New Series Type Hybrid Circuit Breakers: Fault Protection with Ultralow Loss and Ultrafast Response for Future DC Power Networks

以交流电（AC）为主要形式的电是现代文明的核心。然而，直流电（DC）在一个多世纪前输掉“电流之战”很久之后又重新出现了。直流电固有地具有更高的效率，更好的稳定性，更好地匹配现代电力负载，并且比交流更容易整合可再生能源和存储资源。由于现代电力电子设备易于进行电压转换，直流电在高压直流（HVDC）传输，直流数据中心，光伏农场，电动汽车（EV）充电基础设施，船舶和飞机电力系统等应用中越来越受欢迎。然而，直流模式转变的一个主要技术障碍是缺乏有效的直流电路保护技术。虽然针对这一重要需求进行了深入的研究，但迄今为止，现有的解决方案都无法同时满足未来直流电网的功率损耗、响应时间和成本要求。非传统的改变游戏规则的直流故障保护概念需要进一步探索。这项NSERC发现计划的目标是开发一种全新的串联型混合断路器（s- hcb）架构，该架构提供具有超低功耗（<10W），超快响应（<10µs）和低成本的直流故障保护。所提出的S-HCB概念在工作原理和物理设计方面不同于现有技术固态断路器（SSCB）或传统并联型HCB。它提出了一系列独特的多尺度和多物理性质的科学/工程挑战，从基础电磁学到电力电子拓扑/控制，从高压工程到电力系统工程。该计划围绕四个主要推力进行构建：1)使用多物理场仿真工具对S-HCB概念进行建模和仿真；2)分别在2kV/50A和10kV/100A功率水平下进行S-HCB概念的原型设计和实验演示；3)将S-HCB概念扩展到高压直流领域（例如500kV/1kA）的可行性研究，并发布指南和建议；4)与工业界合作，确定研究成果的商业化机会。如果开发成功，S-HCB架构将有助于开启更绿色的直流电源时代，并显著减少碳排放。它将产生科学知识、知识产权和设计工具，推动电气工程领域的发展。此外，它将为培养学术界和工业界高需求的本科生和研究生以及pdf提供一个极好的平台。最后，它将包括一项“DC村纳米电网”概念的试点研究，为居住在偏远离网社区的20万加拿大人（包括原住民）整合可再生能源和能源储存，并减少他们对化石燃料的依赖。

Electricity, in its predominant form of alternating current (AC), is at the heart of modern civilization. However, direct current (DC) electricity is re-emerging, long after losing the War of Currents over a century ago. DC inherently offers higher efficiency, better stability, better match with modern electrical loads, and easier integration of renewable and storage resources than AC. With voltage conversion easily facilitated by modern power electronics, DC power is gaining tractions in applications such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, DC data centers, photovoltaic farms, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures, shipboard and aircraft power systems. However, one major technical barrier to the DC paradigm shift is the lack of effective DC circuit protection technology. While intensive research has been addressing this important need, so far none of the existing solutions can meet the power loss, response time, and cost requirements of the future DC grids all at the same time. Nonconventional game-changing DC fault protection concepts need to be further explored. The objective of this NSERC Discovery program is to develop a fundamentally new series-type hybrid circuit breaker (S-HCB) architecture that provides DC fault protection with ultralow power loss (<10W), ultrafast response (<10µs), and low cost. The proposed S-HCB concept is distinct from prior art solid state circuit breaker (SSCB) or conventional parallel-type HCB in terms of operation principle and physical design. It raises an array of unique scientific/engineering challenges of multi-scale and multi-physics nature, ranging from basic electromagnetics science to power electronics topology/control to high-voltage engineering to power system engineering. The program is structured around four main thrusts: 1) modeling and simulation of the S-HCB concept using multi-physics simulation tools; 2) prototyping and experimental demonstration of the S-HCB concept at a power level of 2kV/50A and 10kV/100A, respectively; 3) feasibility study of extending the S-HCB concept to the HVDC domain (e.g., 500kV/1kA) and publication of guidelines and recommendations; and 4) collaboration with industry to identify commercialization opportunity for the research outcome. If successfully developed, the S-HCB architecture will help usher in an era of greener DC power with significant reduction in carbon emission. It will generate scientific knowledge, intellectual property, and design tools that advance the field of electrical engineering. Furthermore, it will provide an excellent platform for training undergraduate and graduate students, and PDFs, who are in high demand in academia and industry. Lastly, it will include a pilot study of a "DC Village Nanogrid" concept for the 200,000 Canadians (including the First Nations people) who live in the remote off-grid communities to integrate renewable energy and energy storage, and to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels.