Fluid-chemical modeling of the near-cathode sheath formation process in a high current broken in DC air circuit breaker

When the contacts of a medium-voltage DC air circuit breaker(DCCB) are separated, the energy distribution of the arc is determined by the formation process of the near-electrode sheath. Therefore, the voltage drop through the near-electrode sheath is an important means to build up the arc voltage, which directly determines the current-limiting performance of the DCCB. A numerical model to describe the near-electrode sheath formation process can provide insight into the physical mechanism of the arc formation, and thus provide a method for arc energy regulation. In this work, we establish a two-dimensional axisymmetric time-varying model of a medium-voltage DCCB arc when interrupted by high current based on a fluid-chemical model involving 16 kinds of species and 46 collision reactions. The transient distributions of electron number density, positive and negative ion number density, net space charge density, axial electric field, axial potential between electrodes, and near-cathode sheath are obtained from the numerical model. The computational results show that the electron density in the arc column increases, then decreases, and then stabilizes during the near-cathode sheath formation process, and the arc column's diameter gradually becomes wider. The 11.14 V–12.33 V drops along the17 μm space charge layer away from the cathode(65.5 k V/m–72.5 k V/m) when the current varies from 20 k A–80 k A.The homogeneous external magnetic field has little effect on the distribution of particles in the near-cathode sheath core,but the electron number density at the near-cathode sheath periphery can increase as the magnetic field increases and the homogeneous external magnetic field will lead to arc diffusion. The validity of the numerical model can be proven by comparison with the experiment.

Influence of dc Component during Inadvertent Operation of the High Voltage Generator Circuit Breaker during Mis-Synchronization

This paper analyses the synchronization problem of a generator onto power system without satisfying synchronization condition. The main focus of the paper is on the impact of the dc component of the current in the high voltage circuit breaker during its close-open operating cycle. Using real time measurements of currents/voltages and angles during the close-opening cycle of high voltage generator circuit breaker and the impact of the dc component of current in context of interrupting large magnitude of current from the circuit breaker. In addition, the paper describes a study case model and the results of simulations performed using the software EMTP-ATP of an actual incident that occurred during the inadvertent synchronization of a large 339 MW, 24 kV generator to the grid.

Key stress extraction and equivalent test method for hybrid DC circuit breaker

Firstly, relevant stress properties of millisecond level breaking process and microsecond level commutation process of hybrid HVDC circuit breaker are studied in detail on the basis of the analysis for the application environment and topological structure and operating principles of hybrid circuit breakers, and key stress parameters in transient state process of two time dimensions are extracted. The established digital simulation circuit for PSCAD/EMTDC device-level operation of the circuit breaker has verified the stress properties of millisecond level breaking process and microsecond level commutation process. Then, equivalent test method, circuits and parameters based on LC power supply are proposed on the basis of stress extraction. Finally, the results of implemented breaking tests for complete 200 kV circuit breaker, 100 kV and 50 kV circuit breaker units, as well as single power electronic module have verified the accuracy of the simulation circuit and mathematical analysis. The result of this paper can be a guide to electrical structure and test system design of hybrid HVDC circuit breaker.

A Fault Current Limiting Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker

Due to the low impedance characteristic of the high voltage direct current(HVDC)grid,the fault current rises extremely fast after a DC-side fault occurs,and this phenomenon seriously endangers the safety of the HVDC grid.In order to suppress the rising speed of the fault current and reduce the current interruption requirements of the main breaker(MB),a fault current limiting hybrid DC circuit breaker(FCL-HCB)has been proposed in this paper,and it has the capability of bidirectional fault current limiting and fault current interruption.After the occurrence of the overcurrent in the HVDC grid,the current limiting circuit(CLC)of FCL-HCB is put into operation immediately,and whether the protected line is cut off or resumed to normal operation is decided according to the fault detection result.Compared with the traditional hybrid DC circuit breaker(HCB),the required number of semiconductor switches and the peak value of fault current after fault occurs are greatly reduced by adopting the proposed device.Extensive simulations also verify the effectiveness of the proposed FCL-HCB.

