Design and test of VSC assisted resonant current (VARC) DC circuit breaker

Abstract

This paper presents the VSC assisted resonant current (VARC) direct current circuit-breaker concept, which comprises a vacuum interrupter, operated by an ultra-fast actuator, together with a power electronic converter that creates a zero-crossing in the arc current. A few main circuit topologies are shown and discussed and a dynamic model of the DC link voltage in the VSC is presented. A module rated for 10 kA against 40 kV transient interruption voltage has been built and tested at an independent test laboratory, and some test results are presented.