A comprehensive review of impedance source network DC circuit breaker topologies

Abstract

Dc microgrids (MG) have drawn more attention due to the demand for renewable energy sources, energy storage devices in distributed generation, and the separation of DC loads requiring more power converters. This system needed protection DC circuit breakers (DCCB) that could quickly isolate the faults in the system. These devices must be as small and light as possible but should only produce low power loss during the ON state. The impedance source DC circuit breaker was introduced as an improved structure (SSCB) which provided automatic turns off without needing external command due to its natural commutation operation principle. In addition, it had many advantages such as faster response, simpler control design, restricted fault current magnitude, which makes the system more fault-resilient, the fault current will not affect the source or the SCR, coordination of cascaded breakers is automatic, and convenience for protection with power converters. This paper presents different impedance source DC circuit breakers such as ZCB, ΓCB, TCB, and YCB. It will show their benefits and drawbacks, which could be used as a helping guide while choosing which type of impedance source DC circuit breakers is suitable for a specific application.

General Statement

The Impedance source circuit breakers are developed from the solid-state DC circuit breakers. They had been preferred over the traditional types of DCCB in protection systems because of their various advantages, such as the fastest response that could isolate the fault in microseconds, automatically isolated without needing external control or sensing elements, and so forth. This paper is the first review paper on the different kinds of Impedance source circuit breakers. It also presents different impedance source DC circuit breakers such as ZCB, ΓCB, TCB, and YCB. Moreover, showing their benefits and drawbacks. So, it provided a helping guide when choosing an impedance source DC circuit breaker suitable for a specific application or as a reference guide for additional research or topological enhancements.

Keywords:

• DC circuit breaker
• Impedance source circuit breaker
• Z-source
• Γ-source
• T-source
• Y-source
• Fault current
• Coupled inductor

Reviewing Editor:

• Ai Qingsong, Wuhan University of Technology, China

Subjects:

• Technology
• Engineering & Technology
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Industrial Electronics
• Power Electronics
• Power Engineering

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).