Research on Parameter Collaborative Configuration of DC Circuit Breaker and DC Fault Current Limiter

Fault current suppression is the key technology to ensure the safe operation of the DC power distribution system. In order to realize the parameter collabora-tive configuration of the DC circuit breaker and the DC current limiter and improve the fault current suppression capability, the fault current suppression mechanism of the DC power distribution system is revealed based on the circuit model. Then, based on the mathematical model of the DC breaker, the characteristic parameters of DC breaking are extracted, and then the influence of different characteristic parameters on the breaking characteristics of fault current is studied. Finally, the mathematical model of the collaborative process between DC circuit breaker and DC current limiter is established. The charac-teristic parameters of fault current collaborative suppression are extracted. The coupling effects of different characteristic parameters on the fault current col-laborative suppression are studied. The principle of collaborative configuration of DC circuit breaker and DC current limiter is proposed, and the collaborative suppression ability of DC circuit breaker and DC current limiter to fault current is fully exploited to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the DC power distribution system.

基于电弧磁流体仿真的DC 1500V两极塑壳断路器气道优化设计

该文开发了用于DC 1500V光伏和储能系统的新一代两极直流塑壳断路器样机。通过DC 1500V/15 kA,时间常数10 ms的短路分断实验发现,电弧电压快速升至350 V是提升断路器限流和分断性能的关键。为了加快初始燃弧阶段电弧运动速度使弧压快速上升,建立了断路器触头区域的二维局部电弧磁流体仿真模型,通过分析灭弧室温度、压力分布和气流速度变化曲线,明确了初始样机中电弧运动停滞的机理,并以此为依据提出了参差栅片排布和添加导流锥的气道优化设计方案。使用优化后的样机进行分断实验,比较优化前后的电压变化曲线和电弧运动高速摄像,验证了优化方案的有效性,对于DC 1500V两极直流塑壳的设计开发具有很强的实践指导意义。

直流故障下MMC-HVDC的两段式限流保护策略

如何对直流故障电流进行有效抑制是实现柔性直流电网大规模发展的关键。为此,研究模块化多电平变换器(modular multilevel converter,MMC)的控制方法,提出一种针对半桥型MMC的两段式限流保护策略,通过减少子模块的投入数目来降低换流站直流出口电压,达到限制短路电流的目的。首先,介绍MMC的拓扑结构及基于MMC的高压直流输电(MMC based high voltage direct current,MMC-HVDC)系统控制策略;其次,分析两段式限流保护策略的原理与直流故障电流特性,介绍MMC-HVDC系统的直流故障保护策略;最后,通过双端MMC-HVDC系统仿真实验,对所提限流保护策略的有效性进行验证。仿真结果表明,两段式限流保护策略可以有效降低断路器开断电流和吸收能量,节约成本。

Magneto-hydrodynamic simulation study of direct current multi-contact circuit breaker for equalizing breaking arc

This work is based on a direct current(DC)natural current commutation topology,which uses load-carrying branch contacts carrying rated current and multiple sets of series arcing branch contacts in parallel to achieve circuit breaking.The proposed topology can meet the new requirements of higher voltage DC switches in aviation,aerospace,energy and other fields.First,a magneto-hydrodynamic arc model is built using COMSOL Multiphysics,and the different arc breaking characteristics of the arcing branch contacts in different gas environments are simulated.Then,a voltage uniformity coefficient is used to measure the voltage sharing effect in the process of dynamic interruption.In order to solve the dispersion of arcing contact action,a structural control method is adopted to improve the voltage uniformity coefficient.The uniform voltage distribution can improve the breaking capacity and electrical life of the series connection structure.

