A Solid-State Circuit Breaker Based on Coupled-Inductor for Battery Energy Storage System

In a battery energy storage system (BESS), short-current protection is critical and need to be designed carefully to enhance the system’s safety and reliability. Additionally, the switching operation of a power converter often induces significant voltage fluctuations, necessitating the use of sizable electrolytic capacitors (EC) to mitigate them. However, the substantial capacitance of ECs can lead to a substantial increase in DC-bus fault currents during short-circuit events. To address this concern and bolster the dependability of BESS applications, the implementation of a fast circuit breaker becomes crucial. In light of the paramount importance of a circuit breaker, this paper presents and explores a novel solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) based on a coupled-inductor. The proposed SSCB can exhibit the capacity to mitigate voltage fluctuations and short-circuit current levels. Subsequently, the proposed SSCB can attain structural simplicity, reduced voltage ripple, and high reliability. Finally, the simulation and experimental investigations can verify the improved current handling, disconnection, and reduced voltage ripple capabilities offered by the proposed SSCB.