DC circuit breaker: A topology with regenerative current breaking capability for DC microgrid applications

Abstract

The modern DC grid is predominantly inductive due to several factors, including line inductance, and the use of current-limiting inductors to control fault current rising rates. These network inductances store a significant amount of energy during regular operation, which is either dissipated or freewheeled to ensure safe current breaking. This research article proposed a highly efficient bidirectional DC circuit breaker topology that not only provides safe current breaking but also effectively recovers the post-current breaking energy from the network's inductance instead of dissipation. An extensive simulation investigation is performed in PSIM software to test the breaker capability for a 400V/400A DC system and the laboratory-scale 48V/1A experimental setup has been developed and employed for further validation purposes.