Adaptive Reclosing Scheme Based on Traveling Wave Injection For Multi-Terminal dc Grids

The hybrid dc circuit breaker(HCB)has the advantages of fast action speed and low operating loss,which is an idealmethod for fault isolation ofmulti-terminal dc grids.Formulti-terminal dc grids that transmit power through overhead lines,HCBs are required to have reclosing capability due to the high fault probability and the fact that most of the faults are temporary faults.To avoid the secondary fault strike and equipment damage that may be caused by the reclosing of the HCB when the permanent fault occurs,an adaptive reclosing scheme based on traveling wave injection is proposed in this paper.The scheme injects traveling wave signal into the fault dc line through the additionally configured auxiliary discharge branch in the HCB,and then uses the reflection characteristic of the traveling wave signal on the dc line to identify temporary and permanent faults,to be able to realize fast reclosing when the temporary fault occurs and reliably avoid reclosing after the permanent fault occurs.The test results in the simulation model of the four-terminal dc grid show that the proposed adaptive reclosing scheme can quickly and reliably identify temporary and permanent faults,greatly shorten the power outage time of temporary faults.In addition,it has the advantages of easiness to implement,high reliability,robustness to high-resistance fault and no dead zone,etc.

Solid-state Circuit Breaker Based on Cascaded Normally-on SiC JFETs for Medium-voltage DC Distribution Networks

Solid-state circuit breakers(SSCBs)are critical components in the protection of medium-voltage DC distribution networks to facilitate arc-free,fast and reliable isolation of DC faults.However,limited by the capacity of a single semiconductor device,using semi-conductor-based SSCBs at high voltage is challenging.This study presents the details of a 1.5 kV,63 A medi-um-voltage SSCB,composed primarily of a solid-state switch based on three cascaded normally-on silicon car-bide(SiC)junction field-effect transistors(JFETs)and a low-cost programmable gate drive circuit.Dynamic and static voltage sharing among the cascaded SiC JFETs of the SSCB during fault isolation is realized using the pro-posed gate drive circuit.The selection conditions for the key parameters of the SSCB gate driver are also analyzed.Additionally,an improved pulse-width modulation cur-rent-limiting protection solution is proposed to identify the permanent overcurrent and transient inrush current associated with capacitive load startup in a DC distribu-tion network.Using the developed SSCB prototype and the fault test system,experimental results are obtained to validate the fault response performance of the SSCB.Index Terms—Solid-state circuit breaker,DC distribu-tion network,SiC JFET,voltage balancing,inrush current.

基于SiCJFET的深海中压DC/DC变换器用双线双向阻断固态断路器设计

固态断路器具备快速切断故障电流的能力。在深海中压DC/DC变换器应用场景下,为了实现DC/DC的黑启动以及配合水下电缆的漏电检测功能,文章提出一种双线双向阻断固态断路器设计方案,其仅采用串联SiCJFET作为主开关,通过电流检测短路故障,实现快速故障切除。文章研究了串联均压电路的参数设计方法,并搭建了样机实验平台。实验结果表明,该直流固态断路器具备双线双向的阻断能力,关断时间为4.5μs,实现了较好的主开关器件静、动态均压效果,具有现实可行性。

多端VSC-HVDC直流线路故障限流及限流特性分析

基于电压源型换流器(voltage source converters,VSC)的多端柔性直流系统中直流线路的故障电流上升速度快、电流峰值大。然而具有大容量、快切断能力的高压直流断路器正在研制中。结合目前直流断路器开断容量水平,该文提出通过在直流线路两端串入限流电路的方法来限制故障电流的峰值和电流的上升速度率,并给出相关参数的理论计算方法。对该电路的限流特性进行分析与对比,结果表明,该限流电路能有效抑制故障电流,降低了对直流断路器开断容量和开断速度的要求。在该限流电路的基础上,提出一种多端VSC-HVDC直流线路故障处理方案。仿真分析表明,该故障处理方案能够有效抑制直流线路故障电流以及IGBT并联二极管电流,故障切除后非故障系统能保持正常运行,可以有效地增强多端VSC-HVDC系统对直流线路故障的处理能力。

