State of Art of Current and Future Technologies in Current Limiting Devices Rémy OUAIDA 1 , Maxime BERTHOU 2 , Dominique TOURNIER 2 , Jean-François DEPALMA 1 1 MERSEN, 15 rue de Vaucanson, 69720 Saint Bonnet de Mûre, FRANCE 2 AMPERE Laboratory UMR CNRS 5005, 21 Avenue Jean Capelle 69621 Villeurbanne, FRANCE Abstract – Fuses and Circuit Breakers play an important safety role in electrical distribution systems. New challenging applications, especially in DC applications, have brought conventional current limiting devices to their limits. Indeed, mechanical circuit breakers may be too slow to open for novel DC networks with large DC fault current. As well, fuses may be too slow to open for new DC networks with very low DC fault current. For AC applications, the natural zero crossing will help clear fault current. In DC applications, the no natural crossing is challenging fault clearing by conventional current limiting technologies. This paper presents the latest development in current limiting devices as well as new solutions using hybrid and/or full static current limiting devices. This will apply to PV generation, energy storage, DC grid. Index Terms— Power Supply, Current Limitation, Protection Device, Hybride Circuit Breaker 1. INTRODUCTION Historically, fuses and mechanical circuit breakers, general purpose and fast acting, have been the choice for over current protection devices. Furthermore, each time electrical applications reached new steps and brought up new challenges in fault clearing, these were answered by solutions including fuses and/or breakers or a combination of both. Is it still the case today? Current-limiting fuses are low-cost solution, easy to install, fast operating and reliable current breaking devices when used within its current-limiting rating. In most cases they can effectively limit short-circuit currents to a value much lower than that would have flown in the circuit. Specific to the semiconductor devices, since 1950 current-limiting fuse technology has evolved even faster adapting to increased voltages, frequencies, and temperature of application as well as quicker operation to protect new semiconductor devices or new distribution systems. Circuit breaker are widely used for short-circuit protection. Their ability to be resettable is a major advantage against fuse. When the fault is detected, it features a slower time response than current-limiting fuses to operate due to the large mechanical time constant. Versus current limiting fuses, conventional mechanical circuit breaker features a lower on- state voltage drop in the closed position as well as a galvanic separation in the open-state. In DC networks, arc presence leads to contact erosion and arcing chamber fatigue, consequently leading to a shorter lifetime combined with high maintenance costs. Longer time to react to large fault current leads to higher let through current which will ultimately stress the downstream circuit that they are intended to protect. Conventional silicon semiconductors to wide-band gap (WBG) semiconductors such as SiC and Gan are ideal for switching devices in high-voltage, high-frequency, and high- power applications. While efforts will be made to further improve the cost effectiveness, it may be useful to investigate other applications than mainstream power converter for such WBG devices. In this regard, DC circuit protection represents a market opportunity for conventional and WBG semiconductors. Furthermore, the merger of the 2 technologies: static semiconductor switch and mechanical circuit breakers allows a combination of the current-carrying function and high- speed interrupting characteristic: the best of both worlds. Nowadays, emerging applications, globalization, environmental regulations … bills of requirements for fuses and CB are changing. Any one of us is asked for improving and adapting the technologies, but nevertheless always based on the same fundamental principle. As state of the art, we will review in this paper few technologies that may answer new distribution trends. Here are some of the technologies available today for current clearing in a DC distribution network. 2. APPLICATIONS From a historical point of view, the decision to use an AC distribution system was mainly based on controlling the cost) with circuit breakers or fuses (simple AC transformers can step up and down voltages. However, recent changes in both electrical loads and renewable generation sources make electrical engineers reconsider DC as a viable alternative. Indeed, DC transmission and distribution systems offer significant advantages, in particular issues related to reactive power and harmonics as well as limitation on transmission length play no role (HVDC) [1-3]. In light of the rapid growth of DC loads, research teams have been created to outline design considerations for DC distribution and controls [4]. Current trends in electric power consumption indicate an 978-1-4799-9880-7/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE 175