Interconnecting Power-Electronic Buck Converter Modules in a Novel High-Power Test Bench for MVDC Circuit Breakers

Nils Langenberg (), Simon Kimpeler and Albert Moser
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Nils Langenberg: Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics (IAEW), RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Simon Kimpeler: Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics (IAEW), RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Albert Moser: Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics (IAEW), RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-22

Abstract: Advances in medium voltage direct current (MVDC) technologies and the penetration of extended MVDC systems are still significantly hindered by the lack of adequate direct current (DC) switching equipment. The fundamentally different fault current behavior in case of a DC fault, compared to faults in alternating current (AC) systems, with regard to the characteristics and development of fault currents and their interruption make dedicated test procedures necessary. One testing approach is the application of a power-electronic buck converter (PEBC) to simulate relevant stresses on DC switching equipment during a DC fault current interruption. Since the associated requirements, especially regarding current ratings of several kiloamperes, cannot be fulfilled by using a singular PEBC, a modularization becomes necessary. However, particularly in high-power applications, the interconnection of several PEBC modules poses significant challenges. In this article, a demonstrator PEBC-based high-power test circuit for the provision of relevant testing parameters is presented. The underlying challenges and respective solutions with regard to the interconnection of, in total, 120 individual PEBC modules are discussed. It can be shown that the harmonization of connection busbar inductances is the main contributor towards a stable and safe test circuit operation.

Keywords: power electronic buck converter; high-power testing; medium voltage direct; MVDC; circuit breaker; MVDC circuit breaker; MVDC circuit breaker testing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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