A comparison of circuit breaker technologies for medium voltage direct current distribution networks

Circuit breakers for direct current (DC) are a key component for implementing multi-terminal DC networks. DC circuit breakers are already available for low voltage (LV) level and have been investigated in the high voltage (HV) level. This however leaves a gap in the medium voltage (MV) level, where neither technologies from the HV or LV could directly provide a satisfying solution. Different circuit breakers designs are compared for MVDC distribution networks. Bidirectional variants for all designs are used for the comparisons. They are compared according to their operation, time of fault isolation, required passive and active components.