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

This panel presentation describes NSF-EPNES research project. 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. In this project, a radical departure from mechanical circuit breakers is proposed: microelectromechanical (MEMS) switches shall be operated at very high speed to effectuate rapid system operating configuration changes. The use of MEMS switches will allow 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. The broader impact of the project relates to: a potential breakthrough in power distribution switching and a logical break to the next generation of power distribution systems. At present, power distribution manufacturing has moved offshore. A breakthrough in distribution engineering, especially using a technology largely relegated to the United States could have considerable impact on the power engineering industry.