Fault current limiting solid-state switching device

A system for providing electric current fault protection in a power circuit, the system comprising:

• a solid-state switching device (SSSD) comprising:
• at least one switch device comprising:
• a first semiconductor device, and
• a varistor in parallel connection with the at least one switch device;
• one or more circuit breakers;
• and
• wherein, in response to determining a fault at a circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers, selectively controlling an operation of the at least one switch device to maintain the electric current at a fault current trip threshold for a defined period of time to enable clearing the fault at the circuit breaker;
• wherein the varistor comprises a fault current limiting level configured to maintain a voltage across the at least one switch device consistent with a voltage in the power circuit while commutating the electric current during the defined period of time.

A method for providing fault protection in a power circuit, the power circuit including a solid-state switching device (SSSD) comprising at least one switch device and a varistor connected in parallel across the at least one switch device, the SSSD connected upstream of one or more circuit breakers, the method comprising:

• opening, by a controller in response to determining a fault at a circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers and based on an electric current reaching a threshold, the at least one switch device for a defined period of time to commutate the electric current to the varistor and cause a voltage across the at least one switch device to increase;
• opening, by the controller, the circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers to clear the fault within the defined period of time;
• and
• closing, by the controller in response to opening the circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers and clearing the fault within the defined period of time, the at least one switch device;
• wherein the controller is configured to send gate command signals to the at least one switch device to selectively turn ON and OFF the at least one switch device using a single turn-off shot, and wherein the controller does not utilize pulse width modulation to control an operation of the at least one switch device,
• wherein the varistor comprises a fault current limiting level configured to maintain the voltage across the at least one switch device consistent with a voltage in the power circuit while commutating the electric current during the defined period of time.