Method for fault current limiting between solid-state circuit breakers

A method of providing fault current limiting control in a circuit breaker network, the method comprising:

• providing a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) disposed as main or upstream circuit breaker, the SSCB comprising a current limiting control circuit, a semiconductor switch, and a voltage clamping circuit;
• and
• a circuit breaker disposed as a branch of downstream breaker, wherein the current limiting control circuit is configured to:
• determine a rate of rise for a fault current of a fault occurring in the circuit breaker network;
• determine a first time period for keeping the SSCB in an on state based at least in part on the rate of rise for the fault current, a delay time period for changing a state of the SSCB to the on state, and a first current threshold associated with a tripping current threshold for the SSCB;
• determine a second time period for keeping the SSCB in an off state based at least in part on a rate of fall for the fault current, a delay time period for changing the state of the SSCB to the off state, a second current threshold associated with a tripping current threshold for the circuit breaker, and parameters of the voltage clamping circuit;
• and
• switch, cyclically, the SSCB to the off state for the second time period and then to the on state for the first time period to control the fault current within a predetermined band-to-band range that is below the first current threshold and above the second current threshold for a fault clearance duration.

A current limiting control circuit of a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) for providing fault current limiting control in a circuit breaker network, the current limiting control circuit comprising processing circuitry configured to:

• determine a rate of rise for a fault current of a fault occurring in the circuit breaker network;
• determine a first time period for keeping the SSCB in an on state based at least in part on the rate of rise for the fault current, a delay time period for changing a state of the SSCB to the on state, and a first current threshold associated with a tripping current threshold for the SSCB;
• determine a second time period for keeping the SSCB in an off state based at least in part on a rate of fall for the fault current, a delay time period for changing the state of the SSCB to the off state, and a second current threshold associated with a tripping current threshold for a circuit breaker of the circuit breaker network;
• and
• switch, cyclically, the SSCB to the off state for the second time period and then to the on state for the first time period to control the fault current within a predetermined band-to-band range that is below the first current threshold and above the second current threshold for a fault clearance duration.