Circuit breaker distribution system configured to provide selective coordination

A method of providing selective coordination in a circuit breaker distribution system, the method comprising:

• providing a solid-state circuit breaker disposed as a main or upstream breaker;
• and
• providing a magnetic circuit breaker disposed as a branch or downstream breaker, wherein the magnetic circuit breaker comprising a magnetic trip element and separable mechanical contacts, and
• wherein the solid-state circuit breaker comprises a microcontroller including a processor and a memory,
• semiconductor junctions, and
• computer-readable logic code stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
• allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit,
• choose a maximum current limit, that is, a maximum peak current of each current pulse of the repeated pulses of current, for the solid-state circuit breaker as a “chop level” such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state circuit breaker but low enough that the solid-state circuit breaker is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to trip the branch or downstream breaker, wherein the maximum peak current is the same for each current pulse, and
• add a pulse interval as a preset length of time after the current chops to zero but before the solid-state circuit breaker returns to an ON state for a next pulse to begin such that the pulse interval is a length of time that the current remains at zero between pulses, wherein a width of each current pulse is not controlled, but rather the width follows naturally from the starting of the rise of current to the maximum peak current and a time required to reduce it to zero.

A circuit breaker distribution system configured to provide selective coordination, the system comprising:

• a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker;
• and
• a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker, wherein the over current protection comprises a magnetic trip element,
• wherein the solid-state switch comprises a microcontroller including a processor and a memory, and
• computer-readable logic code stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
• allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, and
• choose a maximum current limit, that is, a maximum peak current of each current pulse of the repeated pulses of current, for the solid-state switch as a “chop level” such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state switch but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker, wherein the maximum peak current is the same for each current pulse, and
• add a pulse interval as a length of time after the current chops to zero but before the solid-state switch returns to an ON state for a next pulse to begin such that the pulse interval is a length of time that the current remains at zero between pulses, wherein a width of each current pulse is not controlled, but rather the width follows naturally from the starting of the rise of current to the maximum peak current and a time required to reduce it to zero, and wherein the pulse interval is made proportional to a system voltage waveform by an algorithm, or depend on a level of a load current.

A circuit breaker distribution system configured to provide selective coordination, the system comprising:

• a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker;
• a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker, wherein the over current protection comprises a magnetic trip element,
• wherein the solid-state switch comprises transistors that are controllable to turn ON and OFF;
• and
• a current sensing circuit or a current sensing device configured to turn OFF and ON the solid-state switch which allows repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, chooses a maximum current limit, that is, a maximum peak current of each current pulse of the repeated pulses of current, for the solid-state switch or a “chop” level such that the “chop” level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state switch but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker, wherein the maximum peak current is the same for each current pulse and adds a pulse interval as a length of time after the current chops to zero but before the solid-state switch returns to an ON state for a next pulse to begin such that the pulse interval is a length of time that the current remains at zero between pulses, wherein a width of each current pulse is not controlled, but rather the width follows naturally from the starting of the rise of current to the maximum peak current and a time required to reduce it to zero, and wherein the pulse interval is made proportional to a system voltage waveform by an algorithm, or depend on a level of a load current.