An NSF/ONR funded project on the use of micromechanical machines in a power circuit breaker

Summary form only given. This panel presentation describes an NSF - EPNES research project started in October 2002. The research project relates to electric power distribution: the delivery of electric power from a generation and transmission system to a point of utilization. An important power system component is the circuit breaker, essentially a switch, used to isolate and separate parts of the system under fault and certain other operating conditions. The distribution class circuit breaker has not materially changed in design for many years. In this project, a radical departure from mechanical circuit breakers is proposed: microelectromechanical (MEMS) switches was operated at very high speed to effectuate rapid system operating configuration changes. The use of MEMS switches allows the application of advanced optimal operating strategies to permit rapid disconnection of faulted components; rerouting of power from faulted segments to unfaulted segments; utilization of DC distribution in naval applications; and minimization of system losses.