Development of a prototype solid-state fault-current limiting and interrupting device for low-voltage distribution networks

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 1997 - 2005
• Main Authors: Ahmed, M.M.R., Putrus, G., Li Ran, Penlington, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Clamps; Connection and protection apparatus; Constraining; Control algorithms; Current limiter; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical machines; electrical power distribution; Electrical power engineering; Electronic devices; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; fault current; Fault currents; Hysteresis; Insulated gate bipolar transistors; Insulation; Miscellaneous; Networks; Other multijunction devices. Power transistors. Thyristors; Power networks and lines; Prototypes; Regulation and control; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; semiconductor switch; Semiconductors; Solid state circuits; Studies; Switches; Switching theory; varistor; Varistors; Voltage control; Bidirectional link; Prototype; Damage prevention; Current limiter; Power transistor; Prospective; Low voltage; Hysteresis loop; Energy dissipation; Power distribution; Semiconductor switches; Distribution network; semiconductor switch; fault current; Short circuit currents; Insulated gate bipolar transistor; Protective device; Power electronics; varistor; Experimental study; Algorithm; Fault current limiters; Varistance; Current control; Electrical network; Three phase circuit; Current distribution; electrical power distribution; Energy absorption
• ISSN: 0885-8977; 1937-4208
• DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2006.874584

This paper describes the development of a solid-state fault current limiting and interrupting device (FCLID) suitable for low-voltage distribution networks. The main components of the FCLID are a bidirectional semiconductor switch that can disrupt the short-circuit current, and a voltage clamping element that helps to control the current and absorb the inductive energy stored in the network during current interruption. Using a hysteresis-type control algorithm, the short-circuit current can be constrained according to a predefined profile. Insulated-gate bipolar transistors and diodes are used to construct the semiconductor switch. Varistors are used as the voltage clamping element. An effective method is adopted to improve the current sharing between parallel varistors in order to provide the required capability of energy absorption. An overall protection scheme for the FCLID is described. A prototype FCLID for 230-V single-phase, or 400-V three-phase, applications is developed and tested. Analyses and experiments are carried out to define the stresses that the main components in the FCLID are subject to. The results show that the developed prototype is capable of limiting a 3-kA prospective short-circuit current to 120 A for a period of 0.8 s, without exceeding the thermal limits of the chosen switches and varistors