A Rapid and Low-Loss Bidirectional Z-Source Solid-State DC Circuit Breaker

As the technology of DC transmission and distribution continues to develop, there is increasing attention on DC fault protection. As essential protective devices, DC circuit breakers are widely used due to their low loss and fast operation. Among them, the Z-source solid-state DC circuit breaker has emerged as a new choice for DC protection due to its simple structure, rapid response, and arc-free breaking. This paper proposes a novel bidirectional Z-source solid-state DC circuit breaker topology. Compared to traditional Z-source DC circuit breakers, the new topology achieves bidirectional energy flow through bidirectional thyristor devices, allowing for non-polar energy flow without the need for additional detection and control circuits, thereby improving the speed of DC fault clearance. The working principle of this new topology is analyzed in detail. Finally, the effectiveness of the designed solid-state DC circuit breaker is validated through MATLAB/Simulink simulations.