Hybrid circuit breaker assembly

A hybrid circuit interrupter, comprising:

• a vacuum circuit interrupter that is:
• electrically connected between a direct current (DC) input line and a load, and
• configured to have a normally closed position;
• a DC electronic power interrupter that is:
• electrically connected in parallel with the vacuum circuit interrupter between the input line and the load, and
• configured to be maintained in an off condition during normal operation;
• a current injector that is electrically connected between the DC electronic power interrupter and either the input line and the load;
• a fault sensor;
• and
• control logic that is configured to, in response to the fault sensor detecting an interrupt condition:
• cause the electronic power interrupter to turn on and pass current received from the input line,
• after the electronic power interrupter turns on, cause the vacuum circuit interrupter to open, and
• after the vacuum circuit interrupter opens, cause the electronic power interrupter to turn off and interrupt the current received from the input line, thus interrupting delivery of current from the DC input line to the load.

A method of operating a hybrid circuit interrupter that comprises a vacuum circuit interrupter and a DC electronic power interrupter that are electrically connected to each other in parallel, the method comprising:

• during a non-interrupt mode, delivering current from an input line to a load via the vacuum circuit interrupter by:
• maintaining the vacuum circuit interrupter in a normally closed position, and
• maintaining the electronic interrupter in an off condition that provides a normally open position;
• detecting an interrupt condition;
• and
• by a control circuit, in response to detecting the interrupt condition, implementing an interrupt mode by:
• causing the DC electronic power interrupter to turn on and pass current from the line to the load,
• opening the vacuum circuit interrupter and thus interrupting current flow across the vacuum circuit interrupter, and
• after the vacuum circuit interrupter has opened, causing the DC electronic power interrupter to open.