Ultra-Fast DC Circuit Breaker HOW DOES IT WORK?

Temporisation branch
conducts the current during
initial step of interruption

Main branch
conducts permanent current

Main branch
Electronic switches (few kV),
Low power dissipation air-cooled

High voltage conductor

V4a

Temporisation branch
Power electronics (switches)

High
voltage
conductor

High voltage conductor

Breaking
step

Breaking
step

Ultra-fast
disconnector

Power transistor

Temporisation branch
Surge arrester

Main branch
Ultra-fast mechatronic switches

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Power electronics
thyristor type

Capacitor

Current (kA)

Ultra-fast
disconnector

Power
transistor

Breaking
step

15
10

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Capacitor

-5

Main branch

Power
transistor

Ultra-fast
disconnector

15
10

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Power electronics
thyristor type

-5

Capacitor

15
10

Surge arrester

Surge arrester

Current (kA)

5
0

~0v

ON state: all the current flows through the main branch

Arming branch
rises voltage to
stop current rise

Ultra-fast DC Circuit Breaker design

Insert a surge arrester in series

Commutations controlled by internal control and command

Fault inception
rise of the current
 ise of magnetic energy in
R
the network
 ircuit-breaker opposes a
C
voltage and absorbs energy
 nergy is transferred to surge
E
arrester and networks (stray)
capacitance (voltage is restored)

Power transistor

Extinguishing branch
Surge arrester absorbs energy
and brings the current to zero

Very low losses

Surge arrester

Power electronics
thyristor type

Arming branch
Power Electronics (switches)

Permanent current

Temporisation branch

Power electronics
thyristor type

Arming branch
Capacitor bank

Main branch

Ultra-fast
disconnector

Capacitor

Current in this branch

until ultra-fast
disconnector is open

Arming branch
To rise quickly the voltage

opposed to source

Breaking
step

Power
transistor

Ultra-fast
disconnector

15

Current (kA)

10

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

5
0

Power electronics
thyristor type

Capacitor

-5
15
10

Surge arrester

Breaking
step

Power
transistor

Ultra-fast
disconnector

15

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Extinguishing branch

few kV 163kV

-5

Arming branch

Surge arrester to absorb

network energy

5
0
-5

Power electronics
thyristor type

Capacitor

15
10

Surge arrester

Breaking
step

Current (kA)

10

Surge arrester

Temporisation

Current is commutated into the temporisation branch up to

the full opening of the ultra-fast disconnector

A l s t o m u lt r a - f a s t D C c i r cu i t b r e a k e r
HVDC breaking principle

Few kV

Fault detection

Extinguishing branch
absorbs energy and
brings the current to zero

High
voltage
conductor

Opening
order

~0v

-5

Transcient Interruption
Voltage (TIV)

5
0
-5

some
ms

Power transistor

Ultra-fast
disconnector

Power electronics
thyristor type

Surge arrester

Power electronics
thyristor type

Capacitor
Surge arrester
Rated network
voltage

Depends on network energy

Current is commutated into the arming branch to increase the

voltage up to surge arrester threshold

The surge arrester absorbs the energy and reduces the

current to zero

OFF state: short-circuit is fully cleared!