1. Solid-state fault isolation devices: application to future power electronics-based distribution systems.
- Author
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Vodyakho, O., Steurer, M., Neumayr, D., Edrington, C.S., Karady, G., and Bhattacharya, S.
- Subjects
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POWER electronics , *ELECTRIC fault location , *ELECTRIC power distribution , *ELECTRIC potential , *ELECTRIC circuit breakers , *SEMICONDUCTORS , *PASSIVE components , *EQUIPMENT & supplies - Abstract
This study addresses the timely issues of modelling, and defining selection criteria for, a solid-state fault isolation device (FID) intended for use in power electronics-based distribution systems (PEDS). This work subsequently derives the FID parameters by mapping the characteristics of a conventional medium-voltage distribution system onto that of the PEDS envisioned under a new multi-university Engineering Research Centre. When conventional circuit breakers are used in distribution systems, they have a relatively long clearing time, causing the voltage to collapse for a significant time. A semiconductor circuit breaker, however, is expected to be able to switch fast enough to keep a voltage disturbance within acceptable limits. The main focus of this study is to address the operational issues of the interaction between the power electronic converters and the solid-state FID. The utilisation of rate of current decrease (di/dt) control during turn-off in conjunction with passive clamping devices to manage the overvoltage that results from very fast circuit breaker operation is introduced. In contrast to a simple conventional RC-snubber circuit, the proposed overvoltage management avoids high leakage current, which is the undesirable drawback of RC-snubber circuits. The presented prototype is experimentally verified with low and medium-voltage test circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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