考虑直流断路器的MMC-HVDC系统直流电压保护误动分析

随着柔性直流输电技术的不断发展以及直流断路器研究的不断突破,直流断路器的逐渐应用将对MMC-HVDC系统的继电保护产生重要的影响.在含直流断路器的MMC-HVDC交直流混合系统中,一些原本由交流断路器跳闸的直流侧故障将修改为动作于直流断路器跳闸.在此背景下,交流故障和直流故障时反映在直流侧的暂态响应具有相似性,可能造成直流保护发生误动.通过研究各种交、直流系统故障时直流系统的暂态响应,分析MMC-HVDC直流侧在交流系统故障和直流系统故障下的暂态响应的相似性,研究有可能造成的直流电压保护误动,并针对引起误动的保护特征给出避免保护误动的改进建议.在PSCAD/EMTDC仿真平台中,搭建含MMC-HVDC的交直流混合系统,仿真验证所作分析的正确性.

换流站加装调相机后DCS与直流控保系统对相关断路器及隔离开关的联合控制方案

在运换流站加装调相机后,因直流控保系统与DCS监控的差异性与独立性,存在相关断路器、隔离开关控制问题。为实现换流站监控一体化,结合调相机不同的入网接线方式,从并网断路器是否独立及DCS是否主导控制两点进行分析研究,提出了换流站加装调相机后新DCS和原直流控保系统对新增断路器及隔离开关的联合控制方案。保证并提高了直流控保系统及DCS的自动化程度,提升运维效率。该方案使得同站不同系统控制界面清晰,并经过现场验证,为调相机无缝加装进入换流站提供了有力的支撑。

基于单端高频电流量的MMC-MTDC输电线路保护方案

为克服传统高压直流输电线路保护利用单端电气量无法可靠区分区内、外故障的缺陷,提出一种通过广义S变换提取直流线路故障电流高频频带幅值特征的单端量保护新方法。该方法在配备有混合直流断路器的直流线路发生故障时,利用1000~2500 Hz各采样频率电流横差值在区外明显小于区内的特征,构造了区内、外故障判据。利用300~1000 Hz的特征频率在单极接地故障时故障极特征频率电流幅值比非故障极大,以及两极短路故障时两极的特征频率电流幅值近似相等的特征,构造了故障启动判据和选极判据。在RTDS仿真平台搭建了风光储联合发电站经高压直流外送的三端柔性直流输电系统模型。仿真结果表明,所提方法能快速、可靠地识别故障类型和故障范围。同时,仿真验证了基于混合直流断路器的直流故障穿越方案的有效性。

基于IDCB-MMC的混合直流输电系统

提出了一种由集成直流断路器的模块化多电平换流器(modular multilevel converter integrated with DC circuit breaker,IDCB-MMC)和晶闸管换流器组成的混合直流输电系统。在发生直流短路故障时,通过换流器与直流断路器在控制上的配合,IDCB-MMC可以将故障电流的能量转移到并联于直流母线间的能量吸收支路中,从而可以避免使用成本高且占地大的电力电子开关支路。晶闸管换流器则可以通过快速转换到逆变状态实现直流故障电流的清除。对1 000 MW/±320 kV的双端混合直流输电系统中的一极进行了仿真研究。仿真结果表明IDCB-MMC可以有效清除直流短路故障电流,实现系统的自动恢复,结果也验证了由IDCB-MMC与晶闸管换流器组成的混合直流输电系统的可行性。

