Title: Overview on faults and protections in LVDC microgrids connected to the AC utility

Authors: Marco Carminati; Enrico Ragaini; Enrico Tironi

Addresses: Electrification Products ABB, Via Pescaria 5, Bergamo (BG), I-24123, Italy ' Electrification Products ABB, Via Pescaria 5, Bergamo (BG), I-24123, Italy ' Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano (MI), I-20133, Italy

Abstract: Growth of distributed generation and the increasing the presence of power electronic devices and energy storage systems are provoking an increasing interest in Low Voltage DC (LVDC) microgrids. Fault protection in such systems is thus becoming more and more important. This paper provides an overview of different possible cases of fault behaviour in LVDC microgrids connected to the AC utility grid. Commonalities and differences between normal operation and fault condition are highlighted. After discussion of some existing critical issues, some possible solutions that are able to guarantee an effective and selective protection of DC microgrids and avoid damage to the power electronic converters are proposed.

Keywords: converters; ground faults; microgrids; power electronics; protections; short circuits; solid state circuit breakers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPELEC.2018.093359

International Journal of Power Electronics, 2018 Vol.9 No.3, pp.311 - 348

Received: 03 Dec 2016
Accepted: 10 Mar 2017
Published online: 25 Jul 2018 *

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