Limitation of Initial Surge in Latching Current Limiters (LCL)

DC power systems are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries, with increasing requirements for voltage and current levels. Furthermore, there is a growing trend in utilizing DC power systems in microgrids. This increased adoption requires the development of more efficient protection mechanisms for reliable and secure operation. The latching current limiter (LCL) is essential in DC systems, designed to protect them against overload. It acts as a safeguard, preventing excessive current from damaging sensitive circuitry and components. Implementing an LCL provides critical protection for components, extending their lifespan and enhancing overall system reliability. One issue concerning the LCL's operation is the initial surge. When an overload occurs, a peak current can flow through the circuit. This current could generate negative effects such as spikes in the DC power bus, interference and other undesirable consequences. This work presents some methods to reduce or to eliminate the LCL switch's initial surge current. Traditional methods (reduction in VGS and use of output inductor) and new solutions (source inductor, impedance multiplier and predictive control) are explored. The results are compared and each method's advantages and disadvantages are show.