集成直流断路器功能的高压大容量DC/DC变换器

高压大容量DC/DC变换器是直流电网中电压变换的关键设备。提出一种集成直流断路器功能的高压大容量DC/DC变换器,利用变换器自身控制实现直流侧短路故障阻断功能,具有轻量化、低成本、高效率的优势。首先,分析该变换器的拓扑结构、工作原理,推导子模块、晶闸管、二极管等器件的参数设计依据;然后,提出闭锁子模块和晶闸管阻断故障电流的机制,设计适应于该变换器的控制方案;其次,分别针对正常工况与故障工况进行了仿真与实验验证,结果表明该变换器拓扑结构及控制策略的有效性;最后,通过与其他典型的集成直流断路器功能的DC/DC拓扑进行对比分析,评估所提变换器的技术经济性。

一种新型HVDC电容型断路器拓扑

针对模块化多电平换流器(Modular Multilevel Converter,MMC)型高压直流电网的故障清除,提出了一种电容型高压直流断路器拓扑结构,其通过预充电电容的限压限流功能实现直流侧的故障隔离。首先,分析了断路器拓扑结构及其各阶段的工作原理。在此基础上,介绍了具备双向分断能力的保护方案、钳压电容的分级投入、直流线路剩余能量耗散、去游离化后的两种不同重合闸策略。与传统的DCCB拓扑结构相比,所提拓扑实现了快速的故障隔离和缓慢的能量耗散二者的解耦,能加快直流电网正常部分的功率恢复。最后在PSCAD/EMTDC上进行了详细的电磁暂态仿真验证,进行了参数设计与优化,并对直流侧暂态能量进行了对比。

Numerical Study on Arc Plasma Behavior During Arc Commutation Process in Direct Current Circuit Breaker

This paper focuses on the numerical investigation of arc plasma behavior during arc commutation process in a medium-voltage direct current circuit breaker （DCCB） contact system. A three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic （MHD） model of air arc plasma in the contact system of a DCCB is developed, based on commercial software FLUENT. Coupled electromagnetic and gas dynamic interactions are considered as usual, and a thin layer of nonlinear electrical resistance elements is used to represent the voltage drop of plasma sheath and the formation of new arc root. The distributions of pressure, temperature, gas flow and current density of arc plasma in arc region are calculated. The simulation results indicate that the pressure distribution related to the contact system has a strong effect on the arc commutation process, arising from the change of electrical conductivity in the arc root region. In DCCB contact system, the pressure of arc root region will be concentrated and higher if the space above the moving contact is enclosed, which is not good for arc root commutation. However, when the region is opened, the pressure distribution would be lower and more evenly, which is favorable for the arc root commutation.

Simulation Analysis of DC Fault Interruption Characteristics of Superconducting Electric Aircraft Propulsion

Environmental issues associated with the aviation industry are getting more attention as air traffic increases.Stringent standards are imposed for fuel consumption and pollution emissions for next-generation aircraft.Superconducting electrical propulsion aircraft(SEPA)have been seen as an efficient way to achieve this goal.High-temperature superconducting(HTS)devices are extensively used in the power system to supply enormous energy.Power is distributed to the different loads via a DC distribution network.However,it will generate an inrush current over ten times higher than the rated current in short-circuit state,which is very harmful to the system.Therefore,it is essential to adopt an appropriate protection scheme.This paper discusses one protection scheme that combines DC vacuum circuit breakers(DC VCB)and resistive superconducting current limiters(RSFCL)for superconducting aircraft applications.Considering problems of cost and loss,the auxiliary capacitor is pre-charged by system voltage,and mechanical elements extinguish the arc.Furthermore,combined with RSFCL,the interrupting environment is fully improved.RSFCL limits fault current,and then the VCB breaks this limited current based on creating an artificial current zero(ACZ).The prospective rated power is 8MW,rated voltage and current are 4 kV and 1 kA,respectively.In this paper,we discuss and simulate switching devices that protect SEPA.The interrupting performance of the circuit breaker is analysed in the DC short-circuit fault that occurs on the transmission line.Finally,the residual energy consumption of different situations is calculated.A comparison is made between using RSFCL with metal oxide varistor(MOV)and just using MOV.The scheme with RSFCL shows a significant advantage in energy consumption.