Circuit Breaker Technologies for Advanced Ship Power Systems

The AC power systems on navy ships use circuit breakers based on traditional commercial technology. New naval power systems employ higher voltage DC distribution and use solid state power converters that actively (and instantaneously) limit the available fault current. When conventional circuit breakers are used in these systems, they have a relatively long clearing time, causing the voltage to collapse for a significant time. The application of fast-acting solid state circuit breakers, based on IGBTs and IGCTs will eliminate such voltage dips and result in a superior power system. Solid state circuit breakers also offer advantages when used in traditional ship power systems by limiting fault currents to levels far below those dictated by the supplying generators. This leads to lower magnetic and thermal stresses on distribution components, lower energy delivered to faults, faster fault isolation and minimal voltage disturbance.