Protection and Fault Isolation Scheme for DC Distribution Network Based on Active Current-Limiting Control

Aiming at the problems of high peak value fault current, fast rising speed, and being unable to ensure the reliability of the power supply in the non-fault zone in a multi-terminal DC system, a new cascade flexible current limiter and mechanical DC circuit breaker for medium- and high-voltage distribution networks are proposed. Firstly, the flexible current limiter is triggered by differential under-voltage protection to achieve the effect of interpole voltage clamping, suppressing the fault current and improving the dynamic recovery characteristics of the DC system after fault clearing. Secondly, according to the breaking speed of the DC circuit breaker, the action time of the current limiter can be set flexibly. The directional pilot protection signal of the circuit breaker is used to ensure the continuous action of the current limiter at the converter station side in the fault zone, until the circuit breaker acts to isolate the fault. The protection strategy can also avoid the blocking of the converter station and reduce the requirements for the breaking speed and breaking capacity of the circuit breaker. Finally, a four-terminal medium voltage distribution network model is built in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and the effect of the current limiter and the feasibility of the proposed protection strategy are verified by simulation.