MVDC Power System Protection: Fundamental Research
Abstract
MVDC Power System Protection: Fundamental Research Project Summary Design innovations have furthered the use of dc power in ship systems; in particular mediumvoltage dc systems. Protection devices for dc systems are limited, since direct current does not produce a natural zero-crossing as is the case with ac systems. Normally, in dc systems the interruption of current produces an arc which is sustained by the system inductance, preventing the system under fault conditions to turn off. Currently most dc systems use solid-state switches along with fault detecting devices to interrupt fault currents. Ac breakers with an enhanced blast mechanism to extinguish the arc are also employed to provide galvanic isolation. The z-source breaker was introduced as a faster and more automatic method to interrupt dc power in response to a large transient current. Variations on the z-source breaker have been developed to allow for a common ground and allow for large transient changes in load without switching off. Simulation studies have demonstrated the use of the z-source breaker in a notional ship power system. This proposal takes the research to a new level by fist considering optimal placement of z-source breakers based on probability of faults to minimize the number of breakers required. Implementation issues related to the required computation and communication will then be studied.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 08, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512272
Entities
People
- Keith Corzine
Organizations
- Clemson University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy