergoing an energy conversion process. However, the power electronic components used in the LVDC distribution system are vulnerable during short-circuit faults. These components must be protected during the short-circuit faults for a safe and reliable operation. Therefore, this paper proposes a protection technique based on DC short-circuit fault current behavior. The fault is detected via a superposition principle. A fault current limiter (FCL) is used to suppress DC fault strength and reduce the stress from the circuit breaker. Finally, a solid state circuit breaker (SSCB) is used to isolate the fault point. The simulation results show that the proposed protection Scheme operates quickly enough as per expectations to avoid damage to sensitive power electronic devices.