Low-Voltage dc System Building Blocks: Integrated Power Flow Control and Short Circuit Protection

Abstract

Low-voltage direct current (LVdc) systems are a promising technology for systems with a high penetration of renewable sources and storage that operate with bidirectional power flow. In this article, a fundamental building block for LVdc is presented for different applications, such as charge controllers, voltage regulation in street-lighting systems, and current limiters in meshed dc grids. The developed building block integrates a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and partially rated power flow control converter (PFCC) capable of achieving the given control objectives with extremely high system efficiency and full short circuit protection.