MEMS based electronic circuit breaker as a possible component for and electrical ship

The electric navy ship is designed with a mesh network, where each loop requires fast circuit breaker. In effect, the mesh is a power distribution system, but unlike conventional electric utility distribution systems, the shipboard system has special reliability and low loss requirements. The fast development of the microelectromechanical switch has initiated the development of an electronic circuit breaker concept using MEMS switches. The building block is a switching unit, which includes a micro-switch shunted by a diode and a resistance. Several switching units are connected in series to form the switching string and several strings are connected in parallel to form the switching string assembly. A magnetic coil activates the switches. The circuit breaker contains two switching string assemblies connected in series. One interrupts the current in the positive half cycle and the other in the negative half cycle. The operation of the system was analyzed and a small scale proof of principle model has been built. This unit interrupts the circuit current within a half cycle and can be a future component of a shipboard, distribution class electronic circuit breaker.