DC Circuit Breakers: Standards and Potential Markets

Direct current (dc) circuit breakers (DCCBs) play a key role in dc power system protection. This paper aims to discuss two practical challenges of DCCBs technology in terms of standards and potential markets. Apart from DCCBs technical limitations, e.g., low inertia of dc power systems and high cost of solid-state switches, lack of well-documented standards slows down the fast growth of DCCBs. In addition, as dc power systems cannot be developed without mature DCCBs, the DCCBs market is unclear and unappealing for entrepreneurs and investors. In this paper, existing standards/regulations of circuit breakers are highlighted, and the most cited standards for DCCBs are listed. Also, DCCBs market segmentation, potential markets, driving factors, and market of solid-state circuit breakers are discussed.